• The Nuffield Trust has published a new report Understanding the mental health clinical support workforce.
• The report highlights the contribution support workers make to the NHS and the need for the workforce to be properly funded to help meet an increasing demand for mental health services.

Responding to the new report from the Nuffield Trust Understanding the mental health clinical support workforce, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"Today's report highlights the invaluable contribution mental health clinical support workers make to the NHS.

"These staff play a pivotal role in supporting patients within mental health services. There is a risk that without significant investment in the development of the workforce and measures to tackle staff shortages, our efforts to meet the steep rise in demand for mental health services due to the pandemic will be further hindered.

"It is vital therefore that these roles are adequately funded and that steps are taken to enable flexible working and to support training and career development. This is key to attracting and retaining existing staff.

"The government must start investing more in the NHS workforce with the upcoming spending review providing a prime opportunity to set out a robust long term workforce plan for the NHS."