CQC recruit nine expert advisors to assist with inspections

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recruited nine new advisors to offer leadership and advice on how mental health and learning disabilities services are inspected throughout England.

The new inspectors will join the current team of hospital directors, joining Dr Paul Lelliott, deputy chief inspector of hospitals, to continue with plans to inspect all NHS mental health hospitals by April 2016.

Dr Paul Lelliott, said: “I would like to congratulate the nine clinicians who will be joining CQC as national advisors. The appointments of these very senior nurses and doctors and psychologists demonstrate how serious we are about having the necessary expertise in every aspect of the mental health and learning disabilities services that we inspect.

“The national professional advisers will help to lead our inspection teams and advise on the services that we regulate They will also give policy advice so that we make accurate judgements about whether services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led based on sound evidence and taking full account of people who use services.

“It is vital that we tap into the best, current expert thinking so that we can do everything possible to encourage services to give highly vulnerable people the care and support we expect and that they deserve.”

Five of the new professionals for mental health services are:

Dr Anne York, who worked previously as a consultant child psychiatrist and will take on the role of national advisor for community mental health services for children and young people.

Dr Margaret Murphy will be working as a national advisor for in-patient mental health service for children and young people. Dr Murphy has previously worked with adults with severe mental health problems and was chair of the Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry within the Royal College of Psychiatrists during 2009–2013.

Joining them is Dr Paul Gilluley, who will take the role of national advisor for forensic mental health services. Currently head of forensic services at the East London Foundation Trust and a consultant forensic psychiatrist.

Dr James Warner will become a national advisor for old age mental health care. With more than 15 years’ worth of experience as a consultant psychiatrist for Central North West London Foundation Trust. Mr Warner was also medical director of Red & Yellow Care and is chair of Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Finally, Professor Helen Killaspy, will become an advisor to mental health rehabilitation services. Professor Killaspy is an honorary consultant at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Rehabilitation Psychiatry at University College London (UCL).

Furthermore, Dr Theresa Joyce and Dr John Devapriam will take on roles as national advisors for learning disabilities. Dr Joyce has previously worked as a clinical psychologist for a large mental health trust and as a manager of psychology services for adults with learning disabilities.

Dr Devapriam is a consultant psychiatrist at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, working as part of the Trust’s learning disabilities service, providing care for adults with learning disabilities. Dr Devapriam is also clinical directory for adult mental health inpatients and crisis services in the Trust.

Vanessa Ford and Professor Jonathan Warren will work together as national advisors for mental health nursing. Professor Warren is executive director of nursing at East London Foundation Trust and is a Professor at City University teaching the nurses of the future.

Ms Ford brings her expertise of mental health nursing, leaderships and governance to the team, gained as a registered mental health nurse. Ms Ford works as director of nursing standards and governance for West London Mental Health Trust, working with Professor Warren to issue advice and guidelines for care planning and leadership.