Speakers
Ben McCarthy
Presentation
How can higher education providers start meaningful conversations with local NHS leaders about student mental health? What does effective collaboration look like – and what are the benefits, costs and challenges?
This session will introduce a forthcoming report from the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce (HEMHIT), which explores how HE-NHS partnerships can be designed and delivered to better support student mental health.
Ben McCarthy and Beth Allender will present key findings from the report, which has been informed by extensive engagement with colleagues across both the HE and NHS sectors. The session will highlight core design principles for NHS-led student mental health services and outline practical steps institutions can take to implement them. Delegates will be invited to reflect on how the report can shape their own strategies and local collaborations.
Ben McCarthy is the Project Manager for the Student Support Champion, working alongside Professor Edward Peck to deliver national initiatives to enhance student support in higher education. He has contributed to key sector outputs, including the Student Needs Framework (with AdvanceHE), the Core Data Specification (with Jisc), and data sharing guidance with students’ unions and accommodation providers.
Ben also supports the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce, working across the sector and with the Department for Education to deliver forthcoming publications on HE-NHS partnerships and case management systems.
Ben’s substantive role is the Associate Policy Manager at Nottingham Trent University, where he helps the institution navigate and respond to external policy developments.
Beth was recruited by Cardiff University in January 2021 to support the development and delivery of a pilot to improve understanding, access and support to NHS Mental Health Services for university students in Cardiff, particularly those with moderate to severe, complex or long term mental health symptoms. This has expanded into a national programme of work involving all further and higher institutes and their regional NHS Health Boards.
Prior to the current role, Beth has been a programme and project manager for over fifteen years. Working in universities in Wales, within Student Services, Strategic Programmes and IT Services, in particular with cultural and student experience transformation programmes. She has supported managing aspects of planning and design for the £450 million Bay Campus development for Swansea University. Starting her career in the NHS, Beth also has experience in hospital administration and Welsh National IT Programmes.