Update on RCPsych Midlands Workforce and Training Pilot

The Midlands Workforce and Training Pilot continues to build momentum as it brings together clinical leaders from across the region to strengthen collaborative workforce planning.

The pilot was originally initiated under the leadership of Professor Subodh Dave, RCPsych Dean, and is now jointly driven forward by the Trent and West Midlands Division Chairs.

Meeting bimonthly, the group’s mission is to develop a unified, region‑wide understanding of mental health population needs and use this insight from data to inform sustainable workforce and training models. Rather than working in isolation within individual Trusts, the project supports a coordinated, data‑driven approach to planning for the future.

Regional Data Event

On 29 January 2026 Clinical Leads from across the Midlands came together for an in‑person RCPsych Workforce Planning Data Event. The session focused on how population health data can support long‑term, evidence‑based workforce solutions.

Key takeaways

  • Understanding mental health morbidity data: Examining current mental health morbidity data, particularly in relation to health inequalities, within each Integrated Care Board (ICB), and assessing projected trends over the next 5–10 years.
  • Evaluating care models across ICBs: Reviewing whether existing care models effectively support the management of mental health morbidity, including the proportion of care delivered through community and voluntary sector services, primary care, and secondary care.
  • Assessing workforce frameworks: Considering whether appropriate workforce frameworks and models are in place to determine the required skill mix for effective service delivery.
  • Planning future medical workforce needs: Identifying the medical workforce required to meet future service demands and population needs.

If you are interested in this work and would like to build on your own skills and experiences in this area, further information about the RCPsych Data and Digital Literacy one-day training event is detailed below.

RCPsych Data and Digital Literacy training

This one-day interactive training is delivered at trust sites. It will provide you with the essential digital and data skills you need as a modern mental health clinician.

The training focuses on digital transformation of services to improve patient care and address health inequalities. You'll learn about population health, the clinical value of data, clinical informatics and strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Our Digital Literacy Framework sets out digital data literacy standards for all psychiatrists, and our training events bring it to life.

To gain practical data skills, equip yourself for the future of mental health care, enhance patient outcomes, drive digital transformation and sharpen your clinical leadership.

Topics covered include:

  • preparing clinicians for 21st century digital healthcare
  • precision psychiatry and population health
  • rapid review into data in mental health inpatient settings
  • implementing outcome measures: facilitators and challenges
  • using data to improve population health
  • getting to good quality data – making it happen.

Further information including sample programmes are available on our website: Data and Digital Literacy training events

Please contact the Division events team with any questions.

This article was included in our May 2026 eNewsletter.