A record number of public votes are expected, to crown the 5th #OurHealthHeroes Awards national winners, recognising the extraordinary people at the heart of our NHS and social care workforce.

Skills for Health (@skillsforhealth) champion the benefits of workforce development and learning based on ensuring a nationally recognised level of competence for a particular task or job. As the Sector Skills Council for Health they develop and maintain these competences - National Occupational Standards (NOS) - for healthcare occupations across the UK.

Mental health nursing is a demanding but enriching career, occupying a unique space in holistic patient care at the forefront of healthcare service delivery. Yet, as reported by the New Roles in Mental Health Nursing Implementation Group in 2019, there is a clear case that more mental health nurses are required both in our NHS and in private and voluntary organisations and agencies.

The latest research published by Skills for Health this week reveals the extensive mental and physical health impact on NHS, health and care professionals across the UK, as a result of working and living through COVID-19, and identifies organisational priorities for recovery, both as the country enters the next phase of the pandemic and for the longer-term.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (@SWASFT) were recently awarded with the Skills for Health Quality Mark, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to the delivery of outstanding quality Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) training.