60 seconds with… Anabella Langford
Annabella Langford, one of the Trust's Multi Professional Approved Clinicians in Boston spends time telling us a bit more about her and the role.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your role.
“I joined LPFT in March last year after working at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) for 23 years as a mental health nurse. Moving to LPFT was a significant change and a risk, but I was drawn to the forward-thinking nature of the Trust and its alignment with my career goals. The commute is challenging, but flexible working options and having a supportive line manager has helped.
“An MPAC is a role that allows non-medics to demonstrate competencies of an approved clinician. Although the role has been around since the 2007 amendment of the Mental Health Act, it is still developing. There are just over 100 MPACs in the country.
“My background is in mental health nursing, working with children and young people, with a passion for early intervention. I transitioned into management roles, trained in different therapies, and eventually became a consultant nurse, leading a crisis team through a nurse-led pathway at NSFT. I completed my MPAC training through a portfolio route, gaining approval in June 2023.”
What does your day to day look like?
“While clinical work is a significant part of my role, as a consultant nurse and MPAC, I also focus on developing others regarding their education, training and research. Besides direct clinical duties, I engage in service development and quality improvement processes to enhance the patient experience.
“I manage ten patients on Ward 12 and up to 15 patients at Maple Lodge, involving clinical tasks like report writing and attending professional and Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings. Additionally, I contribute to the Advanced Clinical Practice Strategy, co-chair the Nursing Council and the Independent and Supplementary Prescribing Group, and work on the MPAC Strategy to develop the role within LPFT.”
Which other teams do you work closely with?
“I spend two to three days a week on Ward 12, mainly on ward rounds, and one day a week at Maple Lodge, a rehabilitation unit. I also work from home once a week, which is a nice break from commuting.
“I collaborate with the Crisis team, Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), Community Rehabilitation Team and PACT (Personality and Complex Trauma). I'm a strong advocate for Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) working.”
What are the things you feel are the most fulfilling about your role?
“Supporting front-line staff during tough times is very fulfilling. It's rewarding to work together on care and treatment plans and receive their appreciation. I enjoy spending time on the ward, talking to staff and patients, and providing 1-1 support when possible. This allows me to use my psychology and therapy skills.
“It's also always great to see patients continue their recovery after discharge and flourish in their own path. Positive feedback about patients' progress and successful transitions to different environments are rewarding.”
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
“I aspire to become a Professional Nurse Advocate and I am currently working with the Head of Nursing to find a suitable course that fits my schedule. I aim to offer restorative clinical supervision alongside the existing PNA team at LPFT, with the aim of supporting my medical colleagues.
“As this is my first job as an MPAC, I hope to continue growing, gaining experience and collaborating with diverse teams.”
