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Benjamin Thomas

Dr Benjamin Thomas

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5495-1854
    1991 …2026

    Research activity per year

    Personal profile

    Overview

    I am a Professor of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities at London South Bank University and Adviser for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities for the Royal College of Nursing Wales. Holding both academic and national advisory roles enables me to bridge evidence, policy, and practice, generating research while directly influencing health and care policy, strategic priorities, and service design.

    I am particularly committed to strengthening the relationship between academia and the health and care system, ensuring that research is not only methodologically robust but practically relevant and impactful. My work creates a dynamic feedback loop in which practice informs research, research shapes policy, and policy drives service transformation. This approach supports the development of person-centred, equitable, and effective services, leading to measurable improvements in care quality and outcomes.

    A central focus of my work is improving people’s mental health and the quality of life for people with learning disabilities and addressing health inequalities experienced by marginalised populations. I advocate for inclusive, accessible, and compassionate care systems, while also contributing to workforce development by shaping education, standards, and professional practice.

    My research addresses inequalities in health and social care, particularly affecting minority and disadvantaged groups. I am currently a co-investigator on ESRC- and NIHR-funded studies exploring intersectionality, ageing, learning disabilities, and LGBTQ+ inclusion, including work examining how well the home care workforce is prepared to support older LGBTQ+ people.

    I have a strong track record in building research capacity through both strategic leadership and inclusive research practice. For five years, I co-led the NIHR Clinical Academic Postdoctoral Bridging Scheme, supporting early-career researchers to transition into independent clinical academic roles through mentorship, structured development, and tailored support. This has contributed to a growing pipeline of skilled researchers capable of leading impactful, practice-relevant research.

    Alongside this, I actively embed capacity-building within my research by creating and supporting paid co-researcher roles for people with lived experience. This includes providing training, supervision, and development opportunities, enabling co-researchers to contribute across all stages of the research process—from design to dissemination. This approach not only enhances the quality, relevance, and impact of research but also builds skills, confidence, and employment opportunities, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse research workforce.

    I have contributed extensively to national and international policy through ministerial advisory roles and reviews, representing mental health nursing across the UK and globally. I recently co-led a UK-wide review of learning disability nursing and chaired the development of Professional Nurse Advocate standards. I am also a member of the National Confidential Inquiry’s Mental Health Outcome Review Programme and previously served as a Non-Executive Director for Together for Mental Wellbeing, where I chaired the Quality and Safety Committee.

     

     

    Overview

    Curriculum Vitae 

     

     Name 

     

     Dr Benjamin Lawrance Thomas

     Contact Details 

     Email: [email protected] | [email protected]

     

    Telephone: 07517629297

     Profile 

     Mental health leader with a long-standing record of excellence    involving policy, research, publications and knowledge exchange work regarding people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities. His work has been funded by research councils, third sector organisations and charitable trusts. He has mentored early and mid-career researchers and line managed academic staff, researchers and clinicians. From 2021 to 2025 he co-led the King’s College and LSBU, HEE, NIHR Post-Doctoral Bridging Scheme.

     

     

    Academic

    Qualifications   and dates 

    1978: Diploma in Nursing, University of London

     

    1985: Bachelor of Science with Honours (Psychology & Sociology), Brunel University London

     

    1987: Master of Science (Nursing), and Registered Nurse Tutor (RNT) University of Manchester

     

     2004: Doctor of Philosophy (Psychiatry) Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London

     

    Professional Registration 

    Professional body: 

    Nursing and Midwifery Council 

    Pin Number: 

     

     Registration No: 76Y0267W

     Professional Qualifications  

     RGN; Registered Nurse - Adult; Registered Nurse- Mental Health; Lecturer/Practice Educator: Nursing and Midwifery Council

     Current Post 

     

     Professor of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, LSBU (2017–present);

    Mental Health and Learning Disability Adviser RCN (2023–present)

     Professional

     

    Employment 

     Experience

     

    Mental Health, Learning Disability and Dementia Care Adviser Departmental of Health and Social Care, England (2009–2017);

    Head of Safety for Mental Health and Learning National Patient Safety Agency, (2006–2009);

    Chief Nurse St Vincent’s Mental Health service and St George’s Aged Psychiatry Service, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Honorary Associate Professor (2003–2006);

    Executive Director of Nursing and Director of Organisational Development Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust, Principal Lecturer Mental Health Nursing University of Plymouth (1999–2003);

    Executive Nurse Director and Director of Clinical Services, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. Honorary Lecturer Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, University of London (1991 – 1999)

     Professional Activities 

     

    National Policy, Advisory & Government Work

    • Advisor to Ministers, Chief Nursing Officer (England), NHS England, and cross-government departments
    • Leadership of national programmes in:
    • Mental health and learning disability nursing
    • Dementia care strategy
    • Reducing restrictive practices
    • Prevention of deaths in custody
    • Lead contribution to UK-wide nursing policy (Strengthening the Commitment)
    • National leadership in workforce development and professional standards

    2. Committees, Boards & Strategic Groups

    Chair roles:

    • Independent Advisory Group for Mental Health (HQIP)
    • Reducing Restrictive Practices Steering Committee
    • UK Substance Misuse Nursing Committee

    Member roles:

    • National Mental Health Strategy Board
    • Dementia Care Priority Board (Public Health England)
    • Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme Board (PHE)
    • Care Quality Commission Expert Reference Groups
    • NHS England Mental Health Safety Group

     

    3. International Professional Activity

    • Ministry of Health Malaysia – Community Mental Health Service Development
    • International Advisory Panel – Beijing Centre for Mental Health Development
    • Develop and deliver on-line mental health modules for BSc in Nursing in Myanmar
    • Cross-national research collaborations (Australia, UK)

    4. Editorial & Academic Service

    • Editorial Board Member:
    • Mental Health Practice
    • Learning Disability Practice
    • Editorial contributor, Quay Books
    • Former roles on multiple major journals including:
    • Nursing Ethics (Consultant Editor)
    • British Journal of Nursing
    • Journal of Psychosocial Nursing

    5. Professional Judging & Recognition Panels

    • Judge for:
    • Nursing Times Awards
    • HSJ Awards
    • HQIP Clinical Audit Awards
    • Nursing Standard Awards

    6. Service Reviews & Investigations

    • Led or contributed to major national reviews including:
    • Reviews of NHS Trusts and specialist services (e.g. Review of psychiatric services Great Ormond Street
    • International review (Romania and Qatar)
    • Multiple independent healthcare system reviews (1992–2011)

    7. Education, Training & Workforce Development

    • National leadership training delivery (learning disability nursing)
    • Teaching on specialist postgraduate and leadership programmes
    • Development of:
    • Master’s programmes Institute of Psychiatry and University of Plymouth and Birmingham University
    • Graduate diplomas and certificates
    • External examiner and validator roles

    8. National Guidelines, Policy & Publications Leadership

    • Led major national guidance:
    • Positive and Proactive Care
    • Patient safety reports (NPSA) e.g.
    • Contributed to:
    • No Health Without Mental Health
    • Crisis Care Concordat
    • National safety and risk frameworks

     

     External Examiner 

    University of Birmingham (1992–1995); validation roles include Wolverhampton University

    Nursing Assessor for quality Review of Nursing at the University of Tasmania

     Research 

     

      Research & Grant Activity

    • Co-investigator on nationally and internationally funded studies
    • Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project examining the intersectional perspectives for community inclusion of older marginalised people with learning disabilities and ageing LGBTQ+ people.
    • NIHR funded project exploring how prepared the home care workforce in England and Wales, in terms of their skills, knowledge and confidence, is to support older LGBTQ+ people
    • Research in:
    • Patient safety (e.g. Learning from prevented suicide in psychiatric inpatient care: an analysis of data from the National Patient Safety Agency)
    • Mental health systems (e.g. Development of the Therapeutic Engagement questionnaire for mental health nurses)
    • Workforce development (e.g. The career progression and training opportunities for BAME nurses working in the NHS)

     Conference Presentations 

     

     Extensive international keynote and plenary presentations across UK, Europe, America, Canada, Asia

     Invited to be keynote speaker: Lessons learned from a Global Mental Health Policy perspective International Mental Health Symposia (26-27th September 2018) Trinidad and Tobago

    Invited to be keynote speaker: Improving the physical health of people with mental health problems, International mental health Conference, 26 November 2018, Los Angeles, USA

     Invited keynote speaker: The nurse’s role in improving the quality of mental health care, European Psychiatric Nurses Quality Assurance Policy Forum, April 12th 2012 Turku Finland (invited guest speaker) 2012

     Putting Mental Health and Learning Disabilities on the Patient Safety Agenda, College of Registered Psychiatric Nursing Annual Conference, Manitoba, Canada May 7th 2012 (invited plenary)

     Making mental healthcare safer, Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety, May 5th  2012 (invited plenary)       

     Exploring the High Impact Actions: identifying savings, redirecting and reinvesting money accordingly, National Mental Health Congress, London 10th November 2010 (invited plenary)

     Learning from medication incidents in mental health, British Columbia Mental Health And Addictions Annual Conference, Vancouver Feb 13th 2009 (invited plenary)

    Designing out the means to commit suicide reduces the number of suicides, International Society for Quality in Health Care Conference, Dublin 13th December 2009 (submitted paper)

     Learning from medication incidents in mental health, National Patient safety Congress, Birmingham April 29th 2009 (submitted paper)

     Ensuring patient safety in challenging times. Irish Nurses’ Organisation Annual Conference, 7th May 2009 (invited plenary)           

     Patient Safety in Mental Health, Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Toronto 2008 (invited plenary)

     Invited to give plenary presentation Patient Safety in Mental Health, Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Ontario, Toronto 2008

    2007     Mental Health Services: Risk, repercussions and remedies. Action Against Medical Accidents Conference, May (invited plenary)

    A Safer Place for People with Mental Illness, Mental Health Design Conference, London March (invited plenary) 2007

    Promoting recovery and reducing absconding from an acute inpatient unit at St.Vincent’s Mental Health Service, International Mental Health Nursing Conference, Cardiff, February

     

     

     

    Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

    In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

    1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
      SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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