Mrs Daniela Collins

I am a senior lecturer in mental health with a strong background in research, executive coaching, course development, teaching, and assessment. I lead the MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice in Mental Health and support the MSc in Mental Health Practice programme with LSBU Global and Iheed Dublin, Ireland. I achieved an MSc in Mental Health from King's College London Medical School (2004). I have a PGCert in Higher Education (2007) and an SFHEA (2018). I am also a registered Lecturer/Practice Educator with the NMC since 2007. Prior to my academic career, I gained extensive clinical and managerial experience as a registered nurse and manager within the NHS. This experience has significantly informed my educational approach and research focus on the mental health field.  My practice experience is in nursing leadership and workforce development, teaching, and coaching. My research experience includes project design and management, data analysis and interpretation, synthesis of findings, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, research publications and presentations nationally and internationally and research supervision of master programme students. I have worked with service users and practice partners on co-produced mental health improvement projects nationally and internationally in clinical settings and educational environments (Barnet Voice, Various NHS Trusts, The WHO, EU Commission and Erasmus +). I am currently completing a doctorate in education.

Achievements:

• Feb 2025 - Compassion Hero by the Global Compassion Coalition in California, USA.   
• May 2024 - Advance-HE Accreditation as a UK External Examiner for Higher Education
• June 2023 - Won Lecturer of the Year 2023 at the LSBU Annual Education Awards. Nominated by students from 3 campuses and across several UG & PG Nursing programmes.
• June 2021 - Received the FRSA for Championing Education.
• July 2020 – Advance-HE Accreditation: Aurora Leadership and Gender Equality.
• July 2018 - Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
• Dec 2017 - Awarded Academic Team Leader 2017 by the MH&SW Faculty at Middlesex University, voted for by peers.
• In July 2015, I won a £3000 Teaching Fellowship awarded by the University Executive  Executive Board, followed by a vote by 5 Academic Deans at Middlesex University.

My areas of interest encompass mental health, addiction research, equity within Higher Education, student mental health and well-being, nursing leadership, and global nursing research. I am currently undertaking a doctorate that focuses on mental health and social justice in the context of higher education.

Research Groups:

• Co-chair Research Group Mental Health & Learning Disabilities LSBU School N&M 
• Co-chair STTI Europe Region Nurse Education Research Interest Group
• Member Research Group Re-Imagining Learning Communities at LSBU School of Law and Education
• Member of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BERA)

Journal Peer Reviewer and Editorial Support:

• BERA 2024 Conference & WERA Focal Meeting
• Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Journal of MH Training, Education and Practice
• Advances in Dual Diagnosis
• The Journal of Pain
• Journal of Social Work Education
• Scientific Organising Committee for the 7th European Regional Nursing Conference for Sigma Nursing 2024

Research projects:

Feb 2025 - Aug 2025 - Doctoral research: How do nurse academics balance and negotiate their clinical and academic identities in Higher Education?

Nov 2024 - Jan 2025: Do reasonable adjustments reduce equity gaps for nursing students with disabilities in Higher Education?

Jan 2024 - Aug 2024: The Influence of Neoliberalism and Globalisation on Nurse Education: Advancing Social Justice and Inclusion in Nurse Education and Practice

Master's Research Supervision: 

Awarded in June 2025:

Mary Appia-Ankuma (MSc Leadership and Service Improvement) - The impact of lateral violence on the well-being of staff in the operating room. A Systematic Review. 

Sikuru Mustapha (MSc Mental Health Nursing) - The role of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. A systematic Review.

Ebenezer Olowe (MSc Mental Health Nursing) - A systematic review on the role of digital technologies in the treatment of mental health disorders. 

Awarded in June 2024:

Lauren Porter (MA Practice Education) - Did providing paid practice placements during COVID-19 prepare final-year nursing students for transition to registered nursing practice?

James Cass (MA Practice Education)- Does the curriculum prepare nursing and medical students for LGBTQ+ inclusive practice in their future roles? A Systematic Review

Teresa Temitope Ifeola Oyedele (MSc Mental Health Nursing) - What mental health challenges do LGBTQ+ people face when accessing mental health support?

Abisoye SB Osivaya (MSc Mental Health Nursing) - The positive impact of weight management programmes on enhancing the physical health of overweight individuals with psychosis.

Awarded in June 2023:

Sabine Herrmann (MA Practice Education) The Challenges of Integration of Internationally Educated Nurses in the UK: A Systematic Review.

Madurshri Pooja Devi Balgobin (MSc Mental Health Nursing) -Relapse Prevention interventions (RPIs) to promote recovery, level of functioning and improve quality of life in schizophrenia

Folasade Gabriel (MSc Mental Health Nursing) - The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on the Mental Health of Young Adults in the UK

Isaac Olugbenga Oladosu (MSc Mental Health Nursing) - What is the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of older people in the UK?

Alaba O.S. Oyeniran (MSc Mental Health and Substance Use (Dual Diagnosis))- Reducing the risk of readmissions to inpatient mental health services for service users with comorbid mental health and substance use problems living in the community—a work-based research project with NHS ethical approval.

• Course Leader - MSc Advance Clinical Practice in Mental Health
• Course Leader -  CPD Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Nursing
• LSBU Global Link Lecturer  
• Cohort Leader BSc Mental Health Nursing (Intake 2023-24) at the Central London Southwark Campus

Subjects taught:

Nursing Leadership; Coaching for healthcare professionals; MSc Research Methods and MSc and MA Dissertation Supervision; Research Integrity, Nursing Ethics, SPSS, NVivo, Thematic Analysis, Qualtrics; Mental Health and Addictions (Dual Diagnosis); Assessments in Mental Health and Substance use/misuse.; Pharmacology; Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health; Team Building; Supervising and Assessing in Practice Placements; Inclusive Pedagogies in Higher Education; Co-production Approaches in Nurse Education. Faculty Coaching for Teaching Fellowships with Advance-HE (formerly Higher Education Academy)