Digital skills in mental health

A practical guide to help people working in mental health to build their digital confidence and skills. Below is an interactive tool for teams to make progress together.

This guide was co-produced by Thrive by Design and NHS Confederation. You can find out more about how the guide was designed and the principles behind it on the NHS Confederation website.

Internal systems

Using the digital tools that are already in your organisation

    • I know that there are a wide range of sources of digital information and they need to meet certain legal, ethical, cultural or security rules.

    • I know that there are certain digital tools that I need to use for my job but I've steered clear of them in the past.

    • I know there are advantages to using all of these tools but pen and paper has always worked pretty well for me.

    What to do next

    There are lots of ways to get started with digital.

    • Join this: For absolute basics, register for free on Learn My Way

    • Read this: For skills that will help with your role, take a look at Make IT Click

    • Do this: Find someone in your team who identifies as 'I'm the person,' to spend some time with you on specific digital tools you use internally. Carry out a fuller self-diagnostic and get signposted to learning resources.

    • I can use a range of resources to search for, locate and organise digital information for personal and/ or professional purposes

    • I use most of the digital tools that are expected of me but I'm never quite sure if I'm getting it right

    • I am able to work with service users/ patients and colleagues to promote fair and equitable access to digital resources for all

    What to do next

    Improving your confidence takes time.

    • Join this: All internal digital tools should have appropriate training. Talk to your manager about refresher training on certain tools.

    • Watch this: Check Twitter for #MHDigiTips to get get hints and tips from colleagues

    • Do this: Find someone in your team who feels more confident with digital. Arrange to shadow them to see what they do. Carry out a fuller self-diagnostic and get signposted to learning resources.

    • I am confident in using a wide range of digital resources for personal and/ or professional purposes

    • I am confident in testing digital information for accuracy and analysing and evaluating a wide range of information

    • I am confident in using all of the tools that are expected of me

    • I don't mind learning new tools as they become available

    What to do next

    Maintain your confidence and keep exploring.

    • Join this: Look for digital champion training, for example: Learn My Way; Health Education England; Digital Unite.

    • Watch this: Check Twitter for #MHDigiTips to get get hints and tips from colleagues

    • Read this: Digital tools are constantly changing, keep checking organisations like Health Education England or MIND to see what big changes are coming.

    • Do this: Tell your team about the apps and websites that you use. Look for chances to get involved in designing or purchasing new digital tools. Carry out a fuller self-diagnostic and get signposted to learning resources:

    • Share this: Upload a video to Twitter using the hashtag #MHDigiTips

    • As an expert user, I take the lead in promoting and evaluating the use of a wide range of specialist, new and emerging digital approaches

    • I champion the use of new technology and support others in the improvement and adoption of innovative devices, technologies, software and applications.

    • I am proactive in ensuring service users/ patients and colleagues can use the all the tools confidently

    What to do next

    Share your skills to help others make progress

    • Join this: Look for digital champion training, for example: Learn My Way; Health Education England; Digital Unite.

    • Watch this: Check Twitter for #MHDigiTips to get get hints and tips from colleagues

    • Do this: Let your team know that you can support them with their digital skills. You don't need to know everything but you have some hints and tips that will help them. Carry out a fuller self-diagnostic and get signposted to learning resources.

    • Share this: Upload a video to Twitter to help other colleagues #MHDigiTips

Supporting others:

Supporting service users, colleagues and others in using digital

    • I know digital can support people to connect and learn.

    • I understand digital can be used by people to achieve different types and levels of learning or connection

    • I know digital tools can be formal or informal and that people can be supported to access specific opportunities or can find them for themselves

    • I don't want digital to reduce the human factors of support

    What to do next

    When supporting others using digital it is important to use all of the soft skills you already have.

    • Join this: For absolute basics, register for free on Learn My Way.

    • Read this: For skills that will help with your role, take a look at Make IT Click.

    • Do this: Find someone in your team who identifies as 'I'm the person,' to spend some time with you on specific digital tools you use internally. Carry out a fuller self-diagnostic and get signposted to learning resources.

    • I can use a range of digital tools to support online networks and learning

    • I can participate in online forums or communities

    • I can show other people, including service users, patients and colleagues, what I know, and learn from them about what they need to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence

    • It's difficult to do all this digital stuff and maintain the soft skills that build relationships

    What to do next

    Improving confidence takes time.

    • I can confidently use a wide range of digital tools to support my own and other people’s learning, development and engagement

    • I work actively to find digital opportunities on a regular basis to support myself and others, including services users, patients and colleagues

    • I regularly review my own and others' digital learning and development needs and support them to make progress

    • I have changed my style so that digital can improve relationships with service users and colleagues and not hinder it

    What to do next

    Maintain your confidence and keep exploring.

    • Read this: Look for ways to become a 'digital champion' to help with your skills in supporting others. Learn My Way. Health Education England.

    • Watch this: Look for #MHDigiTips on Twitter to give some hints and tips

    • Do this: Promote the apps and websites that you use with people with the members of your team. Open it up for them to add to the list. Look for opportunities to get involved in designing or purchasing of new digital tools in your team/org.

    • Share this: Upload a video to Twitter giving some hints and tips using #MHDigiTips

    • As an expert user, I am proactive in modelling and promoting the use of a wide range of existing and new digital for personal and/or professional purposes with colleagues, service users and patients.

    • I champion and support others to adopt new/ innovative digital solutions

    • I provide leadership, guidance and support, ensuring that patients, service users and colleagues have equitable access to all digital teaching, learning and self-development

    What to do next

    Share your skills to help others make progress

    • Do this: Let your team know that you can support them with their digital skills. You don't need to know everything but you will have some hints and tips that will help them.

    • Share this: Upload a video to Twitter giving some hints and tips #MHDigiTips

Digital security and safety

Protecting people’s data by taking precautions

    • I know that it is important to create appropriate digital identities (what I share and what I don’t) in personal and professional situations

    • I know why it is important to protect my own digital identity and that all interactions should be respectful, ethical and appropriate for different audiences

    • I know that some digital behaviour can impact negatively on my own or others’ health and wellbeing

    What to do next

    There are lots of ways to get started with data and security.

    • I can create and protect my own digital identity and reputation

    • I can use digital in ways that promote safety of self and others, including patients, service users and colleagues

    • I can use digital in ways that contribute to my own and others' good health and wellbeing

    What to do next

    • Join this: Data and security specific training in your organisation. Talk to your manager about refresher courses

    • Read this: NHS Data and Security; NHS Staying Cyber Fit; NHS Keep it Confidential.

    • Do this: Find someone in your team who identifies as 'I'm the person,' to spend some time with you on specific digital tools you use internally. Talk to your IT department if you have any questions and share the answers with your team.

    • I act on breaches of safety, security and wellbeing rules and guidelines in order to avoid negative consequences for myself or others

    • I always use digital in ways that contribute to my own and others' good health and wellbeing

    • I act on and support others to understand instances that compromise the safety, security or wellbeing of others, including patients, service users and colleagues

    What to do next

    Maintain your confidence and keep exploring.

    • Read this: HEE Topol Review stating new expectations of informed consent for data sharing.

    • Do this: Share things that you learn with your team. Open it up for them to share things. Look for opportunities to get involved in designing or purchasing of new digital tools in your team/organisation.

    • I advise others and demonstrate leadership in managing personal and professional digital identities

    • I can create solutions to solve complex problems related to managing digital identities in a way that supports and protects patients, service users and colleagues

    • I act in all digital interactions in ways that are respectful, ethical and appropriate to patients, service users and colleagues

    What to do next

    Share your skills and knowledge with your team

    • Join this: NHS Digital's Cyber Associates Network

    • Do this: periodically check that your knowledge is still up to date. Take ownership of being the person in your team who will investigate changes in rules

Being digitally engaged

Embracing ways in which digital can benefit you and others

    • I know that we live in a digital society and digital engagement will be vital to ensure that patients, service users and colleagues are all able to participate and thrive

    • I know that I need to be positive and proactive in relation to digital opportunities (things that can improve my life) in both my personal and professional life

    What to do next

    There are lots of ways to get started and find what interests you.

    • Join this: For absolute basics, register for free on Learn My Way.

    • Read this: For skills that will help with most jobs, take a look at Make IT Click.

    • Watch this: look for hints and tips on Twitter #MHDigiTips

    • Do this: Find someone in your team who identifies as 'I'm the person,' to spend some time with you on specific digital tools you use internally

    • I can participate in a digital world

    • I am willing to try out new digital approaches to bring about positive change and benefits for myself, patients, service users and colleagues

    • I can support and promote digital resources as a means to bring about positive change and benefits for patients, service users and colleagues

    What to do next

    Improving confidence takes time.

    • Join this: NHS Futures sites that interest you.

    • Read this: Blogs and high profile colleagues on social media who share advice, such as James Woollard @Psycle_doc

    • Watch this: On Twitter look for #MHDigiTips for hints and tips

    • Do this: Try shadowing one of your team members who feels more confident to see what they do.

    • I am confident that I can express myself through the most appropriate digital methods and support others to do so

    • I actively research new developments in digital and am keen to try out new things

    • I am confident in engaging colleagues, service users and patients in discussion about digital and how to use it as a means to bring about positive change

    What to do next

    Maintain your confidence and keep exploring.

    • Join this: Look for networks to join and be active on in NHS Futures.

    • Read this: Digital tools are constantly changing, keep up to date by following national organisations that you trust. E.g. Mind, ORCHA

    • Do this: Promote the apps and websites that you use with people with the members of your team.

    • Share this: Upload a video on Twitter #MHDigiTips to help colleagues across the country.

    • I champion and lead on digital change and use my knowledge and expertise to bring together new ideas and processes that meet the needs of patients, service users and colleagues

    • I can create solutions to complex problems that are related to improving and evolving existing digital services to make them work better

    • I actively engage in and support others, including patients, service users and colleagues, in horizon-scanning activities to generate wider benefits from digital

    What to do next

    Share your skills to help others make progress

    • Join this: Start your own network of people to share ideas with. Ask your manager about ways of getting involved in organisational transformation

    • Do this: Let your team know that you can support them with their digital skills. You don't need to know everything but you will have some hints and tips that will help them.

    • Share this: Upload a video on Twitter #MHDigiTips to help colleagues across the country

Co-production of digital services

The process of involving service users in the design of digital services

    • I understand that citizens/ service users/ patients may have opinions on mental health services but I think health professionals are best placed to decide what is needed.

    • We have a menu of different service options for people to choose from. What more could we do?

    • Regulations and risk management mean we can't work flexibly to be patient-led.

    What to do next

    • Watch this: The Ladder of Co-Production

    • Do this: Speak to your patient and public engagement lead and any service user representatives about how co-production would work for them.

    • I know that we should try to work with citizens/ service users/ patients to tailor how digital works best to reflect their circumstances.

    • Citizens/ service users/ patients are invited to make suggestions of digital tools that could be used and our staff team reviews which are appropriate.

    • There is a pilot to test our co-production in one of our service areas

    What to do next

    • Citizens/ services users/ patient ideas are built in to every interaction around digital.

    • People know they are recognised as an 'expert by experience' and their ideas and opinions are of equal importance to those of mental health professionals.

    • Citizens/ service users/ patients are supported to connect and share skills and experience about digital tools with mental health professionals

    What to do next

    • I champion co-production and ensure that citizens/ service users/ patients are always involved as equal partners from the beginning of conversations about digital.

    • All our work on digital development aims to build on and grow existing skills, tools and resources that exist within the NHS and the wider community.

    • Citizens/ service users/ patients have an active role in initiating, running, evaluating and delivering digital initiatives. Their skills and experience has equal weighting to mental health professionals

    What to do next