NELFT and Holmusk have been shortlisted for a Nursing Times Award in the category Management and Supervision Tool [MaST] in community mental health services.

MaST is a digital support platform that uses predictive analytics to help mental health professionals make more informed and proactive decisions about care delivery. Powered by a Risk of Crisis algorithm, MaST analyses key clinical data such as contact history and risk factors from electronic health records, to determine the likelihood of a service user requiring crisis services within the next 28 days. These insights allow practitioners to group service users into cohorts based on risk, enabling more strategic resource allocation and a shift toward preventative care.

Since introducing the tool, NELFT has seen measurable improvements across adult community mental health services. Between June and December 2024:

• The number of people waiting over 28 days for assessment dropped from 68% to 49%.
• Service users not seen in over 12 weeks fell by 27%.
• The number without a care coordinator reduced by 44%.
• Therapeutic contacts rose by 33%, from 4,000 to over 5,300.

Staff feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 85% saying the tool helps manage priorities and time, and 75% reporting it helps identify those most at risk.

Gavin Mess, Project Manager, and Susan Smyth, Director of Nursing, said:

“MaST has transformed the way we work in community mental health. Having real-time insights into complexity and risk of crisis allows us to intervene earlier, allocate resources more effectively, and ultimately provide safer, more personalised care. This nomination recognises how data and clinical expertise can come together to make a real difference.”