Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson is Professor of Mental Health Nursing at King's College London (KCL), affiliated with the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care and the Health Service and Population Research Department in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. He also collaborates with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. As Co-Director of the UCL-KCL Mental Health Policy Research Unit, his work focuses on improving mental healthcare delivery and nursing through collaborative research with service users, clinicians, and policymakers.

Education:

• PhD
• BA(Hons) in Social Psychiatry
• Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling

Research Interests:

Alan’s research prioritizes innovative mental health service models, peer support integration, and patient experience improvement. He explores the intersection of mental health nursing, policy, and technology, with a focus on reducing disparities and enhancing recovery-oriented care.

Key Contributions:

His work has shaped national initiatives like the ENRICH peer support trial and Safewards program. He co-leads projects funded by the ESRC, NIHR, and Wellcome Trust, addressing topics such as discharge planning, crisis care, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Awards and Memberships:

• 2018 Mental Health Nurse Academics UK Lecture
• 2013 Eileen Skellern Lecture
• Former Chair of Mental Health Nurse Academics UK
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Projects and Grants:

• ESRC IAA Adapting Safewards for Emergency Departments
• NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit
• Wellcome Trust ACCEPT Study on ACE Disclosure

Labs/Teams:

He leads the Mental Health Policy Research Unit and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across KCL, UCL, and NHS trusts to advance policy-informed research.