Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) Upskilling programme

Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) Upskilling Programme helps people working in NHS mental health services understand, record and use mental health data. It is a joint programme from the NHS England Mental Health Infrastructure Team, regional teams, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and partners in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and Independent Healthcare Sector (IHS). The programme includes a range of eLearning sessions, supported by guides and practical resources. 

 

Intended audience 

This programme is for anyone who records, submits or uses mental health data, including: 

• Mental Health ICB leads 

• Contract and commissioning managers 

• Performance and intelligence teams 

• Service managers 

• Clinical Chief Information Officers 

• Clinical and administrative staff 

• Business intelligence (BI) analysts 

• Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) specialists 

• Data leads 

• Small VCSE and IHS providers submitting MHSDS data 

It is also useful for national and regional colleagues, such as policy leads and senior managers. 

 

Key areas covered 

The programme explores: 

• Why the MHSDS is important 

• How to record and submit data accurately 

• How to check, access and use mental health data 

• How MHSDS data supports service planning and monitoring 

• How good data helps improve care and outcomes 

 

Learning objectives 

By the end of the programme, learners will be able to: 

• Understand what the MHSDS is and why it matters 

• Record and submit mental health data clearly and accurately 

• Use data to monitor services and support better decisions 

• Understand how the MHSDS fits within wider mental health care 

• Feel more confident using data as part of everyday work