![Nicola Bennett](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/9913?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Nicola Bennett
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Nicola Bennett
Director of Research
Overview
I am a Reader in Mental Health Nursing with research and clinical expertise in the mental health of children and young people. I enjoy teaching and supervising undergraduate and post graduate students and currently have capacity for new doctoral students interested in either mental health or qualitative methods. I have also trained in both systemic family therapy and CBT.
My PhD was an action research study with a local children's mental health service where we worked together to reduce their unsatisfactory waiting list for their service, using a bespoke triage model (http://www.fons.org/library/journal/volume4-issue1/article7) .
Publication
2026
- Bennett, C. et al. 2026. Organising, sustaining, experiencing and integrating mental health crisis care for children and young people: qualitative findings from eight contrasting case studies in England and Wales [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. NIHR Open Research 6 99. (10.3310/nihropenres.14290.1)
- Jones, M. , Bennett, N. and Whitcombe, S. 2026. Nurses’ experience of using open dialogue approach in the UK: an interpretative phenomenological research study. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 21 (4), pp.257-272. (10.1108/JMHTEP-10-2024-0103)
- Kirk, S. et al., 2026. The organisation and provision of youth work services targeted at young people with long-term physical or mental health conditions in the United Kingdom: a service mapping study. BMC Health Services Research 26 421. (10.1186/s12913-026-14227-5)
2025
- Bennett, C. et al. 2025. Towards a typology of mental health crisis care services for children and young people in England and Wales: a cross-sectional survey and analysis of implementation practices. BMC Health Services Research 25 1587. (10.1186/s12913-025-13446-6)
- Williams, H. et al. 2025. What single-session interventions are used for mental health care in children and young people aged up to 25 years, how are they implemented and what methods have been used to evaluate them? A scoping review protocol. (10.17605/OSF.IO/VBEA2)
- Sydor, A. , Lane, R. and Evans, N. 2025. Playing the admission game: young people and their parents negotiating access or discharge to adolescent inpatient mental health services. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing 38 (1) e70006. (10.1111/jcap.70006)
- Sawle, L. et al. 2025. CAMH-Crisis2: Crisis Mental Health Services for children and young people in England and Wales. Presented at: The ACMHN 48th International Mental Health Nursing Conference, Perth, Australia 30 October - 01 November 2024. Wiley. (10.1111/inm.13477)
2024
- Pryjmachuk, S. et al., 2024. Service design for children and young people with common mental health problems: literature review, service mapping and collective case study. Health and Social Care Delivery Research 12 13. (10.3310/DKRT6293)
- Edwards, D. et al. 2024. Crisis responses for children and young people: a systematic review of effectiveness, experiences and service organisation (CAMH-Crisis). Child and Adolescent Mental Health 29 (1), pp.70-83. (10.1111/camh.12639)
- Pryjmachuk, S. et al., 2024. A collaboratively produced model of service design for children and young people with common mental health problems. BMC Health Services Research 24 133. (10.1186/s12913-024-10562-7)
2023
- Edwards, D. et al. 2023. Crisis responses for children and young people: A mixed methods systematic review of effectiveness, experiences and service organisation (CAMH-Crisis). Presented at: HSR UK 2023 Birmingham 4-6 July 2023.
- Bennett, C. et al. 2023. Crisis care for children and young people with mental health problems: national mapping, models of delivery, sustainability and experience (CAMH-Crisis2). A study protocol. NIHR Open Research 3 22. (10.3310/nihropenres.13414.2)
- Evans, N. et al. 2023. Mental health crisis care for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years: the CAMH-Crisis evidence synthesis. Health and Social Care Delivery Research 11 3. (10.3310/BPPT3407)
- Kirk, S. et al., 2023. Perceptions of the key components of effective, acceptable and accessible services for children and young people experiencing common mental health problems: a qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research 23 391. (10.1186/s12913-023-09300-2)
- Hannigan, B. et al. 2023. Mental health crisis care for children and young people. .
2022
- Fraser, C. et al., 2022. A blueprint for Involvement: reflections of lived experience co-researchers and academic researchers on working collaboratively. Research Involvement and Engagement 8 (1) 68. (10.1186/s40900-022-00404-3)
- Evans, N. , Edwards, D. and Chick, P. 2022. Managing suicidality in inpatient care: a rapid review. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 17 (6), pp.479-494. (10.1108/JMHTEP-05-2020-0023)
2021
- Evans, N. et al. 2021. Training school teachers in Malawi about substance misuse and trauma: the need for a sustainable strategy. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 16 (6), pp.480-488. (10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2020-0049)
2020
- Evans, N. and Huws-Thomas, M. 2020. Case note review of community mental health services for children and young people in a UK rural location. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 15 (3), pp.171-179. (10.1108/JMHTEP-10-2019-0055)
2019
- Evans, N. ed. 2019. Family Work in Mental Health: A skills approach. M&K Publishing.
2018
- Evans, N. , Edwards, D. and Carrier, J. 2018. Admission and discharge criteria for adolescents requiring inpatient or residential mental health care. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 16 (10), pp.1906-1911. (10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-004020)
- Evans, N. and Edwards, D. 2018. Admission and discharge criteria for adolescents requiring inpatient or residential mental health care: A scoping review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 16 (10), pp.1906–1911. (10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003790)
- Evans, N. and Stringfellow, A. 2018. Working with families and carers. In: Norman, I. and Ryrie, I. eds. The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing: Principles and Practice. Open University Press. , pp.543-554.
- Stringfellow, A. , Evans, N. and Evans, A. 2018. Understanding the impact of eating disorders: using the reflecting team as a learning strategy for students. British Journal of Nursing 27 (3)(10.12968/bjon.2018.27.3.117)
2017
- Evans, N. et al. 2017. Using the nominal group technique to involve young people in an evidence synthesis which explored 'risk' in inpatient mental healthcare. Research Involvement and Engagement 3 16. (10.1186/s40900-017-0069-8)
- Evans, N. 2017. Experiences of a child and adolescent mental health service. Nursing Children and Young People 29 (5), pp.41-45. (10.7748/ncyp.2017.e832)
2016
- Evans, N. and Hopkinson, J. B. 2016. How action researchers use anxiety to facilitate change in health care. Journal of Clinical Nursing 25 (11-12), pp.1674-1682. (10.1111/jocn.13186)
- Nute, A. 2016. Working with groups. In: Evans, N. and Hannigan, B. eds. Therapeutic Skills for Mental Health Nurses. Open University Press. , pp.192-203.
- Evans, N. and Whitcombe, S. 2016. Using circular questions in qualitative research. Nurse Researcher 23 (3), pp.26-29. (10.7748/nr.23.3.26.s6)
- Evans, N. and Hannigan, B. eds. 2016. Therapeutic skills for mental health nurses. Open University Press.
2015
- Edwards, D. J. et al. 2015. What do we know about the risks for young people moving into, through and out of inpatient mental health care? Findings from an evidence synthesis. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 9 55. (10.1186/s13034-015-0087-y)
- Hannigan, B. et al. 2015. An evidence synthesis of risk identification, assessment and management for young people using tier 4 inpatient child and adolescent mental health services. Health Services and Delivery Research 3 (22), pp.1-228. (10.3310/hsdr03220)
2014
- Evans, N. 2014. Improving the timeliness of mental health assessment for children and adolescents in a multidisciplinary team. International Practice Development Journal 4 (1) 7.
- Evans, N. 2014. Exploring the contribution of safe uncertainty in facilitating change. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
2013
- Evans, N. and Evans, A. 2013. Introducing nursing students to solution focused therapy. British Journal of Nursing 22 (12), pp.1222-1227.
- Hannigan, B. and Evans, N. 2013. Critical junctures in health and social care: Service user experiences, work and system connections. Social Theory & Health 11 (4), pp.428-444. (10.1057/sth.2013.16)
2012
- Young, N. , Evans, N. and Bowring-Lossock, E. 2012. The practice engagement framework: a framework that assists the identification and development of the clinical role for lecturers in mental health nursing. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 7 (1), pp.42-46. 10.1108/17556221211230589.
2006
- Evans, N. G. and Edmunds, L. 2006. Selecting a topic. In: Allen, D. and Lyne, P. eds. The reality of nursing research: politics, practices and processes. Abingdon: Routledge
2005
- Evans, N. 2005. Domestic violence: recognising the signs. Paediatric Nursing 17 (2), pp.14-16. (10.7748/paed2005.02.17.1.14.c958)
2004
- Evans, N. and Potter, R. 2004. Treating PTSD in adolescents. Mental Health Nursing 24 (6), pp.14-18.
- Potter, R. and Evans, N. 2004. Child psychiatry, mental disorder and the law. Is a more specific statutory framework necessary?. British Journal of Psychiatry 184 , pp.1-2. (10.1192/bjp.184.1.1)
2000
- Evans, N. G. 2000. Working with families of forensic patients. Nursing Times 96 (38), pp.40-41.
- Evans, N. G. 2000. Measuring the value of a lecturer practitioner in forensic nursing. Nursing Management -Harrow- 6 (10), pp.14-18.
1999
- Evans, N. G. 1999. Preparing nurses to work effectively in the prison environment. British Journal of Nursing 8 (19), pp.1324-1329.
- Evans, N. G. and Clarke, J. 1999. Addressing issues of sexuality. In: Chaloner, C. and Coffey, M. eds. Forensic Mental Health Nursing: Current Approaches. UK: Blackwell Science. , pp.252-268.
1996
- Evans, N. G. 1996. Defining the role of the forensic community mental health nurse. Nursing Standard 10 (49), pp.35-37.
Articles
- Bennett, C. et al. 2026. Organising, sustaining, experiencing and integrating mental health crisis care for children and young people: qualitative findings from eight contrasting case studies in England and Wales [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. NIHR Open Research 6 99. (10.3310/nihropenres.14290.1)
- Jones, M. , Bennett, N. and Whitcombe, S. 2026. Nurses’ experience of using open dialogue approach in the UK: an interpretative phenomenological research study. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 21 (4), pp.257-272. (10.1108/JMHTEP-10-2024-0103)
- Kirk, S. et al., 2026. The organisation and provision of youth work services targeted at young people with long-term physical or mental health conditions in the United Kingdom: a service mapping study. BMC Health Services Research 26 421. (10.1186/s12913-026-14227-5)
- Bennett, C. et al. 2025. Towards a typology of mental health crisis care services for children and young people in England and Wales: a cross-sectional survey and analysis of implementation practices. BMC Health Services Research 25 1587. (10.1186/s12913-025-13446-6)
- Williams, H. et al. 2025. What single-session interventions are used for mental health care in children and young people aged up to 25 years, how are they implemented and what methods have been used to evaluate them? A scoping review protocol. (10.17605/OSF.IO/VBEA2)
- Sydor, A. , Lane, R. and Evans, N. 2025. Playing the admission game: young people and their parents negotiating access or discharge to adolescent inpatient mental health services. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing 38 (1) e70006. (10.1111/jcap.70006)
- Pryjmachuk, S. et al., 2024. Service design for children and young people with common mental health problems: literature review, service mapping and collective case study. Health and Social Care Delivery Research 12 13. (10.3310/DKRT6293)
- Edwards, D. et al. 2024. Crisis responses for children and young people: a systematic review of effectiveness, experiences and service organisation (CAMH-Crisis). Child and Adolescent Mental Health 29 (1), pp.70-83. (10.1111/camh.12639)
- Pryjmachuk, S. et al., 2024. A collaboratively produced model of service design for children and young people with common mental health problems. BMC Health Services Research 24 133. (10.1186/s12913-024-10562-7)
- Bennett, C. et al. 2023. Crisis care for children and young people with mental health problems: national mapping, models of delivery, sustainability and experience (CAMH-Crisis2). A study protocol. NIHR Open Research 3 22. (10.3310/nihropenres.13414.2)
- Evans, N. et al. 2023. Mental health crisis care for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years: the CAMH-Crisis evidence synthesis. Health and Social Care Delivery Research 11 3. (10.3310/BPPT3407)
- Kirk, S. et al., 2023. Perceptions of the key components of effective, acceptable and accessible services for children and young people experiencing common mental health problems: a qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research 23 391. (10.1186/s12913-023-09300-2)
- Hannigan, B. et al. 2023. Mental health crisis care for children and young people. .
- Fraser, C. et al., 2022. A blueprint for Involvement: reflections of lived experience co-researchers and academic researchers on working collaboratively. Research Involvement and Engagement 8 (1) 68. (10.1186/s40900-022-00404-3)
- Evans, N. , Edwards, D. and Chick, P. 2022. Managing suicidality in inpatient care: a rapid review. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 17 (6), pp.479-494. (10.1108/JMHTEP-05-2020-0023)
- Evans, N. et al. 2021. Training school teachers in Malawi about substance misuse and trauma: the need for a sustainable strategy. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 16 (6), pp.480-488. (10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2020-0049)
- Evans, N. and Huws-Thomas, M. 2020. Case note review of community mental health services for children and young people in a UK rural location. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 15 (3), pp.171-179. (10.1108/JMHTEP-10-2019-0055)
- Evans, N. , Edwards, D. and Carrier, J. 2018. Admission and discharge criteria for adolescents requiring inpatient or residential mental health care. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 16 (10), pp.1906-1911. (10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-004020)
- Evans, N. and Edwards, D. 2018. Admission and discharge criteria for adolescents requiring inpatient or residential mental health care: A scoping review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 16 (10), pp.1906–1911. (10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003790)
- Stringfellow, A. , Evans, N. and Evans, A. 2018. Understanding the impact of eating disorders: using the reflecting team as a learning strategy for students. British Journal of Nursing 27 (3)(10.12968/bjon.2018.27.3.117)
- Evans, N. et al. 2017. Using the nominal group technique to involve young people in an evidence synthesis which explored 'risk' in inpatient mental healthcare. Research Involvement and Engagement 3 16. (10.1186/s40900-017-0069-8)
- Evans, N. 2017. Experiences of a child and adolescent mental health service. Nursing Children and Young People 29 (5), pp.41-45. (10.7748/ncyp.2017.e832)
- Evans, N. and Hopkinson, J. B. 2016. How action researchers use anxiety to facilitate change in health care. Journal of Clinical Nursing 25 (11-12), pp.1674-1682. (10.1111/jocn.13186)
- Evans, N. and Whitcombe, S. 2016. Using circular questions in qualitative research. Nurse Researcher 23 (3), pp.26-29. (10.7748/nr.23.3.26.s6)
- Edwards, D. J. et al. 2015. What do we know about the risks for young people moving into, through and out of inpatient mental health care? Findings from an evidence synthesis. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 9 55. (10.1186/s13034-015-0087-y)
- Hannigan, B. et al. 2015. An evidence synthesis of risk identification, assessment and management for young people using tier 4 inpatient child and adolescent mental health services. Health Services and Delivery Research 3 (22), pp.1-228. (10.3310/hsdr03220)
- Evans, N. 2014. Improving the timeliness of mental health assessment for children and adolescents in a multidisciplinary team. International Practice Development Journal 4 (1) 7.
- Evans, N. and Evans, A. 2013. Introducing nursing students to solution focused therapy. British Journal of Nursing 22 (12), pp.1222-1227.
- Hannigan, B. and Evans, N. 2013. Critical junctures in health and social care: Service user experiences, work and system connections. Social Theory & Health 11 (4), pp.428-444. (10.1057/sth.2013.16)
- Young, N. , Evans, N. and Bowring-Lossock, E. 2012. The practice engagement framework: a framework that assists the identification and development of the clinical role for lecturers in mental health nursing. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 7 (1), pp.42-46. 10.1108/17556221211230589.
- Evans, N. 2005. Domestic violence: recognising the signs. Paediatric Nursing 17 (2), pp.14-16. (10.7748/paed2005.02.17.1.14.c958)
- Evans, N. and Potter, R. 2004. Treating PTSD in adolescents. Mental Health Nursing 24 (6), pp.14-18.
- Potter, R. and Evans, N. 2004. Child psychiatry, mental disorder and the law. Is a more specific statutory framework necessary?. British Journal of Psychiatry 184 , pp.1-2. (10.1192/bjp.184.1.1)
- Evans, N. G. 2000. Working with families of forensic patients. Nursing Times 96 (38), pp.40-41.
- Evans, N. G. 2000. Measuring the value of a lecturer practitioner in forensic nursing. Nursing Management -Harrow- 6 (10), pp.14-18.
- Evans, N. G. 1999. Preparing nurses to work effectively in the prison environment. British Journal of Nursing 8 (19), pp.1324-1329.
- Evans, N. G. 1996. Defining the role of the forensic community mental health nurse. Nursing Standard 10 (49), pp.35-37.
Book sections
- Evans, N. and Stringfellow, A. 2018. Working with families and carers. In: Norman, I. and Ryrie, I. eds. The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing: Principles and Practice. Open University Press. , pp.543-554.
- Nute, A. 2016. Working with groups. In: Evans, N. and Hannigan, B. eds. Therapeutic Skills for Mental Health Nurses. Open University Press. , pp.192-203.
- Evans, N. G. and Edmunds, L. 2006. Selecting a topic. In: Allen, D. and Lyne, P. eds. The reality of nursing research: politics, practices and processes. Abingdon: Routledge
- Evans, N. G. and Clarke, J. 1999. Addressing issues of sexuality. In: Chaloner, C. and Coffey, M. eds. Forensic Mental Health Nursing: Current Approaches. UK: Blackwell Science. , pp.252-268.
Books
- Evans, N. ed. 2019. Family Work in Mental Health: A skills approach. M&K Publishing.
- Evans, N. and Hannigan, B. eds. 2016. Therapeutic skills for mental health nurses. Open University Press.
Conferences
- Sawle, L. et al. 2025. CAMH-Crisis2: Crisis Mental Health Services for children and young people in England and Wales. Presented at: The ACMHN 48th International Mental Health Nursing Conference, Perth, Australia 30 October - 01 November 2024. Wiley. (10.1111/inm.13477)
- Edwards, D. et al. 2023. Crisis responses for children and young people: A mixed methods systematic review of effectiveness, experiences and service organisation (CAMH-Crisis). Presented at: HSR UK 2023 Birmingham 4-6 July 2023.
Thesis
- Evans, N. 2014. Exploring the contribution of safe uncertainty in facilitating change. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Research
We have an exciting new project. A Moment2Talk https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/healthcare-sciences/research/projects/moment2talk is funded by the NIHR and focussed on the development a single session intervention for children and young people referred to CAMHS with a mental health concern... further news to follow.
I am an experienced qualitative researcher with methodological expertise in case study methodology, action research and ethnographic methods and was awarded the RCN (Wales) Research in Nursing award in 2017. My research focus is on the organisation and delivery of mental health services for children and young people. A summary of two key projects Blueprint and CAMH Crisis can be found here.
Blueprint was an NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research Programme funded project which looked at services for children and young people with common mental health problems: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/hsdr/170908
CAMH Crisis was an evidence synthesis investigating how services are provided for children and young people aged 5 -25 experiencing mental health crises. Please feel free to view the animation developed from that study: https://youtu.be/awgTJGK21Is
Current studies include CAMH Crisis2 DiVERT and Health and Youth Work https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/health-and-youth-work
I also am interested in conducting systematic reviews, and am trained in Joanna Briggs Institute methods. An example of a completed review commissioned by the Royal College of Psychiatrists is here: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/Fulltext/2018/10000/Admission_and_discharge_criteria_for_adolescents.2.aspx
Teaching
I contribute to the undergraduate nursing programme, specifically teaching children's mental health issues, psychotherapeutic approaches, use of evidence in health and research methods. I also supervise dissertations. I enjoy small group teaching and facilitating experiential learning sessions for mental health nursing students to acquire and rehearse their much needed skills for clinical practice.
At post graduate level, I supervise MSc dissertations: systematic reviews and work based projects. This can be across topic area. I also lead a professional doctorate module: Systems thinking: working and leading in complex organisations.
Biography
I am an experienced mental health practitioner, who has enjoyed a rich career embracing clinical practice, roles in clinical leadership, conducting research primarly in children's mebtal health and teaching across disciplines and academic levels.
Prior to working at Cardiff University, I worked as a mental health nurse in an outpatient service for children and young people with mental health needs. Having trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children and Adolescents and also in Systemic Family Therapy, I worked psychotherapeutically with children, parents, adults and families in the context of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams. I have also worked clinically in forensic mental health services, in medium secure care and in community settings, again working with families affected by these situations.
Since joining Cardiff University in 2003, I have retained a connection with practice so that my teaching and research maintain credibility and impact in the field.
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:
mental health
children and young people's mental health
qualitative methods
the organisation and delivery of health and social care
Current supervision
Past projects