CRP Bulletin -April 2023

Hearing from the Wessex CRP Engagement Lead - How can we better support CRPs to transition to registration? 

Kirsty Rogers, Education and Training Manager and CRP Engagement Lead, LCRN Wessex Core Team

Back in November, we held some ‘lunch and learn’ webinars to highlight parts of the CRP pathway. Subsequently, I have been honoured to be made a CRP Lead in CRN Wessex.  I am so excited to be able to contribute to the recognition of this talented pool of research staff!

Following the webinars we had a positive response and lots of engagement and enthusiasm for our webinar series which led to an increase of our local CRN Wessex staff signing up for the CRP directory. You can imagine my delight at this and I looked forward to hearing from people working through the process and got my thinking cap on how I could support them.  However, the influx of requests didn’t come! So it got me thinking, what am I doing wrong?

Who has active applications?!

The AHCS holds the data for the CRP directory and as the CRN we cannot see who has an active application.  This means if our local CRPs don’t tell me they have started their applications, I don’t know that they need support!  This is a problem as although I can search the directory for local members, I don’t know if they are actively seeking their registration.  

Due to the fact I sit in the CRN, I don’t know all the individuals who are working on their applications within the different organisations as there is less chance of those corridor conversions.  As the teams are also widely spread across the region, applicants also won’t know everyone who may be experiencing similar queries and questions to themselves! 

CRP Cuppa Drop-ins

Considering these two challenges has led me to begin the  set up of a weekly 45 min TEAMs spot in my calendar called ‘ CRP Cuppa Drop-ins’ to provide the local CRPs a time to come and ask questions about their applications, share reflections, or find out answers or advice from both me and their peers in the region.  With the wheels in motion for drop-ins to start in May, I am hoping we can build a supportive local community and share best practices!  

In addition to this, it will be an opportunity to see what might be preventing those on the directory from moving to full registration and start the conversation as to what is creating barriers.

Update your details!

One thing that has become evident is that we have people on the directory/register who do not have up-to-date contact information which means, of course, the AHCS can’t contact you!  This is not just relevant to staff within CRN Wessex, so if you are reading this, do take a moment to check that your contact details are correct on the CRP directory/registration.

Reminder of CRP Webinar resources

In order to make sure that the content is accessible to all, the CRN Wessex CRP Toolkit is accessible to all on NIHR Learn in case you would like to re-watch any of the content!

If you are in the CRN Wessex region and would like to join the new CRP Cuppa Drop-ins or you need any support, do please contact me kirsty.rogers@nihr.ac.uk or via train.crnwessex@nihr.ac.uk