CRP Bulletin - April 2025
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Welcome
Welcome
It's great to see that Spring is finally here after the really cold winter we had.
We have lots of exciting news to share with you this quarter, including updates on past CRP events, information on how to access our CRP banners and some new CRP publications. Lots of CRPs have shared information about their experiences in practice too.
If you have any stories or information you would like to share, please contact your local CRP Engagement Lead.
This quarter's editorial board consists of Ruth Johns (CRP, West Midlands RRDN ) and Rachel Evans (Senior CRP, West Midlands RRDN) , Ibiyemi Sadare (CTP, South London RRDN), Maxine Berry (Project Support Manager Leeds CRF), Stephanie King-Jones (RDN CC GCP National Lead / Learning & Development Facilitator, East Midlands RRDN), Jessica Brock (CRP, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) and Ben Jones (Lead Research Practitioner, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust).
Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) updates
Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) updates
CPD Audit
The first CRP CPD audit has been delayed slightly and will start in April 2025. This will involve auditing 3% of CRPs who have been registered for a year or more. Registered CRPs will be randomly selected for audit.
If your contact details have changed since you originally registered as a CRP, please update these now.
You can read more about the audit process on the AHCS website.
The updated timetable for the CPD audit is set out below:
Event Provisional Date
Notification of CPD audit to all CRPs 4 April 2025
Email notification to CRPs selected for audit* 28 April 2025
CPD information to be submitted by selected CRPs 2 June 2025
Notification of audit outcome to selected CRPs likely July 2025
* If you are selected for audit and have a valid reason to not take part, you must email the AHCS explaining this within 48 hours. If your request is accepted, the AHCS will randomly select another CRP to audit.
Full information about the AHCS's CPD requirements is available in its Continuing Professional Development: Standards and Guidance document.
We have provided some additional CPD guidance for CRPs on the Clinical Research Practitioners' Community site.
Fee increase
The AHCS's fees for CRP registration will increase for the first time from 1 May 2025. AHCS Registration for CRPs was launched in 2021 with a joining fee of £30.
The AHCS is a not-for-profit organisation. They have assessed fees for all of their registrants in line with maintaining the sustainability of their operation. Their new joining fee of £50 will now apply to all new and continuing AHCS registrants, as shown below:
£50 to apply to the AHCS Accredited Register for CRPs
£50 to renew your CRP Registration
West Midlands CRP Forum: Evidencing your CPD
West Midlands CRP Forum: Evidencing your CPD
In preparation for the first CRP CPD Audit, the West Midlands CRP community held an online webinar on Monday 3 March 2025, focusing on Evidencing your CPD. The audit forms part of the revalidation process for those registered on the accredited Academy for Healthcare Science CRP register. This event aimed to explain the purpose and process of the CPD audit. The CPD event recording is available for you to view and was chaired by our region's Jo Sawyer, Head of Research & Innovation at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, with Ruth Johns and Rachel Evans, CRPs from West Midlands RRDN presenting the Academy's CPD standards and guidance.
You can view the slides for the event here.
What does Practitioner level / level 5 of the Skills for Health Career Framework mean?
What does Practitioner level / level 5 of the Skills for Health Career Framework mean?
CRPs working comfortably at practitioner level / level 5 of the Skills for Health Career Framework will be expected to have a comprehensive, specialised, factual and theoretical knowledge within their field of work and an awareness of the boundaries of that knowledge. Please refer to the Scope of Practice for CRPs for further information about the scope of practice.
CRPs working at practitioner level as described above will be using their knowledge and professional judgement to solve problems proactively, making decisions for which they will be accountable, and actively contribute to the service they work in. They will also proactively seek self-development.
The research delivery activities undertaken by a CRP working at practitioner level will often be self-directed and are likely to include some or all of the tasks listed below:
Appropriate to the study, seeking ongoing informed consent as a voluntary agreement with research study participants, ensuring their understanding of the research and its risks
Identification, screening and randomisation of research study participants
Involvement in clinical research operations, development, regulation and ethics processes
Proactively engaging with colleagues in relation to research study design and implementation and evaluation
Proactively ensuring high quality data input at source and its management through a research workflow
Contributing to the appraisal of evidence gathered in the context of delivering a research study
Contributing to the reporting and dissemination of research study results
Proactively communicating across boundaries to maintain relationships that secure investment in research across all clinical specialties and care settings
The Standards of Proficiency for CRPs set out the minimum standard a CRP must meet to apply to the Accredited Register for CRPs and maintain their registration. Some of the key standards of proficiency required are listed below. Please refer to the Standards of Proficiency for CRPs for information about all 16 standards in detail. Overall, a Registered CRP will:
Reflect critically and continuously on performance or situations and actively seek feedback from colleagues and research study participants, adapting practice as required to meet the diverse needs of research study participants
Communicate effectively with research study participants, their relatives and carers and colleagues
Contribute to planning and monitor/review the ongoing effectiveness, modifying as and when necessary in a changing environment, identifying and managing sources of risk in the workplace
Lead confidently across networks and have a deep understanding of the research delivery system and research being part of core business in health and social care
Demonstrate credibility, confidence and resilience, and the ability to lead in times of rapid change, actively participating in activities to promote the CRP profession and its contribution to research
It will normally take one to two years of working in a CRP role to reach a practitioner level and standard of practice. CRPs applying to join the Accredited Register for CRPs are expected to have been working at this level of responsibility for at least one year.
Past CRP Events Update
Past CRP Events Update
Clinical Research Practitioner Engagement Webinar for Yorkshire and Humber
By Jessica Brock, CRP, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
The Clinical Research Practitioner (CRP) Engagement Webinar explored:
● the evolving role of CRPs
● the benefits of professional registration
● career pathways
● ways organisations can support CRPs.
With help from the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Academy for Healthcare Science, we were able to talk to our community and reach other Trusts that may not have known about the role or are just starting to learn about it.
Maxine Berry (Leeds), Amy Cooney (Sheffield) and I all held a webinar each between September and November 2024. Each webinar lasted around an hour and we were able to collate questions from our participants and collaborate to answer these questions. For queries beyond our expertise, we had guidance from Gail Creswick, Workforce Development and Organisational Learning Manager.
The webinar emphasised our growing recognition and our role in bridging clinical care and research. The webinar reinforced CRPs' importance and the value of professional registration. Supporting CRPs through training and institutional backing enhances research quality and workforce development.
Attendees were encouraged to explore Academy for Healthcare Science resources and professional networks for further support and the recording of the presentation was sent to participants along with the answered FAQs.
It was great to be able to communicate with people who we wouldn’t usually be able to speak to on a day-to-day basis. We had people from Bradford to Hull to Harrogate and it felt really good to know that we were able to bring information about the role to our regional trusts.
"The engagement seminars were a great exercise in disseminating the work we're doing to a much wider audience than we usually have access to. The combined Yorkshire counties cover a huge geographical area so it was helpful to be able to reach so many people at once with more localised information for them. Gathering the common questions that people have on the ground also gave a good insight into what we need to be communicating better about the CRP programme." Amy Cooney, Clinical Trials Assistant/Registered Clinical Research Practitioner, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
"These seminars were incredibly rewarding, as they allowed us to share our skills and knowledge with others, helping them build confidence and navigate their professional journeys. It was both fulfilling and meaningful to provide this valuable support to a new group of professionals as they take their first steps in their careers." Maxine Berry, Project Support Manager Leeds CRF
Clinical Research Practitioners Employer Engagement Event
Deirdre Brooking, Workforce Development Lead, North London RRDN
Amy Gordon, Communications Officer, South London RRDN
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) with the support of North London RRDN, held a CRP Employer Engagement Event on Friday 14 March 2025.
The aim of this event was to raise the awareness of the CRP workforce, to increase capacity and capability for research delivery by targeting NHS Managers. This CRP Brochure was launched on the day, as a guide for CRPs and managers to support recruitment and development. It touches on CRPs scope of practice, the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) register and career development opportunities.
This event drew speakers from across the country including Janet Monkman, AHCS CEO, Ifan Jones, Operations Director at South West Peninsula RRDN, and Janice Paterson, RDN Workforce Development Lead, together with senior nurse leaders Clair Harris from GSTT and Vanessa Sweeney from UCLH, to support managers and endorse this skilled and much valued workforce to enable increased capacity and capability.
CRP Banners
CRP Banners
By Caroline Winckley, Senior CRP, North West RRDN
A banner has been developed to promote the CRP role and provide further education on who CRPs are and what we do. The banner is available for anyone to use across all regions and can be requested from the NIHR Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre via your local CRP Engagement Lead. Currently, there are two physical banners that are available for use and a digital version. The latter can be modified to suit your local needs, for instance by adding a quote from a senior member of staff highlighting the value of the CRP role.
CRPs across the regions have taken great pride in being able to start using this banner, as demonstrated below by CRPs in the North West, who have taken it to career events at schools in Greater Manchester. These events were an opportunity for the team to raise awareness of different jobs in research, including the role of CRP.
Sharon Morrison, Senior CRP, who attended one of the career events commented on the banner’s impact: “We found our new CRP banner a really useful resource to point to when discussing our work with the pupils. It helped them understand our role, especially in the noisy school hall, with children squealing at Manchester Museum's live snake and salamander right next to us! We were proud to be amongst the first CRPs to use the banner to showcase our role to the next generation.”
If you are interested in using the banner at any upcoming events, please email rdnworkforcedevelopment@nihr.ac.uk
Pictured are Margaret Broughton-Smith and Hemali Patel, both Senior CRPs, with the CRP banner at the Career Fairs in Central Manchester and Trafford.
CRP Experiences in Practice
CRP Experiences in Practice
HOgbu_Poster_17.09.2024.pdfMicrobiology to Clinical Research: My Journey
The poster to the left was prepared by Hanson Ogbu, Clinical Research Practitioner, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust to illustrate his career journey from Microbiology to Clinical Research.
Optimising Collaboration: The Power of CRP Meetings in Agile Research Delivery Teams By Claire Sampson, Senior CRP, East Midlands RRDN
I am a Senior Clinical Research Practitioner with the East Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) and I am also proud to be a Clinical Research Practitioner (CRP) Champion for our region. Recognising the need for a collaborative platform for CRPs within our Agile Research Delivery Team (ARDT), I established a dedicated Google Space for them. This initiative was inspired by requests from colleagues who wanted to discuss various CRP-related topics, including the procedures and criteria for registration with the Academy for Healthcare Science.
The discussion group worked well for sharing information and newsletters; however, I received requests for a meeting to discuss these topics in more detail. I organised this, and invited all CRPs from the ARDT. This meeting not only served as a platform for discussing registration applications, but also provided an invaluable networking opportunity. Colleagues shared their recent experiences, helping to forge connections among those who had felt somewhat isolated in their roles.
The meeting facilitated in-depth discussions about the studies we are working on, highlighting best practices and innovative approaches in clinical research. We exchanged tips on navigating common challenges, which strengthened our sense of community and collaboration. Overall, the event was a great success and emphasised the importance of open communication and support among CRPs in our field.
Due to the positive response and requests from participants, I now host a monthly drop-in meeting. This format allows team members to join at their convenience, ensuring that everyone has the chance to participate without the constraints of a fixed agenda.
The impact has been significantly positive; it has not only strengthened relationships among staff but also enhanced the quality and efficiency of the research studies we are working on, as ideas and insights are exchanged in this supportive environment.
Career Development - from Registered Dental Nurse to registered Clinical Research Practitioner on the accredited AHCS register By Anesha Chauhan, Clinical Research Practitioner, West Midlands RRDN
Research is beneficial to everyone, with breakthroughs enabling earlier diagnosis, more effective treatments, prevention of ill health, better outcomes and faster returns to everyday life, taken from NHS England.
My name is Anesha Chauhan and I am a qualified Dental Nurse registered with the General Dental Council. I completed my dental nurse training and qualified in 2008 working in a dental hospital in Birmingham.
Being keen and proactive in my own learning and having exposure to complex dental care sparked an interest in research, and I decided to diversify and develop in this area.
My dental nursing career in research began in 2014, when I had the opportunity to work on my first NHS and National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) Portfolio research study. This looked to determine the genetic component of Amelogenesis Imperfecta in children and adults. This condition affects the dental composition and appearance of the enamel, causing significant tooth discolouration.
I would often see children who would attend clinics with their families, all having a similar story to tell, being very upset by their teeth, and being bullied at school for their teeth not having the ‘perfect’ appearance, which in turn had damaging effects on their confidence and life development.
This is where my interest and passion for research grew, as I wanted to help bring about a change to improve the dental care available to people, leading to a better quality of life for them.
In 2019, I was employed by CRN West London (now part of NIHR North London RRDN), and then at the beginning of 2023, I relocated to the West Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network (West Midlands RRDN), working as a Clinical Research Practitioner and completing my registration in April 2024 with the Academy for Healthcare Science.
My CRP role involves helping and supporting the delivery of a range of research studies focusing on all areas of health and social care, in primary, secondary and community care settings.
With my dental nursing skills, I have helped create the Dental Research Network, through which I liaise with dental professionals and practices, introducing them to potential research studies. Some of these aim to identify best practice, utilising staff experience to help shape the evidence, whilst others aim to improve patient satisfaction and dental care, with the patient in the centre of their approach.
Being involved in research is a great way for the whole dental team to develop new career skills. I’m here to represent the career development available for dental nurses in research by showing you my journey so far.
My CRP Journey By Rachel Evans, Senior CRP, West Midlands RRDN
I have a background in international investment and finance but moved into healthcare 20 years ago after a family member developed frontal-temporal dementia. I wanted to help. I already had a BSc in Applied Psychology from Durham University, so I studied for MSc in Brain Injury and Rehabilitation at Birmingham University. Alongside my studies, I worked clinically in both private and NHS neurorehabilitation units and volunteered with the stroke research team at the University.
My academic team won a £5 million bid to develop Cogwatch, a trial to tailor neurorehabilitation techniques based on brain scans and cognitive assessments and I trained my research team in the West Midlands to deliver it.
I currently work delivering research for the NIHR West Midlands RRDN in a variety of settings within and outside the NHS and contribute to various academic research projects in stroke and dementia.
In addition, I am increasingly involved with the patients and the public. From personal experience, I knew it was important to get the latest research to the people who needed it and to include the patient perspective at every stage of a study.
My work with patients and stroke groups, especially those with members of ethnic minorities, continues to expand my academic network. I love this part of my job with patients as it involves a team approach, to which they lend an important voice. My other favourite professional role is that of CRP Engagement Lead for the West Midlands. This professional title underlines the team approach of the research team, mirroring the MDT style of our clinical colleagues.
In this role I have conducted a scoping exercise with my CRP colleague Ruth Johns, to find CRPs in our region and over the last 12 months we have increased CRP contacts from 28 to 86.
We regularly run online CRP forums to help promote the role, and have been delighted by the expertise alive in our region, with some of our members being so specialised they are the world leading experts in their research area of interest. We have held face to face events bringing this qualified group of individuals together. When asked how CRPs add value, the response is simple: we improve data quality and I am proud to be one.
My CRP Journey By Tadas Mazeika, CRP, Leeds teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Tadas’s journey from a Senior Clinical Trials Assistant (SCTA) to a fully registered Clinical Research Practitioner (CRP) highlights the seamless transition between roles within healthcare research, demonstrating how his prior experience has laid the foundation for his current success. Tadas’ time as an SCTA, where he honed skills in project coordination and ethical compliance, provided him with a strong framework for his new responsibilities. His understanding of research findings, coupled with his ability to analyse and interpret data, has positioned him as a key contributor to infection and emergency medicine at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, reinforcing his expertise in the field.
Reflecting on his own career progression, Tadas shared that his decision to apply for the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) scheme was the turning point. Having spent 18 months as an SCTA, he was aware of the limitations on career advancement for non-medical NHS research roles at Band 4. With encouragement from his manager, he submitted his application to the CRP register, a step that would open doors to further career opportunities.
“It felt like the perfect time,” Tadas said. “I had been thinking about the lack of opportunities to move beyond Band 4 roles in non-medical NHS research, and the CRP register offered a clear path forward.” After a month of waiting, Tadas was thrilled to be approved to join the register as a fully registered CRP.
Tadas’s hard work paid off quickly when he secured a Band 5 CRP position shortly after applying. The new role came with a higher salary and provided more responsibility and career development opportunities. “It was a significant milestone for me,” he said: “I was excited to take on more responsibility finally and make a real impact within the NHS research community.”
He also found the CRP register application process to be straightforward and well-organised, noting that it was a manageable process that helped him build on his existing skills. Tadas is now looking forward to expanding the CRP network, believing that collaboration and knowledge sharing will play a pivotal role in advancing healthcare research.
“We’re all working toward the same goal - to make a meaningful impact on healthcare science,” Tadas explained. “Together, we can build a strong community of CRPs, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and contributing to the scientific world in ways that will benefit future generations.”
Tadas’s journey exemplifies how commitment, hard work, and the right opportunities can create a fulfilling and impactful career in healthcare research.
CRP Publications
CRP Publications
Mrs Ibiyemi Sadare, Senior CTP and CRP Engagement Lead South London, Croydon University Hospital, Surrey has shared her two recent publications.
1. Clinical Research Practitioner: Transformation to a Competent Professional Through Reflective Practice
A discussion paper
● This article provides insight into the evolving role of CRPs and emphasises reflective practice as a crucial tool for their transformation and development into competent professionals
● It also highlights the benefits for organisations of having professionally registered CRPs, providing recommendations for them to invest in training CRPs to improve their competency, confidence, and professionalism
● It advocates for organisations to focus on role advancement and specialisation opportunities, to allow CRPs to take on more challenging tasks and contribute significantly to research activities
Sadare, I. (2024), Clinical Research Practitioner: Transformation to a Competent Professional Through Reflective Practice. Nurs Health Sci., 26: e70009. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.70009
2. Bridging The Gap: Transformative Leadership Strategies To Empower Clinical Research Practitioners
The Clinical Research Practitioner (CRP) profession is now part of the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) register. CRPs are instrumental in the support and delivery of clinical trials. The discussion paper advocates for developing leadership competencies among CRPs, stressing the importance of adaptability and digital skills. There is an illustration on initiatives aimed at promoting collaboration and professional growth, a roadmap to thrive, aligning with the continuous professional development (CPD) and reflective practice as endorsed by AHCS.
Winter 2024 Edition: HCS-Leadership-Journal---Winter-Edition-2024.pdf (page 14)
Spotlight section - Ask Steph Kings-Jones,
Spotlight section - Ask Steph Kings-Jones,
RDN CC GCP National Lead / Learning & Development Facilitator, East Midlands RRDN
Question: Hi Steph, please could you clarify the information around Clinical Research Practitioners (CRPs) and dual registration?
Answer: CRP Registration was introduced for those in patient-facing research delivery roles who were not statutory registered professionals. For those statutory registered professionals also involved in delivering research, joining the CRP register would not normally be recommended as regulation of their practice will already be covered by their existing or former professional regulatory body (e.g. Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council, etc.). For statutory registered professionals whose scope of practice is shifting toward that of a CRP, dual registration or sole registration on the Academy of Healthcare Sciences (AHCS) accredited register may be an option that they would prefer, in line with their ongoing professional scope and career development intentions. This is assessed by AHCS on a case-by-case basis.
Funding opportunities - Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework bursary funding
Funding opportunities - Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework bursary funding
We’re thrilled to share that registered CRPs are now eligible to apply for bursaries to pay the fees for masters level courses aligned with the Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework. These courses are ideal for experienced professionals looking to step into leadership roles in clinical research delivery.
Key details:
🕘 Application deadline: 12 noon, 1 July 2025
⚠️ Applicants must apply for and hold a university offer before applying for a bursary
📝 More info & how to apply: Visit the NIHR website
Not eligible for this bursary?
You may still be able to access other funding. Visit the NIHR funding information page to explore other opportunities.
Funding opportunities - INSIGHT Programme funding
Funding opportunities - INSIGHT Programme funding
The NIHR has awarded 3 years of funding to institutions with Masters places starting in the autumn of 2024, 2025 and 2026. Each year, up to 30 research Masters places are available in 12 regions across England.
This programme is for students and recent graduates within registered healthcare, social work and public health professions.
You can find out more about the NIHR INSIGHT Programme and how to contact your regional INSIGHT Programme on the NIHR website.
Keeping your details up to date
Keeping your details up to date
To help us support you and the CRP Community it's very important that you keep your contact details up to date, including the region where you work.
You can update your details here.
Connect on social media
Connect on social media
Check out the latest tweets on X (Twitter) using the hashtag #CRPractitioner - you can:
Want to contribute?
Want to contribute?
If you have any stories or information you would like to share, please contact your local CRP Engagement Lead.
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