Setting Specific Research Engagement Support
Page last updated 23 February 2024
How you approach different care providers will depend on who or what they are. On this page you will find information on which approaches to research engagement work best as well as links to 'tools' which can help in conversations with non research professionals in various health and care settings.
Successful models and approaches to research engagement
In the New to Research Engagement section we explored what research engagement is, what the barriers are and what best practice looks like. In this section we look a bit closer at successful models and approaches to research engagement.
Research Networks & Communities
Building relationships with the Health & Care System is only one element of research engagement. Networks that can bring healthcare services, researchers and patients/service users together have shown to be successful.
West Midlands Network have created a number of setting specific research networks which bring together researchers, the health and care system and local populations. The Networks offer an 'enhanced' study support service which may include R&D support for local providers, public involvement and training and development.
Take a look at how these Networks have successfully supported research engagement in a number of settings.
Wider care animation full East Midlands Network have developed a Research Learning & Excellence Community of Home care providers. The Community provides learning resources about social care research, engagement with researchers, tips on how to implement research findings guidance and recommendations into best practice and how to evidence your research activity for CQC and other stakeholders. Take a look at the RELEC Offer!
Link Roles
The West of England Network have developed Link Roles to support engagement of Primary Care, Care Homes and wider community settings.
Embedded Researchers
The Network has one of the biggest research workforces in England. Our workforce includes research leadership, delivery professionals and support staff employed by our host organisations as well as a large proportion of individuals who are funded by the Network but are employed or 'embedded' in a health and care service. This embedded researcher workforce support the delivery of the NIHR Portfolio; however they also help develop research culture within the health and care organisations they are based.
Dr. Dylan Kneale from NIHR ARC North Thames and UCL has written a report on the benefits of using embedded researcher models when engaging public health in research and the use of research evidence to inform policy and practice. You can also find out more information about embedded researchers by following the links below:
What are ‘Embedded Researchers’ and what influence could they have?
What are the mechanisms driving the early stages of embedded researcher interventions? A qualitative process evaluation in English local government
Clarity in our offers to the Health & Care System?
Why should wider care settings engage in research? View the poster below developed by Network East Midlands that explains what the Network can offer.
Think about where health and care professionals go for information
The Network National Specialty Group for Infection in collaboration with the Centre for Evidence and Dissemination redeveloped the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Wikipedia page. Take a look at how we shared expert knowledge about AMR and promoted the NIHR to frontline delivery staff.
WiderCare_Infographic_East Midlands (1).pdfTailor your messages to your specific audience
East of England Network have developed ‘Rebo’s Research Adventure’ learning resources for teachers to use to help children understand health and care research.
Research Awareness for Wider Health & Care Settings
The Research in Wider Care & Communities Microsite has been developed as part of a NIHR Supraregional initiative by East of England, East Midlands and West Midlands Networks to provide a single space for the research delivery community to access key information to help engage and recruit in wider care and community settings and services.
Some links to key resources have been included on this toolkit but we would encourage people working in wider care settings to visit the microsite directly.
Below is a presentation developed for Agile Teams and Research Delivery Professionals to help them engage wider care settings.
V2 Research Awareness for wider care and community settings.pptxSpeaking the right language
A resource on using the right language has been put together for the Research Delivery Teams who are working in wider health, care, and community settings and services to help them engage and recruit with confidence.
This resource may also be helpful for the primary care teams and anyone engaging with the wider health, care, and community setting.
Examples and Scenarios of how to communicate with wider settings
Specific examples of how to engage with CQC regulated organisations
Top tips for how to start 'out of hospital' settings on their research journey
An introduction to case studies and their value to these teams.
By the end of this package, learners will be able to adapt and customise communication skills to the needs of the wider settings.
Working with a local authority is an entirely different matter than working with a Trust, and the same again for primary care. They are commissioned and resourced very differently. This context is critical when looking at embedding research activity.
Hospitals and Acute Care
Funding for NHS Trusts
NHS trusts can now claim back more of the costs involved in carrying out clinical research following a national policy change. Read the article in the Health Services Journal (HSJ) to find out more about additional research funding for Trusts.
How district general hospitals can become more research-active
District general hospitals have been cornerstones of the NHS since its inception but have not necessarily been the most research-active organisations, that of course being the natural domain of the university teaching hospitals. As part of a Royal College of Physician's series a chief executive from a district hospital talks about the benefits of clinical research and how district hospitals become more research active.
Involving NHS Staff in Research
While much research is already led by NHS staff, particularly consultants and clinical academics, the full potential of involving a wider range of NHS staff in healthcare research is yet to be realised. How to realise that potential is the subject of the THIS Institute report. The report also includes a summary of why and how NHS staff engage with research.
Care Quality Commission
Clinical research is no longer just a 'nice to do' exercise in the NHS - it is now a key part of improving patient care. Research is written into the NHS Constitution and this is now backed up through the CQC inspection process.
Research in emergency and acute care settings
Emergency and acute care research poses its own set of challenges including conducting research procedures within minutes of an unscheduled critical illness or injury. Its helpful to think about the environment for recruitment and competencies needed to conduct research in these environments.
Acute care research competencies for clinical research professionals
A paper by Schuckman et al (2020) identified 28 special interest competencies within eight domains for Clinical Research Practitioners working in Acute Care Research.
Guidance on conducting research when treatment needs to be given urgently
The HRA has written some guidance on conducting research when it is necessary to take urgent action for the purposes of the study. The Guidance focuses on adults and children not able to consent for themselves in an emergency however it's helpful to understand the context on conducting research in these settings when engaging health and care professionals as well.
Primary Care
Delivering health and care research in primary care - why and how?
Find out why delivering health and care research in primary care is so important and what it can offer health and care professionals, General Practice and patients.
Deep End
Below is an example of the benefits of enhanced research engagement reach into a Primary Care 'Deep End' practice in the North East of England
Primary Care Research Strategy
This strategy document describes the direction for expanding research activity in Primary Care settings and how this is to be achieved through both concerted work within the NIHR Network and through its links with the wider NIHR and key organisations influencing the Primary Care landscape.
To find out more about the Network's Primary Care Strategy click the button below.
Resources on the Wider Care and Community Microsite
Community-Based Care
NHS Community Services
NHS Community Services play a critical role in delivering patient care. View the video developed by East of England Network who have described the benefits of community services taking part in research.
Research in Community Settings Toolkit
This Toolkit contains practical advice for those considering doing research in community settings. It also seeks to stimulate discussion as to how we can work together to maximise study success, and encourage the broadest participation possible from our communities.
The advice in the Toolkit is relevant to researchers across many areas of interest.
Engaging Social Care Services
TOP tips Guidance for engaging and maintaining relationships with different social care organisations (1).pdfResearch in Care
The aim of the Research in Care resource is to equip delivery staff and researchers with the information they need to engage and recruit within social care. This includes practical information about how to engage well with social care providers and also how to support social care study teams.
Resources on the Wider Care and Community Microsite
Residential Care
The NIHR ENRICH website has a useful toolkit for researchers that outlines the principles that should guide research in care homes. This information is a good starting point for understanding how to engage care homes in research and offer them support as an 'ENRICH' Care Home. It provides readers with an appreciation of the potential benefits of research for care home residents, staff, and families. It will also provide you with a good understanding of what is different about doing research in care homes compared with other environments.
This site is intended for all Network staff supporting care home research across the network. It is designed to provide a place for sharing best practice, guidance and information that will help you successfully set up and deliver studies that involve care homes.
ENRICH and the Integrated Care Delivery Teams
Case Study Enabling Research In Care Homes (ENRICH) Network .pdfBreaking New Grounds: NIHR Wessex Network partners with Laurel Care Home to deliver research
Take a look at this case study on the NIHR Website.
One of the Lead Nurses at Laurel Care Home explains why they took part in the AFRI-c study and why taking part in research in care homes is important.
Getting involved in research as a care home
West Midlands Network have developed some top tips for engaging social care organisations.
Hospice Research Portal
East Midlands Network has developed a portal to support hospice engagement and involvement in research.
