Research Delivery Workforce Update
January/February 2022
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Welcome to our Update page, where we intend to share regional & national updates related to training & research delivery workforce matters.
The North West Research Workforce Team now work across both LCRN regions, ensuring that there is a cohesive workforce, learning & development offer to our Partner Organisations and the wider workforce.
Please email us at learning.lcrnsnorthwest@nihr.ac.uk if you have any queries. Please ensure you scroll to the bottom.
Research-Specific Training Programmes
Research-Specific Training Programmes
Please note that NIHR GCP is currently provided as part of the national suite of online learning only, with some local face to face events prioritised both virtually & in the classroom.
To ensure your team are exposed to all that is offered - please ensure you (and any learners you have responsibility for) are familiar with NIHR Learn, (some highlighted below), especially the range of courses available for new starters - to be in a position to request any available training according to any training plans you may have.
Virtual & Classroom Events
Virtual & Classroom Events
are listed within the NIHR Learn "Locally Delivered Learning" tab (centre of home page) as one NW-wide identity - CRNs North West (GM & NWC).
As a reminder, here are weblinks to current suggested plans for Research Delivery Teams Learning Plan and Principal Investigators Learning Plan, plus we have a poster of our summarised our COVID-19 research training advice & guidance
Support in planning research novice development
Support in planning research novice development
If you're planning to support a research novice into your research delivery team, please consider utilising the suggested learning pathway. This is the model used by NW WF Team to create an offer that matches the likely contents of current competency frameworks and is then scheduled to ensure your learner is best placed to consolidate their peer/workplace learning within face to face events.
We plan for incremental learning, using 'spaced repetition', bearing in mind competency frameworks & induction phase timelines and we also use a workforce learning model known as the 70/20/10 rule, with 70% being on the job learning, 20% being peer support and 10% formal learning events. This is described here & other aspects of this work is described across the pages in the Our Approach to....... webpages.
A recent addition to NIHR Learn - Clinical Research in Practice Settings - could be useful in helping new starters settle in if it's used prior to being asked to complete GCP.
There are also several related sections below.
Research Delivery Team Essentials (RDTE)* & Informed Consent (relates only to the Research Delivery workforce)
Research Delivery Team Essentials (RDTE)* & Informed Consent (relates only to the Research Delivery workforce)
We offer a Research Delivery Team (RDT) specific learning pathway to our Partners - scheduled by the line manager, in alignment with how it is offered.
Most of the pathway can be accessed directly via NIHR Learn. This is not something the learner should be navigating in isolation - it is expected that the line manager will drive the learning plan and development of research novices, in a timely manner with staff performance & retention in mind.
RDTE is designed to underline the first 3-4 months of development & plan for the next few months ahead - and is a course that necessitates line manager nomination.
"Informed Consent" is an additional course to the consent component of RDTE, specifically for those who will seek consent - so should be undertaken after RDTE. It forms part of the Consent Training Pathway.
Nominations for Training
Nominations for Training
We need to be able to schedule these training courses according to demand and need support in advance planning from RDT line managers. Please send us a request via this google form for GM teams and this google form for NWC teams to let us know you have a new starter in post who needs to access RDTE and possibly also Informed Consent. We will then send them a welcome message and will make contact when a place for Essentials becomes available - anticipating that once we resume to a more regular schedule, this will be at the recommended time for completion.
Events & Training, Learning & Development Opportunities
Events & Training, Learning & Development Opportunities
Are you getting the most from NIHR Learn?
Are you getting the most from NIHR Learn?
Our Learning Technologist, Martin Occleston, demonstrates in this recorded session
a whole host of useful resources on NIHR Learn that you might not be away of, and some top tips on how to navigate your way around the system.
You can watch here if you'd like to get a better understanding for yourself.
Can you support the "Health + Care Expo 2022: Growing our researcher opportunities in the North West"?
Can you support the "Health + Care Expo 2022: Growing our researcher opportunities in the North West"?
What is the Expo?
What is the Expo?
A health and care research Expo to highlight the work that goes on in our local area led by creative and innovative practitioners in practitioner and academic settings. It's an opportunity not only to celebrate but also to shape future conversations and work programmes around health and care research priorities in our local region and against the national strategic backdrop.
What can you do?
Provide existing materials for the gallery space (the project team can help format them for the event)
Lead/participate in a workshop that is of interest to you (facilitator support is available)
Share the opportunity with colleagues who may be keen to take part
Key Details
Key Details
When: The events runs for a month from mid-March '22 through April '22
Format: The event will be an online/digital event, shaped by you, led by practitioners.
Who: The event is a collaboration between: HEE (NW), CRN GM, CRN NWC, NHS R&D NW & University of Liverpool
Student Nursing Times Awards Clinical Research Category
The NIHR are proud to sponsor the Student Nurse of the Year: Clinical research category at this year's Student Nursing Times Awards. The award aims to recognise a student nurse who has shown themselves to be a true advocate for clinical research. Find out more and make your nomination here.
- GCP Consolidation sessions - February 10th & 25th.
The NIHR GCP Facilitator Community across the North West are now offering short, informal support sessions for those who wish to discuss any unresolved queries they may have following completion of a training programme such as GCP. Information on how to book can be found here
- Informed Consent - March 14th & 22nd.
Information as above for the Research Delivery Workforce. If from another community, please review the course information here.
- Becoming a Principle Investigator - March 3rd.
Offered as part of a PI pathway. Information on how to book can be found here
- Digital Tools for Efficient Clinical Trials (FutureLearn online course)
A free new course is available on FutureLearn running between Jan 31 - Feb 27. You can find out full details in our Massive Open Online Content (MOOC) section further down this monthly update.
HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic (ICA) Programme Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (PCAF) scheme competition.
A fifth HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic (ICA) Programme Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (PCAF) scheme competition has been announced. Closes: 13:00 on 10 March 2022 For further information visit here.
New Learning Resources
New Learning Resources
New Instalment: How do we actively work in partnership with patients and members of the public?
New Instalment: How do we actively work in partnership with patients and members of the public?
NIHR Learn Insights is a CPD resource with new instalments every two months and the most recent edition looks at the importance of a diverse and inclusive approach to research.
In the edition for January and February, we reflect on the importance of actively working in partnership with patients and members of the public to plan, manage, design and carry out research. We also consider how everybody working in research organisations has a role to play when we partner with the public.
There is also a PANORAMIC trial update, info on what's new on NIHR Learn and more.
Did you know that NIHR Learn Insights is mobile friendly? Grab a cuppa and take a moment.
NIHR Learn Insights
Additional Workforce, Learning & Development News & Info
Additional Workforce, Learning & Development News & Info
Have you had your say on proposals for research legislative change?
Have you had your say on proposals for research legislative change?
Colleagues are invited to take part in a public consultation launched by the government's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The consultation is seeking opinions on proposals on legislative changes for clinical trials, with a deadline of March 14th 2022.
The MHRA said: "We are consulting on a set of proposals to improve and strengthen the UK clinical trials legislation (the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 as amended), to help us make the UK the best place to research and develop safe and innovative medicines."
The MHRA would like to hear from the public and patients, clinical trial participants, researchers, developers, manufacturers, sponsors, investigators and healthcare professionals.
Celebrating Clinical Research Practitioners
Celebrating Clinical Research Practitioners
The NIHR are holding an open national event on the afternoon of the 14 March (1.30 - 4pm) to celebrate the work of CRPs and mark one year since the launch of the CRP-accredited register.
This event hopes to welcome a large audience and will be of interest to you if you are:
a CRP, either registered or working towards professional registration
a manager or colleague supporting CRPs to become professionally registered
interested to know more about CRP accredited registration and to engage in the future
To read more & sign up, click here
North West Clinical Research Practitioner Community
A reminder that we have created a NW CRP webpage, with the aim to provide you with some fantastic resources to support your journey to registration and beyond.
You can also register to contact your National Engagement Manager for CRP Registration, Maya Leach, who is planning a series of events to support your plans for application & registration.
Allied Health Professions’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England
Allied Health Professions’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England
Our last update included Making Research Matter the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s strategic plan for research which was launched on 22 November 2021.
On January 26th. Health Education England launched a Allied Health Professions’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England, with it's scope being to address fours domains - Capacity, Capability, Context, Culture. The full strategy can be found here.
NWC Lead Research Practitioner Forum
NWC Lead Research Practitioner Forum
We have recently created a web page which will act as a central repository for all CRN North West Coast Lead Research Practitioner Forum information.
The site will house the terms of reference for this group, previous meetings' minutes along with other useful resources. It's still in the early stages at the moment, but if you are a member of this group, make sure you bookmark the link and keep an ear out for more info in the coming weeks.
Embedding Research in NHS Care and Wider Health Services - A Guide
Embedding Research in NHS Care and Wider Health Services - A Guide
This updated guide aims to provide some 'tools' to help you support NHS colleagues to further embed research activity in their organisations for patient benefit at the frontline.
You will find information that should support you in interacting with non research colleagues in your care settings. This might be facts and figures, messaging, reports, new strategic work or examples of approaches to research engagement, including simple key messages that you could use
National & Regional Workforce Planning Resources
National & Regional Workforce Planning Resources
If you are interested in workforce planning; additional workforce; volunteer deployment; skill mix; this webpage holds links to National & Regional Resources.
Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs)
Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs)
Both NIHR MOOCs are scheduled to repeat over the coming weeks/months:
For NHS staff, patients and public: "What is Health Research?" Explore the world of health research and the role volunteers play in transforming treatments and improving health care.
For research novices: "Improving Healthcare through Clinical Research". In this free online course, find out how medical treatments are discovered, tested and evaluated to improve healthcare for all.
As GCP face to face is not available widely at present, this could be well placed to ensure continuity of formal learning
for those who are new to research.
Introduction to Randomised Controlled Trials - University of Birmingham
Discover the importance of trials in evidence-based medicine and learn about the trial lifecycle from conception to publication. To find out more - weblink here.
- NEW ADDITION: Digital Tools for Efficient Clinical Trials
A new NIHR Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) starts on 31 January. The course has a guide time of 2 hours per week, for 4 weeks but you can work through it at your own pace until it closes on Feb 27. It aims to give researchers and trial teams an overview of how digital tools can support the recruitment and retention of trial participants, whilst also considering their possible limitations. The course is open to anyone with an interest in clinical research. It has been developed by staff from the NIHR Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, NIHR NETSCC and Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre, using NIHR funding. register now
With all FutureLearn MOOCs, please remember that your do not have to purchase a certificate, you can 'screenshot' your progress and/or your completion page.
Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
The Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (ATTC) network have developed a new e-learning programme in collaboration with e-learning for Healthcare. Please share with your networks/communities as appropriate.
This series of eLearning sessions is designed to give the learner a core understanding of advanced therapies, how they function in the body, and the steps involved in delivering these medicines. The modules take the learner from the basics of cell and gene therapy, through to a more in-depth look at products currently being delivered through both commissioned treatments and clinical trials.
New Learning Resource on NIHR Learn: Introduction to GCP - IMP management module
New Learning Resource on NIHR Learn: Introduction to GCP - IMP management module
The Introduction to GCP - IMP Management module is now available on NIHR Learn. This specialised Good Clinical Practice (GCP) module explores Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP) management within the context of clinical trials conducted in the NHS.
It is a specialist module for the Introduction to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) for those who have delegated responsibility (freedom to act) for IMP management for a clinical trial.
It meets a training need for GCP IMP management outside of a pharmacy setting and by non pharmacy professionals while continuing to ensure Pharmacy staff receive the relevant training they need to be GCP compliant.
In case you missed it...
In case you missed it...
Primary Care
Primary Care
There is a Research and Quality Improvement Learning Community for Primary Care on NIHR Learn, as well as a new module which is made up of a series of videos entitled Getting into Research: Primary Care, taken from a conversation between CRN GM and the GP Excellence programme.
Associate PI
Associate PI
The Associate PI scheme recently launched a new website which contains all of the details you need to know about the programme, including what to expect, how to apply, and where to reach out for further information.
Did you know you can follow us on Twitter?
Did you know you can follow us on Twitter?
We have a North-West Workforce Learning and Development Twitter account where we share some of the great work going on across our region.
Follow us, tag us when you have something you'd like us to shout about and you never know what opportunities and contacts you might come across along the way!
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