Research Delivery Workforce Update
July 2021
Embedded Files
Welcome to our Update page, where we intend to share regional & national updates related to training & research delivery workforce matters.
This month's update is longer than usual to include information about new learning resources & development programmes - please ensure you scroll to the bottom to avoid missing webinar details & course updates.
About The NW Research Workforce Team (LCRNs GM & NWC)
LCRNs GM & NWC have entered into a collaboration to provide a single CRN WF Function across the North West. The team is currently in formation & will be place fully in Autumn 2021.
We hope to soon be in a position to fully describe the revised offer to our Partner Organisations. In the meantime, if you have any unresolved queries after reading the update, please email us at learning.lcrnsnorthwest@nihr.ac.uk.
Research-Specific Training Programme
Research-Specific Training Programme
Please note that NIHR GCP is currently provided as a suite of online learning only, with some face to face events prioritised.
Other GCP related programmes are still being provided both online & via classroom - where appropriate learning space can be secured.
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, 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. We are currently arranging for NIHR Learn local learning pages to be merged to form a NW-wide identity. In the meantime, the CRN GM local learning pages will give a good idea of what is currently being provided.
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
New Starters
If you're planning to support a new starter into a research delivery team, please consider utilising the suggested learning pathway 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.
A new 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.
Please also see MOOC information below.
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.
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 googleform for GM teams and this googleform 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.
New Learning Resources
NEW Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs)
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.
Demystifying Target Cancer Treatments - Cancer Research UK
Starts 9 August with moderation from Elaine Vickers, Anne Croudass and mentors
Increased your understanding of targeted treatments and immunotherapies that are changing the face of cancer care including how they work to support patients.
From 9 August–10 September, you can benefit from the support of expert educators and mentors, who will be online to answer your questions and support your learning.
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
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
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.
NIHR Learn Insights
In this instalment, Laura Bousfield, Head of Feasibility and Start-Up (CRN Coordinating Centre) discusses how the CRN Site Identification Service helps to coordinate research placement across the UK to increase patient access and how you can get involved.
We will also explore some practical tips to help develop your networking skills.
Did you know that NIHR Learn Insights is mobile friendly? Grab a cuppa and take a moment
Development Opportunities
Bridging Scheme led by Health Education England North and NIHR: A scheme designed to help nurses, midwives, allied health professionals (AHPs) and healthcare scientists to build the strongest possible application for a PhD or a post-doctoral level fellowship.
'Making Your Way in Research', Free NIHR webinar series suitable for staff involved in clinical or academic research writing for publication: Online sessions, hosted by the NIHR's 70@70 Senior Research Nurse and Midwife Research Leader Programme, are open to all.
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM) 2021/2022 Research Internship Programme: May be of interest to anyone who would like to understand more about research and interested in combining their current role with a future research career.
Additional Workforce, Learning & Development News & Info
AHP Research Survey
Are you an Allied Health Professional (AHP) working in the NHS or providing NHS healthcare at least one day per week?
The Council for Allied Health Professions (CAHPR) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are asking all AHPs working in the NHS to complete an important national survey, whether involved in research or not.
The survey - which is open until the end of July - asks about your research skills and confidence, and about the support from your employer to engage in research activity and use research findings to inform practice. Your responses will provide crucial information to help shape the support needed to increase research skills for all AHPs. The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete, and will need to be completed in one sitting.
Please use this link to access the survey - AHP-perceptions-of-research-in-the-NHS-survey
The NIHR CRN Workforce Leads Group - Learning Needs Survey
We are dedicated to supporting the delivery of high quality research by developing our workforce through a range of current and relevant development opportunities including training courses and e-learning.
We would like your views on your research learning needs now and in the future by asking you to complete a simple questionnaire.
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)
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 at present, this could be well placed to ensure continuity of formal learning for those who are new to research.
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