NW Research Workforce, Learning & Development

Research Delivery Workforce Update

July 2023

Welcome to our Update page, where we share regional & national updates related to training & research delivery workforce matters.

The North West Research Workforce Team work across Greater Manchester and North West Coast LCRNs, ensuring that there is a cohesive workforce, learning & development offer to our Partner Organisations and the wider workforce.

Note that our L&D offering is research specific and is designed to supplement the non-research L&D offering of your employing organisation.

Please email us at learning.lcrnsnorthwest@nihr.ac.uk if you have any queries or feedback.

*Please ensure you scroll to the bottom so you don't miss anything*

Accessing Research-Specific Training Programmes

E-learning

Please note that NIHR Good Clinical Practice training is provided as part of the NIHR Learn suite of online learning.

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 our current suggested learning plans for Research Delivery Teams and Principal Investigators.

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.

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.

Our Approach

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 in our approach to L&D & other aspects of this work is described across the pages in the Our Approach to....... webpages.

Within NIHR Learn - Clinical Research in Practice Settings - could be useful in helping new starters settle in if it is used prior to being asked to complete GCP, or for students on placements. There are also several related sections below.

Are you getting the most from NIHR Learn?

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. We have now created a new page within this site to provide useful information about NIHR Learn to help you and your colleagues understand how to best use it as a resource.

Research Delivery Workforce - Research Delivery Team Essentials (RDTE)* & Informed Consent

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.

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. It maps to the Integrated Workforce Framework at either Awareness or Core level for all topics. RDTE Course outline. There are 3 cohorts arranged between September and November.
"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. The Informed Consent Course outline can be explored for more info. There are two sessions arranged between September and October

Nominations for Training

We need to be able to schedule these training courses according to demand. Please send us a request via this RDTE and Informed Consent Line Manager Nomination Form to let us know if you have a new starter in post who needs to access RDTE and possibly Informed Consent.

We will then send them a welcome message and will make contact when a place for Essentials becomes available. Places will be prioritised based on time in role, balanced against when nomination was received.

Important Update around Introduction to GCP

Please note that Introduction to GCP can now ONLY be completed online (i.e. will no longer be offered as a face to face option).

Introducing a new course - GCP Consolidation

To supplement this, a NEW half-day consolidation session has been created so that once staff have completed the online training, they can come together in the classroom, or online, to work through the principles in practice. They do not get a 'GCP certificate' for this as they will already have one from the online course. There will be 2 CPD points available for participating in this session.

Bookings for this course are through the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) 2023-24 pages on NIHR Learn. August, September and October dates are currently available.

If you think your Trust need to put a session on, please speak to your R&D department in the first instance, who can get in contact with ourselves at the usual address: learning.lcrnsnorthwest@nihr.ac.uk

Principal Investigator Pipeline Programme launches for Research Delivery Nurses and Midwives

Following on from the success for the Associate PI programme, a new development programme aimed at Research Delivery Nurses and Midwives has been launched. The Principal Investigator Pipeline Programme (PIPP) aims to address some of the current gaps in career opportunities for research delivery nurses and midwives by supporting them to become Principal Investigators (PIs) to deliver NIHR portfolio studies.

The programme will develop the skills, knowledge and experience required by research nurses and midwives to undertake a Principal Investigator (PI) role.

Two cohorts have been announced to date, with the deadline for applications for Cohort 1 being September 30th.

Researcher Credentialing Framework Bursaries - APPLY NOW!

Could you be a Research Delivery Leader?

Are you looking for new ways to develop the next generation of Research Delivery Leads?

Applications are now open for postgraduate clinical research delivery leadership courses aligned with the NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework. These qualifications are open to prospective learners from all healthcare professions and will commence in autumn 2023.

Designed for learners with busy work schedules studying part time, the courses provide a forum to develop the necessary networks, skills and confidence for healthcare practitioners from any regulated profession to support and lead clinical research delivery.

Full and part bursaries for the course fees are available for early applicants. The earliest bursary application deadline is 23 July 2023.

For details about the course options available, please visit the NIHR AoMRC Course Information page of the Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework website.

Full information about the courses is available on the higher education institution websites via the webpage above.

Key Dates

Early Career Researcher Development Pathway - Deadline July 31st

Applications are currently open for a fourth cohort of the NIHR CRN North West Coast (NWC) and Greater Manchester (GM) Early Career Researcher Development Programme. The deadline for applications to be submitted is 5pm on 31st July 2023.

The programme is delivered by NHS R&D NW and up to 30 health and care professionals will take part in this 12-month programme, supporting the development of research-interested individuals from health, social care and public health as future leaders in the region with aspiration to deliver research within local services - ECRDP Programme and application webpage.

Principal Investigator Training

Offered as part of a PI pathway. Please make sure you read the course descriptions before booking to ensure you have the relevant experience required for the sessions. These run alternatively approximately every 6 weeks and are currently being held virtually.

Becoming a PI - next date: 4th September (register your interest via the link below)
PI Essentials - next date: 11th October (register your interest via the link below)

Dates for our PI training programmes can be found within our North West PI Training pages on NIHR Learn, along with the booking form to register your interest in the sessions.

New Learning Resources

New! R&D North West launch new one-day workshop series

R&D North West are taking applications a host of new one-day workshops covering a variety of topics. The workshops are all free to attend and will be held in Chamber Space in Manchester city centre.

Some of the topics covered include:

Getting started in research
Resilience as a health and care researcher
Coaching and leadership

For info all those courses and more, as well as the chance to sign up to their mailing list, visit R&D North West workshops

NEW MOOC available for those who are 'New to Research' / Showing a Research Interest

Starting Out in Health & Social Care Research (Midlands Partnership/NIHR CRN WM/Keele University/University of Worcester

Get step-by-step guidance on every stage of the research process to kickstart your career in health and social care research. On this course led by experts in health and social care research, you’ll be guided through each phase of the research cycle. From formulating a question to publishing your findings, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to start out as a researcher. Starting Out in Health & Social Care Research registration page

Additional Workforce, Learning & Development News & Info

Open DOORS to help your research career...

NW DOORS is a new resource from the North West Workforce, L&D team, aimed to provide a simple to navigate tool, which outlines the various learning opportunities available to colleagues working in research.

NW DOORS is still in it's infancy and we will be adding new roles/interests each month, so even if you don't see what you're looking for right now, we would highly recommend you bookmark the page and check back periodically.

We will update colleagues via these monthly newsletters, and our NW Research Workforce Twitter account too.

Chief Midwifery Officer for England’s

strategic plan for research

NHS England have published the Chief Midwifery Officer for England’s Strategic Plan for Research. This recognises the importance of research in healthcare as one of the main drivers in providing evidence-based improvements in treatment and care, and highlights the benefits of embedding clinical research in the NHS. The plan sets out a framework for developing and investing in research within the NHS and in partnership with others, and for supporting under-represented groups such as midwives to lead research.

Clinical Research Practitioners - National Update

The bi-monthly National CRP bulletin is linked here.

CRP Experiential Gateway to Registration

The experiential gateway to CRP registration is open, closing end of December 2024.

Please ensure you explore the website of the Academy for Healthcare Science for AHCS advice & guidance.

If you have any questions regarding the process, please contact workforceandprofessionscrn@nihr.ac.uk

CRP North West / Regional Update

You can visit the North West CRP webpage. Within this page, there is the opportunity to sign up to a mailing list to connect you with both the regional and national CRP Engagement Leads.

North West CRP Community of Practice - Our next meeting is in planning for the end of September, venue to be confirmed. To be notified, you need to register an interest via the webpage above.

North West CRP Confirmers Community of Practice

This group consists of organisational clinical delivery leads or their nominated representatives. Any queries - learning.lcrnsnorthwest@nihr.ac.uk

National & Regional Workforce Planning Resources

If you are interested in workforce planning; additional workforce; volunteer deployment; skill mix; you may want to view the National & Regional Workforce Planning Resources.

Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs)

FutureLearn Courses: note that you can join these at any time, although if you want to do it with a 'cohort' of learners these have regular start dates.

With all FutureLearn MOOCs, remember that your do not have to purchase a certificate as you can 'screenshot' your completion page.

What is Health Research? (NIHR/University of Leeds)

For NHS staff, patients and public and is a good first step and overview. Explore the world of health research and the role volunteers play in transforming treatments and improving health care. What is Health Research? registration page

Improving Healthcare through Clinical Research (NIHR/University of Leeds)

Through the Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research course, find out how medical treatments are discovered, tested and evaluated to improve healthcare for all. This is more technical that the 'What is Health Research?' course. 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 (available now)

Discover the importance of trials in evidence-based medicine and learn about the trial lifecycle from conception to publication. To find out more the Introduction to Randomised Control Trials will have everything you need.

Digital Tools for Efficient Clinical Trials (NIHR/University of Southampton)

Digital Tools for Efficient Clinical Trials 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.

Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products

The Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (ATTC) network have developed a new Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products e-learning programme in collaboration with e-learning for Healthcare. Please share with your networks/communities as appropriate.

Engagement Resources

Resources to use with your colleagues and students

We wanted to provide you with easy access to some of the resources you might want to consider using with your students, or colleagues who may be interested in becoming more research active.

On NIHR Learn, the Research Engagement Collaborative pages include things like the NHS Engagement Toolkit
The new NIHR "Transforming Lives Through Research" video
Archive of the Research for the Future newsletters