Research Delivery Workforce Update
October 2021
Embedded Files
Welcome to our Update page, where we intend to share regional & national updates related to training & research delivery workforce matters.
Please ensure you scroll to the bottom.
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 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.
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, 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 local learning pages 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
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 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.
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.
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
North West Research L&D Support Huddle - Tuesday 9th November - we now offer short, informal support sessions for those who wish to discuss how to plan their first 3-6 months in a Research Delivery Team role; research delivery training options; any unresolved queries they may have following completion of a training programme such as GCP Information & booking link
Research Delivery Team Essentials & Informed Consent* - cohorts in both GM & NWC November/December - please see information above for Research Delivery Teams.
Health Education England ICA Internship Programme
NHS R&D North West are pleased to announce that in collaboration with the University of Salford from January 2022, we will be delivering the Integrated Clinical Academic Internship Programme across the North West region of Health Education England. These highly prestigious internships are funded by Health Education England providing the first step onto a clinical academic career pathway. More information here.
North West Coast ARC Internship Programme
These internships are designed to support individuals within our member organisations to undertake a small research project under the supervision of experienced researchers from one of the ARC universities. Open to individuals employed within NWC ARC Member organisations who have an interest in research and are looking to begin the next stage of their research career. More information here.
Gastroenterology & Hepatology Clinical Research Training Programme Launch
This education programme launches in November 2021. The flyer in this link includes information on how to register interest, and further details on the course itself. The Programme is now in its fourth year and delivers comprehensive training in understanding, participating in, and leading clinical research in the NHS. The course is supported by the NIHR and BSG, and we encourage all Gastroenterology and Hepatology trainees working in research active centres to take part. Contact: Marwa Soussi, Cluster B CRN Coordinator (marwa.soussi@nihr.ac.uk).
Associate PI - Virtual Education Event - 3rd November 2021, 9am-12,30pm.
Registration is open for a Associate PI Scheme virtual Launch. The event is open to all who wish to learn more about the scheme & how they can get involved. for more info - event link.
NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Celebration Event
NIHR Nursing and Midwifery are hosting a virtual celebration on 10 December. This free event will mark the close of the World Health Organisation extended year of the nurse and midwife.
We will bring together nurses and midwives working in research with an exciting programme of guest speakers, discussion sessions with senior leaders of nursing and midwifery and creative content to support our message.
Registration is now open here: https://prsnt.live/nihr/reflections
New Learning Resources
NIHR Learn Insights
NIHR Learn Insights (bi-monthly CPD resource) for September is now available. This instalment is centred on The Importance of Shaping Professional Identity.
We are pleased to welcome Janice Paterson, Workforce Strategy Lead, Clinical Research Network, National Coordinating Centre , as our guest editor for this month.
In this instalment, Janice explores how complementary professional identities that are well understood can both enhance team performance and encourage investment in new roles and career pathways.
We will also provide a spotlight on a programme of learning taking place in Yorkshire and the Humber, which has been designed to address local needs and enhance the learning of our Clinical Research Delivery workforce.
Did you know that NIHR Learn Insights is mobile friendly? Grab a cuppa and take a moment.
NIHR Learn Insights has now moved to every other month, keep an eye out for the November edition which will be focused on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Research And Quality Improvement Learning Community For Primary Care
The Research and Quality Improvement Learning Community for Primary Care offers a rich portal for users to interact with colleagues from across the UK as well as access to a range of high quality resources and related training.
The Community has been designed to be inclusive, targeting all healthcare professionals with an interest in learning more or linking to clinical scholarship in primary care, the wider community and beyond. The Community allows these connections to be established from links between practices to trainee groups to regional collaborations/national discussions by capitalising on the social functionality of NIHR Learn.
The video on the right hand side provides you with a demo of how to make the most of the new primary care community - check it out!
PC Community.mp4The Community forums are designed to allow for local and national discussions and provide a vehicle for the exploration of cross cutting themes such as Deep-end /area of social deprivation, PCN/at scale working, GP and AHP Trainees and Early Career Researchers, Community Research /social care, and IT Solutions/digital.
A wealth of resources are provided across a variety of key themes, an example being Quality Improvement, with links to other key initiatives. This growing community is encouraged to share not only emerging ideas but relevant resources, with the functionality to upload directly to the platform, thereby establishing the Community as a platform which fosters collaboration and learning.
Free Workshops from Bangor University's ALPHAcademy
A series of free online workshops are taking place in a range of topics related to preventative health, health equity and leadership.
The programme is being run by Bangor University’s ALPHAcademy. Sessions include 'creating a learning culture', 'coaching and mentoring' and 'health equity and human rights'.
Additional Workforce, Learning & Development News & Info
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)
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.
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.
Page updated
Report abuse