PSP101 Research Specialty and Setting Lead Role Outline and Appointment Process 

This document describes the role description for NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) Research Specialty and Settings Leads and reflects best practice and minimum requirements for the appointment of Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads. A role description and person specification has been developed which must be used for the appointment of Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads. The standardised role description and person specification will ensure consistency across all Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads.

RRDN Research Specialty (or Setting) Lead for (insert region): insert name of Specialty or Setting)

The target audience for the position should be any relevant health and care team member from within the region and should include leaders active in delivery¹ of NIHR RDN Portfolio research. Wording to describe the time commitment for the position should reflect this mixed target audience.

¹ For settings delivery may be more about coordination than hands on research delivery

All specialties/settings should have remuneration and support provided (recommend a standard 0.1 FTE rate of £13,800, (as per host policy)). The amount of time attached to any position is 0.05 FTE²  for Specialty Leads and 0.1 FTE³  for Setting Leads. The time commitment is expected to be included within the job plan for the post-holder.

For some specialties/settings where it is challenging to identify individuals (especially in smaller specialties), NIHR RRDNs are encouraged to consider job-shares, co-appointments across related specialties/settings or joint appointments with neighbouring NIHR RRDNs.

Additional access to support:

• Access to booking travel and meetings associated with delivery of the position including attendance at National Specialty/Setting Group meetings.

• Admin support to coordinate meetings from NIHR RRDN core team (through the Partner Liaison function).

Applicants can be appointed via secondments, employment contract or honorary contract, depending on the host institution's preference.

² Equivalent to 0.5 Programmed Activities (PA)

³ Equivalent to 1.0 PA

A three year renewable tenure is recommended with continuation dependent on successful review. The tenure should not extend beyond the tenure of the NIHR RRDN contract.

Post holders will report to the NIHR RRDN Health and Care directors, with a 6 month review post appointment recommended, followed by annual performance review. Additional accountability will be to the RRDN Strategic Development Director and to the relevant National Specialty/Setting Lead (NSSL), with close consultation expected for annual performance review discussions.

We wish to take a standardised approach to recruiting these posts which will be to disseminate through Delivery organisations, the health and care community and through normal communications channels, and to request for applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) in a standard format with short CV. In addition, and in order to encourage greater diversity in the pool of applicants, we recommend that the following areas are considered as additional areas for dissemination, regions may wish to approach these national bodies/stakeholders together, or identify the regional equivalents or other relevant regional organisations:

• Relevant Royal Colleges

• Specialty specific professional bodies

• The CARE Group - includes multiple national stakeholders and is overseen from RDNCC, please reach out to the RDNCC Head of Health and Care Settings

• CHAIN

• Independent Healthcare Providers Network

• NIHR Social Care Coordination Group

• CAHPR 

• BMJ Careers/Jobs (Site)

• NHS Jobs

• Nursing Times

• Health Services Journal (HSJ)

There is no requirement for Host representation on the interview panels.

In all cases a discussion with the NSSL is encouraged to ensure appropriate Specialty / Setting specific routes are considered.

We wish to collect Equality, Diversity and Inclusion data from applicants and request that host organisations consider how they may achieve this in an anonymised format during the application process.

Formal interviews should be held and include, as a minimum, the relevant NIHR RRDN Health and Care, and Strategic Development Directors, and another suitable member of the RRDN team. Panels should be convened to ensure diversity is appropriately considered, and that regional customers are reflected in the panel composition. NIHR RRDNs may share details of applications with the NSSL and involve them in the shortlisting process.

It is expected that all shortlisted candidates will receive a copy of the Regional Specialty and Setting Lead scope slides (for the purposes of this paper this link is added as appendix 1) ahead of their interview to enable them to appropriately prepare. 

Once a formal appointment has been confirmed in writing, the NIHR RRDN should inform the RDNCC by completing the NIHR RDN Contacts: [XXXX RRDN] Google sheet, previously  shared  by the RDNCC Performance and Impact team (in case of queries, please contact rdncc.performance.impact@nihr.ac.uk).

The RDNCC Performance and Impact team will be automatically notified and will ensure that all relevant RDNCC functions are informed and the RDN Contacts sheet is updated.

The appropriate Specialty and Setting support office will:

1. Provide a CDA to the newly appointed Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads upon appointment to help ensure it is signed as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the Specialty and Setting support office to ensure that a CDA is completed, and they should therefore follow up with the Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads until it is received.

2. Liaise with the Regional Specialty and Setting Leads to update the RDN Reviewers App with details of expertise and conflicts of interest.

3. Provide a RDN wide induction to ensure Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads are aware of the tasks they may be required to support nationally.

Where Specialty and Setting support offices are not yet established the RDNCC Specialties and Settings team will fulfil this role.

The NIHR RRDN will communicate details of appointments to the relevant local audiences and provide a regional induction.

NIHR RRDNs may find it helpful to include the local Host values and behaviours framework within this role-outline and also have NIHR and host branding regardless of whether a formal or informal approach to advertising is undertaken within the NIHR RRDN.

A standard role-outline and person specification is included in Part 2.

The aim is that the Role Description and common nomenclature will provide greater consistency across the regions. Further feedback is always welcome as the documents will be reviewed annually.

Further guidance documents on induction and appraisal of Regional Specialty and Settings Leads will be made available.

Comments can be fed back to the key contacts.

Jo Mearhart, Head of Health and Care Settings, RDNCC - jo.mearhart@nihr.ac.uk

Please localise items in square brackets according to NIHR RRDN requirements:

Role Title: Regional Research Specialty Lead for [insert region]: [insert name of Specialty]

Duration: Fixed term [3] years [renewable] or until [enter end date], whichever is sooner

Time Commitment: [to be inserted as per NIHR RRDN requirement - 0.05 FTE minimum]

Salary / Reimbursement: [include standardised rate, use both PA and WTE]

Accountable to: Post holders will report to the [relevant NIHR RRDN Health and Care Director]. Additional accountability will be to the RRDN Strategic Development Director and to the relevant National Specialty Lead (NSL)

Key Relationships:

Post holders will work closely with the RRDN leadership team and the Strategic and Operations teams. Post-holders will also be expected to develop close working relationships with relevant regional external stakeholders, including Integrated Care Boards. Additional key relationships will be with the Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) teams, Regional Specialty and Settings Leads from other NIHR RRDNs and NHS E based Specialty and Setting Leads.

Background

NIHR Research Delivery Network

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). NIHR works in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public. The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. NIHR is a major funder of applied health research in low and middle-income countries. Further information on the NIHR can be found at www.nihr.ac.uk.

As part of the NIHR, the Research Delivery Network (RDN) supports the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health and care system and the economy. The scope of RDN is to support:

• Clinical trials and other well-designed health and social care research studies which are delivered across all health and care settings;

• Public health studies that require the recruitment of individuals within an NHS setting (that is, acute, ambulance, mental health, community or primary care) or an episode of care which involves contact with the NHS.

The NIHR RDN will have two primary purposes:

• To support the successful delivery of high quality research, as an active partner in the research system

• To increase capacity and capability of the research infrastructure for the future

As a result, research will reach more people, address changing population needs, support the health and care system and the economy, and become a routine part of care.

The whole of England will be supported through 12 NIHR Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs). The RRDNs will work with the national Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) to provide a joint RDN leadership function so that the NIHR RDN as a whole functions as a single organisation with a shared vision and purpose across England.

We welcome applications from all relevant professional groups (across health and care) within the specialty. Information can be made available in alternative formats. Informal inquiries can be to [insert name of contact person> (insert email address of contact person).]

We are committed to providing a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity that attracts, supports, and retains the best students and staff from all backgrounds and from across the world. Whatever role we recruit for we are always striving to increase the diversity of our community, which each individual helps enrich and cultivate.

NIHR RRDN [insert name]

[insert local background information]

Role Summary

The Specialties and Settings function will play a key leadership role in the on-going development and performance of the RDN. As part of this function, Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads, will provide leadership and advice, support research delivery, and participate in regional or national projects relating to Specialty or Setting capacity, capability and accessibility for research delivery. The Regional Research specialty and Setting Leads provide the vital link between the regional, geographically-based networks (RRDNs) and national networks of expertise which is essential to the success of the RDN.

In addition to the Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads we will also be appointing Specialty and Setting Leads at NHS E region level who will work with the Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads to gather local intelligence and feed it into national strategies and projects, and National Specialty and Setting Leads who will lead the whole Specialty or Setting providing strategic input and oversight, and leading the development of national initiatives for research delivery.

Specialties and Settings provide key aspects of the intelligence gathering and responsive decision making crucial to strategic development for research delivery.

Duties and responsibilities specific to this role

The role of the Regional Research Specialty Leads is primarily to support research delivery within health and care settings, however on occasion the Leads will be asked to support wider NIHR and DHSC activities. The duties and responsibilities are grouped to reflect these two aspects. Regional Specialty Leads will be expected to attend regional and national meetings and events.

Primary Role

Strategic oversight of the regional RRDN Portfolio 

• Support regional portfolio oversight activities undertaken on the current portfolio as requested and in collaboration with the RDN Study Support Service.

• Identify and address impact on regional health and social inequalities at all stages of research delivery within your Specialty.

Support the RDN Study Support Service in the planning, placement and performance monitoring of studies, including when requested:

• Assist in the identification of sites and Principal Investigators making the best use of data combined with an understanding of health and social inequalities to inform placement of studies.

• Undertake eligibility reviews

• Providing health and/or care intelligence to the 'on request' study performance service ⁴ and the Active National Delivery service.

Support funders and sponsors in study design to optimise deliverability, including providing early feedback on protocols.

• Advise on study deliverability and undertake deliverability assessments when requested, including giving consideration to equitable community-wide access/areas of high patient need.

Building regional capacity and capability for study delivery in your Specialty.

• Ensure local needs for research delivery are identified and addressed as part of building the capacity and capability for research delivery.

• Under the RDN Operating Model for strategic development, and Research Delivery Models participate in projects to address any opportunities or challenges identified.

Embedding research, engagement and delivery into the NHS and wider care environment

• Engage and initiate relevant regional stakeholders as relevant for the purpose of building regional research delivery capacity and capability within your Specialty.

• Assist in the development and mentorship of future/new Principal Investigators across the health and care sector.

Initiating, facilitating and promoting regional cross-specialty and cross-setting collaborations for improved research delivery

Contributing to national and regional RDN strategic development for research delivery through:

• Attending national specialty meetings

• Attending regional leadership group meetings

• Engaging with annual review development process

Keeping up to date with innovative study design and delivery methods.

• Share best practice across specialties

Acting as regional NIHR RDN Ambassadors

• Support the National and NHS E based Specialty Leads in activities to raise awareness of the Specialty.

Engage in, and support, business development activities, including:

• Providing health care research expertise and knowledge to support optimal research delivery in discussions with commercial organisations.

• Attending meetings and presenting at events, webinars etc,

• Identify and support the dissemination of RDN impact in your Specialty.

Supporting role undertaken on request by other areas of the NIHR and DHSC, via the National Specialty Lead

• Support the NIHR Coordinating Centre to develop topics for commissioned research delivery methods and the needs of all patient and care groups, including under-served communities

• Support for new chief Investigators, primarily with respect to good practice to support research feasibility and delivery, as part of a cross-NIHR programme.

• Provide peer reviews on studies for NIHR and regulatory authorities to contribute an expert opinion when needed.

Other duties

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list.

⁴ Activities undertaken by the RDN, following a request by the study Sponsor/delegate, to analyse the identified performance or delivery issues in a study, identifying potential remedial actions in collaboration with the Sponsor/delegate

Regional Research Specialty Leads must be facilitative, be able to work flexibly and effectively in a developing organisation and to motivate and support others to deliver measurable results that make the NIHR RDN vision a reality. As a senior leader within the RRDN, the appointee will be able to act as an advocate and champion showing credibility amongst peers by actively being involved in the recruitment of participants.

Essential requirements for the role

• Experience of leading regionally in the relevant Specialty area, developing that Specialty collaboratively with patients and the public, and other stakeholders and establishing and sustaining outstanding service and a high-performance management culture.

• Experience of delivering research as an investigator in the relevant Specialty area and excellent general research delivery expertise.

• Knowledge of national and regional systems, structures and processes for supporting health and care research delivery.

• Evidence of motivating, supporting and coaching colleagues.

• The ability to work collaboratively, with evidence of successfully developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders.

• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate priorities, and effectively engage and influence others at all levels internally and externally, including through presentations and public speaking.

•  Highly developed emotional intelligence and resilience and the ability to operate effectively in an ambiguous and uncertain environment.

• Strong team player with the ability to act as a good citizen within the network representing a diversity of views.

• Politically astute and sensitive to the priorities and dynamics of a complex organisation.

Essential requirements specific to this role

The RRDN Regional Specialty Lead must:

• Be able to evidence clinical (includes all health professions), social care, or public health professional status, for example by being registered (if appropriate) on the GMC Specialist register, GMC General Practice register, NMC register, HCPC UK register, Social Work England register or relevant professional register.

• Be an acknowledged local opinion leader within the relevant specialty, with a breadth of appropriate knowledge.

Please localise items in square brackets according to NIHR RRDN requirements:

Role title: Regional Research Setting Lead for [insert region]: insert name of Setting]

Duration: Fixed term [3] years [(renewable)] or until [(enter end date)], whichever is sooner

Time Commitment: [to be inserted as per NIHR RRDN requirement - 0.1 FTE minimum]

Salary / Reimbursement: [include standardised rate, use both PA and WTE]

Accountable to: Post-holders will report to the [relevant NIHR RRDN Health and Care Director]. Additional accountability will be to the RRDN Strategic Development Director and to the relevant National Setting Lead (NSL) 

Key Relationships:

Post-holders will work closely with the RRDN leadership team and the Strategic and Operations teams.  Post-holders will also be expected to develop close working relationships with relevant regional external stakeholders.  Additional key relationships will be with the Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) teams, Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads from other NIHR RRDNs and NHS E based Specialty and Setting Leads.

Background  

NIHR Research Delivery Network

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). NIHR works in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public. The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. NIHR is a major funder of applied health research in low and middle-income countries. Further information on the NIHR can be found at www.nihr.ac.uk. 

As part of the NIHR, the Research Delivery Network (RDN) supports the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health and care system and the economy. the scope of RDN is to support:

• Clinical trials and other well designed health and social care research studies which are delivered across all health and care settings;

• Public health studies that require the recruitment of individuals within an NHS setting (that is acute, ambulance, mental health, community or primary care) or an episode of care which involves contact with the NHS.

The NIHR RDN will have two primary purposes:

• To support the successful delivery of high quality research, as an active partner in the research system;

• To increase capacity and capability of the research infrastructure for the future.

As a result, research will reach more people, address changing population needs, support the health and care system and the economy. and become a routine part of care.

The whole of England will be supported through 12 NIHR Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs). The RRDNs will work with the national Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) to provide a joint RDN leadership function so that the NIHR RDN as a whole functions as a single organisation with a shared vision and purpose across England.

We welcome applications from all relevant professional groups (including social workers and social care practitioners) within the setting. Information can be made available in alternative formats. Informal enquiries can be made to [>insert name of contact person> (>insert email address of contact person>)].

We are committed to providing a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity that attracts, supports, and retains the best students and staff from all backgrounds and from across the world. Whatever role we recruit for we are always striving to increase the diversity of our community, which each individual helps enrich and cultivate.

NIHR RRDN [(insert name)]

[(insert local background information)]

Role Summary

The Specialties and Settings function will play a key leadership role in the on-going development and performance of the RDN. As part of this function, Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads, will provide leadership and advice, support research delivery, and participate in regional or national projects relating to Specialty or Setting capacity, capability and accessibility for research delivery. The Regional Research Speciality and Setting Lead provide the vital link between the regional, geographically-based networks (RRDNs) and national networks of expertise which is essential to the success of the RDN. 

In addition to the Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads we will also be appointing Specialty and Setting Leads at NHS E region level who will work with the Regional Research Specialty and Setting Lead to gather local intelligence and feed it into national strategies and projects, and National Specialty and Setting Leads who will lead the whole Specialty or Setting providing strategic input and oversight, and leading the development of national initiatives for research delivery.

Specialties and Settings provide key aspects of the intelligence gathering and responsive decision-making crucial to strategic development for research delivery.

Duties and responsibilities specific to this role:

The role of the Regional Research Setting Lead is primarily to support research delivery within health and care settings, however on occasion the Leads will be asked to support wider NIHR and SHSC activities. The duties and responsibilities are grouped to reflect these two aspects. Regional Research Setting Leads will be expected to attend regional and national meetings and events.

Primary Role

Strategic oversight of the regional RDN Portfolio

• Support regional portfolio oversight activities undertaken on the current portfolio as requested and in collaboration with the RDN Study Support Service.

• Identify and address impact on regional health and social inequalities at all stages of research delivery within your Setting.

Support the RDN Study Support Service in the planning, placement and performance monitoring of studies, including when requested:

• Assist in the identification of sites and Principal Investigators making the best use of data combined with an understanding of health and social inequalities to inform placement of studies.

• Undertake eligibility reviews

• Providing health or care intelligence to the 'on request' study performance service⁵ and the Active National Delivery Service.

Support funders and sponsors in study design to optimise deliverability, including providing early feedback on protocols.

• Advise on study deliverability and undertake deliverability assessments when requested, including giving consideration to equitable community-wide access/areas of high patient need.

Building regional capacity and capability for study delivery in your Setting.

• Ensure local needs for research delivery are identified and addressed as part of building the capacity and capability for research delivery

• Under the RDN Operating Model for strategic development, and Research Delivery Models participate in projects to address any opportunities or challenges identified.

Embedding research, and particularly research delivery into the NHS and wider care environment.

• Engage relevant regional stakeholders including Private Providers, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and local authorities as relevant for the purpose of building regional research delivery capacity and capability within your Setting.

• Assist in the development and mentorship of future Principal Investigators across the health and care sectors.

Initiating, facilitating and promoting regional cross-specialty and cross-setting collaborations for improved research delivery.

Contributing to national and regional RDN strategic development through:

• Attending national meetings

• Attending regional leadership group meetings 

• Engaging with the annual review development process

Keeping up to date with innovative study design and delivery methods.

• Share best practice across settings

Acting as regional NIHR RDN Ambassadors

• Support the National and NHS E based Setting Leads in activities to raise awareness of the Setting

• Engage in, and support, business development activities, including:

i) providing health and care research expertise and knowledge to support optimal research delivery in discussions with commercial organisations

ii) Attending meetings and presenting at events, webinars etc.

Identify and support the dissemination of RDN impact in your Setting.

Supporting role undertaken on request by other areas of the NIHR and DHSC, via the National Specialty Lead

• Support the NIHR Coordinating Centre to develop topics for commissioned research by providing expert advice on the current RDN study portfolio, innovative research delivery methods and the needs of all patient and care groups, including under-served communities.

• Support the development of Chief Investigators, primarily with respect to good practice to support research feasibility and delivery, as part of a cross-NIHR programme.

• Provide peer reviews on studies for NIHR and regulatory authorities to contribute an expert opinion when needed.

Other duties

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list.

⁵ Activities undertaken by the RDN, following a request by the study Sponsor/delegate, to analyse the identified performance or delivery issues in a study, identifying potential remedial actions on collaboration with the Sponsor/delegate. 

Regional Research Specialty and Setting Leads must be facilitative, be able to work flexibly and effectively in a developing organisation and to motivate and support others to deliver measurable results that make the NIHR RDN vision a reality.  As a senior leader within the RRDN, the appointee will be able to act as an advocate and champion showing credibility amongst peers by actively being involved in the delivery of research.  

Essential requirements for the role:

• Experience of leading regionally in the relevant Setting area, developing that Setting collaboratively with patients and/or the public and other stakeholders and establishing and sustaining outstanding service and a high-performance management culture.

• Experience of delivering research in the relevant Setting area and excellent general research delivery expertise

• Knowledge of national and regional systems, structures and processes for supporting health and care research delivery

• Evidence of motivating, supporting and coaching colleagues. 

• The ability to work collaboratively, with evidence of successfully developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders.

• Highly developed emotional intelligence and resilience and the ability to operate effectively in an ambiguous and uncertain environment. 

• Strong team player with the ability to act as a good citizen within the network representing a diversity of views. 

• Politically astute and sensitive to the priorities and dynamics of a complex organisation.

Essential requirements specific to this role

The RRDN Regional Setting Lead must:

• Be able to demonstrate senior professional status as a health or care leader within the relevant setting.

• Be an acknowledged local opinion leader on research delivery within the relevant setting, with a breadth of appropriate knowledge.

Essential requirements for the role:

• Experience of leading regionally in the relevant Setting area, developing that Setting collaboratively with patients and/or the public and other stakeholders and establishing and sustaining outstanding service and a high-performance management culture.

• Experience of delivering research in the relevant Setting area and excellent general research delivery expertise

• Knowledge of national and regional systems, structures and processes for supporting health and care research delivery

• Evidence of motivating, supporting and coaching colleagues. 

• The ability to work collaboratively, with evidence of successfully developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders.

• Highly developed emotional intelligence and resilience and the ability to operate effectively in an ambiguous and uncertain environment. 

• Strong team player with the ability to act as a good citizen within the network representing a diversity of views. 

• Politically astute and sensitive to the priorities and dynamics of a complex organisation.

Essential requirements specific to this role

The RRDN Regional Setting Lead must:

• Be able to demonstrate senior professional status as a health or care leader within the relevant setting.

• Be an acknowledged local opinion leader on research delivery within the relevant setting, with a breadth of appropriate knowledge.

 Regional Research Specialty and Setting Lead Scope Slideset and plain text version of Regional Research Specialty and Setting Lead Scope.

CDA: Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement

DHSC: Department of Health and Social Care

FTE: Full Time Equivalent

GMC: General Medical Council

HCPC: Health and Care Professions Council

NHS: National Health Service

NHS E: National Health Service England

NIHR: National Institute for Health and Care Research

NMC: Nursing and Midwifery Council

NSSL: National Specialty and Settings Lead

PA: Programmed Activity

RDN: Research Delivery Network

RDNCC: Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre

RRDN: Regional Research Delivery Network

WTE: Whole Time Equivalent

Version 1.2

Effective from 8 January 2025 - POF Support Page updated to reflect simplified process for notification of appointments to RDNCC.

Jo Mearhart, Head of Health and Care Settings, RDNCC jo.mearhart@nihr.ac.uk