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5 minutes with...
We took a few minutes to talk to Clare Spence, a specialist occupational therapist working within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and recent graduate of the NMAHPP Research Internship funded by the NIHR Sheffield BRC. We talked about her journey into research, her project involving patients with motor neuron disease (MND) and her experience of the internship programme.
Hi Clare! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a Specialist Occupational Therapist with 20 years' experience, all of which I’ve spent working at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. I currently work within the Neurology Outreach Therapy Service. I support people living in the community with long-term progressive neurological conditions, helping them maintain impendence, well-being and engagement in meaningful activities. I’m an enthusiastic and person-centred clinician, passionate about empowering people to make informed choices and plan for their future in a way that reflects what matters most to them.
You’ve just completed a NMAHPP Research Internship with the BRC, what was your experience of the programme?
My experience of the NMA Research Internship with the BRC has been incredibly positive. The programme gave me the time, support and confidence to explore a project that I am genuinely passionate about, while developing my research skills in a structured and supportive environment. I really valued the teaching sessions, mentorship and the opportunity to learn alongside colleagues from different professions. The internship has broadened my understanding of how research can directly influence and improve clinical practice and has encouraged me to continue building research into my future career.
"I would encourage anyone considering the research internship to go for it.
It's a fantastic opportunity to gain research experience, develop new skills and see
the real impact of your work."
What made you decide to apply? Can you tell us about your project?
I applied as I wanted protected time to focus on my project that is directly relevant to my clinical work. Having structured support and space away from day-to-day pressures really motivated me. The internship offered a valuable opportunity to build my research skills and contribute to service improvement within our neuro outreach team.
My project focused on advance care planning (ACP) for people living with Motor Neuron Disease (MND). I carried out a service evaluation using a patient questionnaire to understand when individuals first start thinking about ACP and what topics matter the most to them when planning their future care. The aim was to explore the views and experiences of patients, and evaluate our teams ACP service, measure patients' satisfaction and comfort with this and assess the timing of these discussions.
What impact do you hope your research will have?
I hope my research reinforces that having ACP conversations is the right thing to do, showing that patients benefit from starting these conversations early, even at diagnosis. The overwhelmingly positive response I received highlights that people really do want to talk about it. I hope it helps to make ACP more of a social norm, supporting healthcare teams and patients to address this important but often overlooked topic. I hope it gives people confidence to have ACP discussions and helps AHPS recognise their role in these conversations as they are often best placed to lead them.
What are your next steps? Do you hope to continue in research?
Yes, I would love to continue in research. The path for Allied Health Professionals into research isn’t always clear cut, but I am keen to keep developing my skills and contributing to evidence that can improve patient care and advance practice. I am particularly interested in pursuing a master's degree to deepen my research knowledge and gain formal training that will support future projects and leadership in advance practice.
What advice would you give to anyone else thinking about applying for the research internship?
I would encourage anyone considering the research internship to go for it. It's a fantastic opportunity to gain research experience, develop new skills and see the real impact of your work. Be curious, open to learning and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Even if the path to research feels unclear, this internship can help you explore your interests and strengths.
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