Introductory research training programme

In addition, separately to our local authority work, a Lincolnshire-wide Allied Health Professions (AHP) Staff Research Survey was carried out in late 2022/early 2023 led by their research lead. Both myself (Lorna Leaston) and the AHP research lead (Kirsten Guy) met as we were both fairly new in our research roles and talked through our findings. There was a lot of overlap in our respective survey findings!   

Both staff surveys evidenced a need for basic (foundational) research training. In the LCC survey there was a high level of interest in being more research active (44% of all responders would like to be involved in research more) with research upskilling cited as a key enabler. The LCC survey found that 83% of respondents have not attended any research training in the last 5 years.  

In the AHP survey when asked what would support AHPs to be involved more in research or evaluation, training was ranked the second highest priority (with protected time seen as the highest priority). 

Taken together, both research surveys indicated a clear need for basic research training. There was no suitable local training programme to signpost colleagues to – so we developed a joint research training programme which was offered to all colleagues within our local authority workforce, as well as health and social care colleagues across the Lincolnshire Integrated Care System (ICS). The training programme was delivered by The University of Lincoln between March 2024-September 2024 and was attended by 120+ people, almost half of these were LCC colleagues from across a range of service areas/directorates (54 people).   

Aim 

The aim of the research training was to demystify research and grow research skills and knowledge across the local authority and the wider Lincolnshire Health & Social Care workforce. The programme equipped attendees with the basics of what research is, how to do it and the range of opportunities open to them to become more research active within their work role.  

Workshop delivery and content

No previous knowledge of research was required. The eight themed workshops (detailed below) offered a taster to each of the topics but provided signposting to further resources to support peoples learning. All workshops were delivered online and recorded to maximise participation. 

Content: 

1. Introductory Session (what is research, how to develop a good research question including refining existing research interests into something which has coherence and a clear researchable focus). 

2. Research Ethics and Governance  

3. Critically Appraising a Research Article Workshop 

4. Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Workshop 

5. Methodology Workshop 

6. Research Funding 

7. Disseminating, Sharing, and Publishing Research 

8. Innovation 

For each of the workshops an optional post-workshop drop-in session took place the following week so attendees could ask the presenter any questions/clarifications they may have had. 

Celebration and Networking Event 

A full day face-to-face celebration and networking event took place on 12th September 2024, all learners and their managers were invited to attend. It was held at the University of Lincoln and provided a good opportunity for people to meet & network, as well as take part in one of four themed round table discussions about research in practice. The aim of these were to explore potential common areas of research interest and support people’s ‘next steps’ research journey.   

The event included a ‘marketplace’ with a range of organisations represented including the East Midlands Clinical Research Network, Research Support Service, Lincolnshire Research & Innovation Hub, Lincolnshire County Council, NHS research networks as well as researchers/academics from across the university.  

Funders 

The programme was co-funded by the NIHR Clinical Research Network East Midlands (CRN EM), now known as NIHR Research Delivery Network East Midlands, Lincolnshire County Council and United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust (ULHT). The course was designed as a generic research training course and the university colleagues who delivered it were drawn from a range of specialisms.  

The course was ran as a pilot course and as such we were keen to evaluate the outcomes and learning from the training. It is being externally evaluated by the University of York (Adam Formby) with the draft Evaluation report due mid-December 2024.  

Next Steps 

Planning is underway to run the programme again from March-September 2025, open to all local authority colleagues and the health and social care workforce from across our partner organisations (NHS, Voluntary and Community sector partners etc.) 

We are exploring options to deliver an advanced research skills programme, supported by the University of Lincoln (delivery).  

Research Poster 

View the interactive research poster that has been created.

Contact Information 

Lorna Leaston, Senior Public Health Officer – Research and Development 

Public Health Division, Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, 

Lincolnshire County Council 

Email: lorna.leaston@lincolnshire.gov.uk   

Website: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk