Developing a research skilled workforce

Inspiring and supporting a research skilled workforce in the South West

The DRSW programme supports work to embed research as the keystone to underpin excellent care and innovation. We want to create sustainable research skills, capacity, and capabilities for all health and care professionals. This includes building relationships, collaboration with integrated care boards and provider organisations, identifying good models and rolling out supportive, sustainable structures.

Who is the project for?

The target workforce includes registered health, social care, and scientific professions.
DRSW logo

News

Autumn 2024 health and care professionals research internships now open

NHS England South West are offering an expanded research internship programme for health and care professionals and practitioners (HCPs) for Autumn 2024. These personal development awards are part of extra funding from the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). They aim to help HCPs become skilled researchers and research leaders as part of the NIHR research career funding programme.
The expanded internship award is for registered health and care professionals and practitioners who are:
  • In clinical or practitioner roles with little or no research experience to champion research or undertake activities to support and embed the application of research evidence in practice
  • In research delivery roles who want to use an internship to extend their research delivery skills, improve research delivery and engagement or gain experience in wider aspects of the research process
  • In enhanced or advanced practitioner roles who want to develop the research pillar of their role or develop team research culture and confidence
  • Aspiring to be clinical or practitioner academics who want to develop their research knowledge and skills to lay foundations for preparing to apply for a funding award, such as the Pre-doctoral/Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (PCAF/DCAF) and Pre-doctoral/Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship (PLAF/DLAF)
The award can be used build a plan for personal research development for advancing a research positive culture, embedding research into practice, building organisational research leadership capacity, advancing specialism of research delivery or clinical/practitioner academic development. This award is unlikely to suit those who have completed research masters or doctoral degrees and is medics and dentists are not eligible for this scheme.
Find out more about the programme in the guidance notes (PDF). They include information about how to apply and a link to the online application form. The deadline for applications is 18:00, Wednesday 18 December 2024.
There will be a webinar about the research internship opportunity on Thursday 7 November 2024, 12:30–13:30. Register your interest in attending.
Contacts
There is a network of contacts for the programme at universities in the South West. They can help with enquiries about applying for the award and potential supervisors with relevant expertise. You can also email SW.ICAP@nihr.ac.uk for further information or advice.
Please note: the Pre-doctoral Bridging award and Post-doctoral Bridging awards previously offered as part of the South West Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic Programme are not available in Autumn 2024. Other NIHR awards to consider include:

Event: Developing and celebrating a research skilled workforce 2025

Wednesday 2 April 2025, 09:30–16:00 | In-person | Plymouth
The research-curious, research-active, and research leaders are invited to attend our regional conference.
Join us for this inclusive and welcoming NHS England funded in-person event.
Surfing The Wave: Transforming Services Through Research-skilled Practitioners
Bringing together health, social and science professionals.


DRSW Webinar series 2024

  • Webinar 1 Research and practice: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask. Wednesday 16 October 2024, 12:00–13:00, Chaired by Ruth Barker; led by Kate Lippiett and Ralph Hammond.
  • Webinar 2 Where is the money and who has the time for research? Wednesday 23 October 2024, 12:00–13:00, Chaired by Kate Lippiett.
  • Webinar 3 How to write a grant application Tuesday 12 November 2024, 12:00–13:00, with Carol Clark and Helen Lyndon.


Multi-professional Practice-based Research Capabilities Framework

The framework has been developed to clearly outline how practitioners can get involved in health and care research. In doing so, it supports changes in health and care service delivery to better meet the needs and expectations of the people and communities we serve.
 

Past events from DRSW
 
 
Female doctors talking to a smiling female child.
Developing a research skilled workforce logo
Dental students in Phantom Head room in Portland Square.

How can I get involved?

  • Share with us any examples of good practice in how you are engaging in research activity where you work.
  • Contact us if you would like to keep in touch about future events and opportunities: researchskilledworkforce@plymouth.ac.uk
 
 
 

With thanks to our partners