NEWS
NIHR creates resources to help AHPs take the first step on their research journey
The National Institute for Health Research ( NIHR ) annual ‘ Your Path in Research ’ campaign aims to inspire healthcare professionals to get involved in the latest research and career development opportunities .
As part of its four-week campaign , NIHR has developed a website resource that suggests four simple ways you can engage more with research , supporting the ever-improving care the NHS can provide to patients :
• if you are interested to know more about opportunities to support research in your organisation , or make it part of your career , NIHR suggests that a great starting place is your local research department , a they can help you discover what research is taking place and ways to get involved ;
• to stay informed on practices and treatments that could benefit your patients , sign up for short , accessible summaries of the latest important research from the NIHR and others ;
• NIHR ’ s ‘ Be Part of Research ’ website enables patients and members of the public to find out how they can get involved and help improve patient care ;
• join NIHR ’ s free online course and find out how medical treatments are discovered , tested and evaluated . Professor Waljit Dhillo , Dean of the NIHR Academy said : ‘ COVID-19 has changed the research landscape and placed clinical trials at the front of everyone ’ s minds . The NIHR ’ s response to the pandemic brought clinical and research professionals together like never before with more people experiencing the difference health research can make . We want to build on that and support people to make research part of their careers , and lives .’
Dr Janice Paterson , workforce strategy lead , NIHR Clinical Research Network , explained : ‘ The 12,000 strong workforce funded by the NIHR Clinical Research Network is diverse and highly distributed across a number of different roles , all working together to provide co-ordinated approaches to deliver on national research priorities .
‘ During the pandemic , the ambition and adaptability of research staff and clinical team colleagues has been demonstrated in the delivery of urgent public health studies … Well supported training and development , for those both new to and experienced in research , is essential to successful delivery of clinical research by multi-skilled , multiprofessional teams .’
Visit the website for more information : www . nihr . ac . uk / health-andcare-professionals / your-path-in-research . htm . Find out how NIHR can support your career development at : www . nihr . ac . uk / health-and-careprofessionals / career-development /. You can also watch a video to hear from people who have made research part of their careers at : www . youtube . com / embed / 7iyI7VwcUoM .
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RCOT calls for members living with a disability or long-term condition , or who identify as LGBTQIA +, to join its new affinity steering groups
RCOT wants to lead the profession by advocating strongly for a culture that values , respects and celebrates diversity and positively supports those with lived experience . As part of this vision , we are setting up three RCOT affinity steering groups and are currently recruiting for two of them : RCOT ABLE OTUK Steering Group ; and RCOT LGBTQIA + OTUK Steering Group .
Members who identify themselves as either living with a disability or long-term condition or LGBTQIA + are invited to apply to join the groups .
Each group is recruiting six new members to volunteer and this invitation is open to all RCOT members , irrespective of where they are in their career .
Ketan Davé , who joined RCOT earlier this year as its first RCOT ’ s equality , diversity and inclusion manager , says : ‘ This is a fantastic opportunity to influence and direct the work of RCOT . Each steering group will have its own vision , and their main aim will be to help us better utilise our resources and impact , while providing a sounding board for new ideas and projects and providing a safe space to talk about relevant issues .’
He adds : ‘ As an organisation we still have a lot to learn … we have drawn a line in the sand and acknowledged that we haven ’ t always got this right in the past , but we want to make sure that we get it right now .
‘ It ’ s a slow process , because it ’ s about creating cultural change , which is not an overnight process . But my aim is to create the environment , foundation and comfort for people to come forward and express their opinions .’
In addition to RCOT ABLE OTUK and RCOT LGBTQIA + OTUK , BAME OTUK have also already put together a steering group that will spearhead conversations around black , brown , and minoritised ethnic groups in and around occupational therapy .
Quote of the month
As an organisation we still have a lot to learn … we have drawn a line in the sand and acknowledged that we haven ’ t always got this right in the past , but we want to make sure that we get it right now .
Ketan Davé , RCOT ’ s equality , diversity and inclusion manager
OTnews December 2021 7