Innovation
Feature
Is research everybody ’ s business ?
Dr Hazel Roddam and Dr Gillian Ward look at the Allied Health Professions ’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England and share why it ’ s so important for all occupational therapists .
T he Allied Health Professions ’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England aims to drive excellence in all AHP care and services , through transformational changes in the way innovation , improvement and research is led , delivered and embedded into practice .
Although the strategy was commissioned for England , it was co-produced by 14 AHP Associations that make up the Council for Allied Health Research ( CAPHR ), including RCOT , whose memberships are UK-wide . The strategic aims are also based on evidence of need across the UK .
The strategy was launched in January 2022 and RCOT has been actively involved in its development and ongoing implementation . The strategy aligns well with RCOT ’ s vision for a UK-wide culture that embraces engaging in and with research as every occupational therapist ’ s business ( RCOT Research and Development Strategy 2019-2024 ).
What does the strategy mean for occupational therapists at all career stages ?
The strategy is directly relevant to all occupational therapists , learners and support workers at all career stages . It sets out clear expectations for research and innovation to be integral to all aspects of professional practice , not an add on , or an elitist interest .
More support is needed for individuals who want to participate in , deliver , or lead research , innovation and service improvements . This strategy includes pathways for both clinicalacademic and academic careers , with better employment prospects .
It also sets out clear directives for ensuring that the wider workforce can effectively implement new evidence into practice , to benefit the individuals who need AHP services .
Service managers also need support to demonstrate and champion the value and impact of research , innovation and service improvement activities and roles in their teams .
What does it mean for learners and for educators ?
This strategy explicitly focuses on both the current and the future workforce . It includes specific objectives to support a research-confident and research-ready workforce . This includes expectations and guidance for research-informed teaching and development of research placement options .
How will this improve the quality of occupational therapy services ?
The key driver for this strategy is quality improvement , excellence in care and service user
40 OTnews November 2022