Case study: Impactful links across the NIHR infrastructure to support research capacity in early career researchers NIHR CLAHRC YH Theme: Core

March 2015

Contact: [email protected] Joint impact case study written with the HTC Devices for Dignity (D4D), Musculo-skeletal Biomedical Research Unit (MRU) Leeds Background: Parts of the NIHR infrastructure in Yorkshire and Humber have worked together to build research capacity in individuals at all levels of the NIHR integrated clinical career programme. This work has gained national recognition as an example of good practice, and the internship scheme described below has been cited as an example of good practice in the DH annual report. A particular unique contribution to this activity is that it has been successful for developing boundary-spanning skills in early career researchers around working with industry. This case study shines a light on an element of the CLAHRC capacity building strategy where it links across the NIHR infrastructure. This is a joint added value impact case study, which will also be submitted by other parts of the infrastructure (D4D and the Leeds BRU). Joint working has shown impact through: cooperative use of the RCF funds, successful fellowship applications, and grant capture. Examples include:  Development of an internship programme pilot. Five early career non-medical professionals are currently undertaking this experience each lasting 25-days, delivered over six months: two in CLAHRC YH (nurse and Occupational Therapist OT), two in D4D (Physiotherapist and SLT) and one in BRU (Physiotherapist). These researchers are working on issues such as: identification of barriers to implementation of an ‘exo-skeleton’ into clinical practice, exploring the use of technology to assist with oral hygiene of vulnerable adults; managing chronic pain in General Practice; contributing to a project aimed at promoting independence of older people through technology; and establishing minimal importance clinical difference for a commonly used outcome measure. Interns are currently developing a career plan, a research output (publication or conference presentation), and a learning diary which will contribute to the evaluation of the pilot. Two of the interns have working with industry as a learning objective.  Placement opportunities linked to the NIHR masters in clinical research. CLAHRC provides 56 placements each year from the programme run by ScHARR  Funded NIHR PhD Fellowship. Dr Ester Hobson is developing Telehealth in motor neurone disease as part of this award. The support for the fellowship application, and the supervision for the research are provided by CLAHRC YH and D4D. This has attracted £80, 000 match funding from Mylan (formally Abbott).  Secondment opportunity that attracted further funding. This case example was developed through a secondment opportunity (taken up by Lise Teasdale a SLT) funded by CLAHRC RCF. The secondment was delivered through a placement at an ACORN site (Profession services in STH) with strong links to D4D. This study looks at Evaluation of the AMPCARE ESP (Effective Swallowing Programme). A pilot study of the efficacy of a new Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) treatment for persistent swallowing difficulties post stroke. This has attracted £20,000 from AmpCare and has given the secondee experience of working with industry and running a pilot randomised control trial. Following a successful pilot, the team are applying for funding for www.clahrc-yh.nihr.ac.uk

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the Phase 3 trial (NIHR HTA application) and Lise Teasdale is currently applying for a PhD NIHR fellowship with support from D4D, CLAHRC and AmpCare.  NHIR Knowledge Mobilisation (KM) Fellowship. Joe Langley has worked across in K2A theme in CLAHRC and D4D. He is mentored with CLAHRC core for his KM fellowship (at 0.7FTE for 3 years) and has attracted £112,000 on design projects (Yorkshire Innovation Fund) for a project linking design to YH Med Tech industry including JRI, B Bionics, Vernacare. As part of the fellowship Joe, and a member of the TK2A team (Dan Wolstenholme) are developing international links. Including the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and ‘beacon sites’ in the USA including Kaiser Permanente Garfield Innovation Centre and Mayo Clinic. Joe also works 1 day/week with D4D, and has contributed to securing two NIHR i4i grants (£575,000 and £620,000) and developing the D4D Paediatric technology theme (£150,000). Joe and Dan also organised an international ‘Health Hack’ event with D4D and CLAHRC in Nov 2014 where 6 teams of designers, digital hackers, patients and clinicians developed products based on design and co-productive principles to promote quality and effectiveness of care. The CLAHRC YH capacity strategy is adapted from Cooke’s evidence- based framework to develop capacity in applied health research. The strategy recognises that effective planning requires development mechanisms at individual, organisational and network levels. It suggests that such planning can have a synergistic effect, and create the environment and opportunities for individuals to release their potential. Partnership working to create a positive environment for career progress occurred between four elements of the NIHR infrastructure: 1. CLAHRC YH in conjunction with professional services at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust as part of the ACORN initiative, 2. Leeds Musculoskeletal BRU, 3. D4D 4. CRN speciality group for AHPS. Learning by doing opportunities were developed through collaborative use of RCF funds and effective use of matched funding. Protected time for AHPs was reinforced through jointly delivered workshops run by the CLAHRC and the APH speciality group (in CLAHRC SY), targeted at NHS managers to support clinical career pathways. Close working with managers was also undertaken within the internship scheme. Other support mechanisms include: writing for publication workshops, and mentorship from academics in the infrastructure

Next steps:  Joint partnership work will continue to support career of non-medical professionals in YH, and we will log career progress of those we support to highlight impact on research and clinical activity.  The evaluation of the internship pilot will be undertaken.  Work around supporting managers to support clinical researchers will be further developed with Ann Deehan, Infrastructure Workforce Senior Manager, in order to produce a resource for NHS middle managers  We are exploring joint work with Wessex CLAHRC around developing clinical academic careers for AHPs focusing on technology and practice. An element of this work will be to develop confidence and skills in working with industry. We will be seeking funding for this activity.

How CLAHRC supports this project: The CLAHRC and along in partnership with Anne Maree Keenan from the BRU have contributed advice and support to practitioners, time to write applications for RCF funding, planning and organisation of the internship pilot, attendance and contribution to the AHP speciality group. We also planned and delivered workshops for managers around supporting clinical academic careers CLAHRC’s unique contribution is the support provided at an organisational level called ACORN (Addressing Capacity in Organisations to do Research Network) which is described more fully in the main report.

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Provided for i.e NIHR Annual Progress Report March 2015 The NIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber is a partnership between 31 organisations including NHS, Higher Education, Local Authorities, Charities, Industry and the Regional Innovation Hub. A full list is available on our website www.clahrcyh.nihr.ac.uk

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