The Health Education England (HEE) Research Strategy (2022 sets out the national vision for creating an education system that is evidence based and underpinned by research and innovation. Furthermore, the strategy uses engagement with research to build the capability and capacity of the current workforce. The Council of Deans of Health (2018 advocated the development of clinical academic careers with the intention of encouraging quality health and social care through offering combined clinical and research active roles to clinicians. Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May (2021), provides a specific strategy for the delivery of a national nursing research vision, “Making research matter”, which includes the provision of time to lead, deliver and implement research as an essential and rewarding part of effective nursing care.
We aim to support novice and more experienced researchers at all levels, enabling our colleagues to grow a research career whilst maintaining close links to clinical practice and with collaborative working alongside education partners and the wider health care community.
Medical Doctoral Fellowships
The Trust runs a Medical Doctoral Fellowship scheme with an annual intake of up to six research fellows to undertake period of research training towards an MD or PhD. This is a joint initiative between the Trust, HEE Kent, Surrey & Sussex (KSS) and Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The aim of the scheme is to in increase opportunities for patients and staff at the Trust to participate in research that improves the quality of the care we provide our patients. At the same time, the scheme creates opportunities to research local priorities to meet the needs of our patients. Fellows are funded to take 2-3 years out of their clinical training and undertake a dedicated period of research, subject to agreement from their training programme director. These posts are open to any KSS medical or surgical trainee and advertised nationally via NHS Jobs late winter to early spring.
Clinical Research Fellows
The Trust has further research training opportunities for trainee doctors at ST1, 2 & 3 level. Advertised nationally, approximately 20 posts are available with an allocated 25% of time dedicated to research. These posts are embedded within the Research & Innovation Department and provide the post holders time to develop necessary skills to become Principal Investigators, as well as providing support to those who wish apply for doctoral schemes. Again, these posts are open to any medical or surgical trainee and advertised nationally via NHS Jobs late winter to early spring.
Chief Nurse Fellows Programme
The Chief Nurse Fellows Programme is closely aligned to the University Hospitals Sussex ‘Patient First’ True North vision strategic themes and national strategies to support career progression. The programme aims to develop expert clinical practitioners whilst retaining and attracting high quality, experienced staff to the NHS where they may have the greatest influence on clinical practice at both local and national levels.
The Chief Nurse Fellows Programme aims to engage Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals across Sussex with research, education and development. The year-long programme provides 7.5 hours a week over 12 months for Chief Nurse Fellows to carry out a quality improvement or evaluation project that helps shape practice and contribute to the provision of outstanding patient care. In addition, based on an individual personal development plan, Fellows will gain confidence in their knowledge and skills of presenting, quality improvement methodologies, leadership, evidence based practice and writing for publication, supported by the Chief Nurse Fellows team and their expanding network of peers. The first group of Chief Nurse Fellows will commence in February 2023 with further cohorts starting in September 2023 and February 2024. The Fellows will work on a range of clinical projects across Sussex and the cohort will include healthcare professionals from UHSx and other health and social care organisations in Sussex.
Places on the Chief Nurse Fellows Programme will be advertised via NHS Jobs in March 2023 to join the September 2023 cohort, and in September 2023 to join the February 2024 cohort.
For further information please contact Chief Nurse Fellows Programme Administrator, Claire Blyghton.