In August 2023 the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) announced £30M of additional funding investment. This funding is specifically for research capability building; to embed research within NHS organisations and services and to strengthen careers for research delivery staff and under-represented disciplines and specialisms. https://www.nihr.ac.uk/news/extra-30m-a-year-to-boost-research-careers-for-healthcare-professionals/34213. The funding will be recurrent for the next 4 years; some of the calls will be annual whilst other streams will have more than one Round each year.
This blogpost has been commissioned by the Workforce Education and Training Directorate at NHS England, to comprise a helpful resource package of information and links; with specific advice for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), their educators, managers, employing organisations and service commissioners.
Listen to this brief introductory video message from Beverley Harden MBE FCSP, the Deputy Chief Allied Health Professions Officer at the Workforce Education and Training Directorate at NHS England, where she shares her reaction to the news of this important investment.
And listen here to this response to the NIHR announcement from Claire Lewis, who is an AHP working as Associate Director for Quality Assurance in the Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB). The ICBs have responsibility and accountability for supporting efficient and effective research-active services, and Claire states the significance of these new funding streams and the vital importance for the AHP workforce.
The Allied Health Professions’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England was published in January 2022. You can access the full strategy document HERE. This landmark policy statement comprises a definitive collective national reference statement that encompasses and supports the existing research and innovation strategies of all the 14 UK Allied Health professional associations. The local and regional implementation of these published national strategic aims and objectives is already well underway. You can find updates, resources and a wide range of AHP case examples HERE