Universities lead new project to improve health and social care in the North West

A new £3 million project aims to deliver world-leading health and social care research training in the North West.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the four-year Inspiring Students into Research Scheme (INSIGHT) will be delivered in partnership with health and social care employers throughout the North West.

It will focus on training newly qualified health and social care professionals to understand research and use it effectively to underpin their practice. This will be done primarily through degree programmes that address health and care challenges and build regional capacity for the delivery of high-quality research and implementation.

INSIGHT’s main aim is to develop a highly skilled research savvy workforce equipped to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future and navigate a landscape of widening health inequalities, where people are living longer but with complex health conditions.

With the NHS under strain due to staff shortages and funding cuts, this type of investment in the skills of health and social care practitioners is essential to develop solutions to overcome the challenges faced.

Dr Lisa Ashmore, Associate Dean for Engagement in the Faculty of Health and Medicine at Lancaster University, one of the participating universities, said: "The expertise and networks gained through working across professional and institutional boundaries will increase the capacity and diversity of the research skilled healthcare workforce in the region."

The scheme will fund up to 30 health and social care research Masters degrees each year, hosted by the four partner universities. Part-time study options will enable students to simultaneously develop their profession-specific skills in practice.
Students will develop their research skills through in-depth exploration of issues arising from both their practice and the priorities of their employing organisations, such as how to prevent people from becoming ill and improving the lives of those living with multiple long-term conditions.

Utilising the NIHR infrastructure across the North West, the INSIGHT scheme will also include engagement activities, work placements and specialists modules tailored to the needs of the health and social care workforce.

Professor of Stroke Care at Dame Caroline Watkins at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) will lead the four-year initiative. She said the university is known for its academic excellence and “has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality education and research at all levels in the health and care professions, nursing and midwifery, social work, pharmacy and public health.”

“By leading on this exciting National Institute for Health and Care Research initiative, we will use the power of partnership to address the challenges faced by our communities. Our vision is for graduates to continue working in our partner organisations to drive innovation, translate evidence into practice, and promote practice relevant research.

“The goal as ever would be to improve patient experience, outcomes, and health and social care systems.”