As part of a series of reports looking at the support needed for clinical academic careers across different healthcare professions, the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR) commissioned a report to identify a set of key actions to promote clinical academic careers in nursing, midwifery and allied health.
The report outlines steps that can be taken to increase the opportunities for health professionals to develop careers in research, enable clinical staff to gain research skills and experience and set outs the need to build strong and supportive research cultures threaded through our health and higher education systems to encourage and sustain high-quality research and innovation. These actions are directed at NHS organisations, universities and research funders who must work in greater partnership to make this possible.
The report was produced by a UK-wide Task and Finish group representing major funders, policymakers and clinical academics in nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions, chaired by Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England and supported by the Council of Deans of Health.
The report focuses on five action areas addressing the key challenges around:
- Increasing the number of clinical academics.
- Providing flexible and accessible career pathways.
- Developing supportive environments and adequate funding for those wanting to pursue clinical academic careers throughout the UK.
- Addressing significant gaps in data which limits the monitoring of the clinical academic landscape in the UK.
Work to implement the findings of this report is now being taken forward through an implementation group convened by the Council of Deans of Health and chaired by Professor Jane Coad.
