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Janice PatersonWorkforce Intelligence ManagerNIHR Clinical Research Network

National Coordinating Centre

janice.paterson@nihr.ac.uk#crpractitioner

Developing the professional identity of Clinical Research Practitioners

What we know about our workforce

Data Source: CRN Finance Tool 2015/16

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What’s in and out of scope...

IN○ Patient-facing Clinical Research Practice ■ (Clinical Research Practitioners)

OUT FOR NOW…

❖ Clinical Research Operations and Governance

❖ Clinical Research Study Set-up, Coordination and Management

❖ Clinical Research Data Management and Informatics

Clinical Research Practitioner Voices

● CRP - an umbrella term for a family of roles in research

delivery that have a patient-facing element

● Currently unregistered to a healthcare profession

● Common job titles:

○ Clinical Studies Officer; Research Practitioner

○ Clinical Trials Practitioner; Clinical Trials Officer

● Often a degree graduate, though not always

● The number of CRP roles continues to grow

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CRP Voices

Kayleigh Gilbert: https://youtu.be/rBmLYrpbYDYIn this video Clinical Research Practitioner Kayleigh Gilbert talks about her role and her anticipation of an accredited register for CRPs, sharing what this development will mean personally and how it will support the professional identity of CRPs as a group.

Angharad Williams: https://youtu.be/7H7unAFSjzUIn this video Research Practitioner Angharad Williams talks about her role and her anticipation of an accredited register for CRPs.

Dierdre Brooking: https://youtu.be/sWH6o8LUEIoIn this video Deirdre Brooking talks about her role and the importance of professional identity as a CRP.

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Professional Identity - what are the benefits?

FOR INDIVIDUALS

● Identify what is distinct about your profession and it is likely that you will value it more

● Social dimension in a community of practice

● Regulations and registers don’t create professional identity but offer validation

FOR ORGANISATIONS

● Broadly positive influence on the practice of healthcare

● Lack of professional identity linked to poor retention

● Secure professional identity within multidisciplinary teams is associated with higher levels of perceived integration

Professional identities and regulation: a Literature Review, December 2016 Professional Standards Authority

Supporting integration through new roles and working across boundaries, June 2016Helen Gilburt, King’s Fund Report

Registration - what are the benefits?

FOR INDIVIDUALS

● Public assurance and accountability

● Enhanced role visibility

● Enhanced role clarity

● Career structure

FOR ORGANISATIONS

● Quality assurance of CRP workforce to agreed standards meeting PSA accreditation

● Mechanism to standardise role descriptions and training

● Improve future workforce supply and security

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What Next?

● Progression towards creation of Professional

Standards Authority accredited register in

collaboration with Academy for Healthcare Science

● Developing a proportionate assessment process

What would you be looking for in a CRP?

● Degree Graduate?

● From a science background?

● Would you see registration becoming desirable○ in recruitment of new staff?

○ as a development aim: for new or existing staff?

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Where are we now?

Scope and Standards in iterative development

Growing the CRP Directory

1000 CRPs Campaign● Engagement activities and events● Newsletters and surveys● Evidencing education and experience● Consultation on scope and standards● Preparing an application to register

Clinical Research Nurses/AHPs

Clinical Research Practitioners

Other Clinical Research Delivery Specialists

Recognising the whole team

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Thank you

Harmonising role description, education and training - http://iwf.nihr.ac.uk

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A PSA application needs to include:

● Standards of Proficiency

● Details of Education / Training

● A risk assessment and mitigation strategy

● The regulator’s plans for monitoring and review

Why the AHCS?

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AHCS Regulatory Framework

Thank you