Published: 31 October 2022
The NIHR is today calling on people in social care and public health to ‘add research to their career’ as part of its new Your Path in Research campaign.
Phase one of the campaign is encouraging social care and public health professionals, and organisations to play an active role in research. The first phase of the campaign runs from today [October 31] to November 12. It will highlight how people can integrate research into social care and public health practice.
Matchmaking service
The NIHR has launched Link and Learn - a matchmaking service connecting public health and social care practitioners with researchers in the field. Experienced social care and public health researchers will help guide new researchers in one-to-one conversations. To sign up as either a mentor or mentee, visit the Your Path in Research webpage. Link and Learn aims to help those new to public health and social care research to gain unique insight, share experiences and ask questions.
Interactive game
The NIHR is also producing an interactive game to help take people’s careers ‘to the next level’. The Your Path in Research game will be unveiled later this month. It aims to help workers discover different pathways into research, opportunities to develop new skills and qualifications, and make a difference to patients, service users, carers and the public.
Opening up research to a wider audience
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR, said: “We know that having research as part of practice leads to better outcomes for service users, carers, and patients.
“This year’s Your Path in Research campaign will open up research to even more people, including social care and public health professionals.
“We really encourage everyone working in these important fields to consider getting on their own research pathway. Adding research into a career is really fulfilling. I have seen first hand how it can help attract a person into a job, and often helps keep them inspired in their role, whilst making a difference to patients and the public.
“Taking this one step today can lead to many paths opening up tomorrow.”
Other ways to develop your career
Other NIHR programmes, services and events that can help the social care and public health workforce to develop their careers include:
- The Local Authority Academic Fellowship (LAAF) Programme
- The NIHR Academy Conference on non-linear pathways in research
- Health and Social Care Delivery Research Programme (HSDR)
- Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Teams (PHIRST)
- The NIHR Research for Social Care (RfSC)
- The NIHR Programme Development Grants (PDG)
- The NIHR Population Health Career Scientist Award (PHCSA)
- Internships and placements with the NIHR School for Public Health Research, NIHR School for Social Care Research and NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (NIHR ARCs)
- Newsletters for NIHR Evidence, NIHR School for Public Health Research and NIHR School for Social Care Research
The NIHR will continue to promote Your Path in Research with phase two from Monday 14 November. This will focus on health research careers.