Health and Care Workforce Research Group
The Health and Care Workforce Research Group is dedicated to strengthening research capacity and capability. Our aim is to ensure the sustainability of professional practices, evidence-based care delivery and, ultimately, improved patient outcomes.
We will achieve this through a collaborative approach, fostering knowledge exchange and skill development at national and international levels. We will actively partner with Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and international organisations, incorporating valuable insights from fields outside traditional UK health research, such as organisational psychology and employment law. Our members are transdisciplinary, bringing together diverse perspectives to tackle complex workforce challenges.
Our research will encompass all staff groups within health and social care systems, from clinical to non-clinical personnel, and across all career stages. We will focus on critical areas including recruitment and retention, the impact of multi-professional teams, and policy development specifically aimed at supporting underrepresented staff groups such as allied health professionals, support staff, administration, and corporate operations personnel.
Additionally, we will prioritise themes of diversity and inclusion, workforce data analysis, staff engagement, and wellbeing. A particular focus lies on exploring new ways of working within community and primary care settings, with the ultimate goal of informing local strategies and fostering innovation in the East of England.
Building upon existing research partnerships with local and national stakeholders, we will actively seek to expand our collaborations to achieve a wider national and international impact. This includes potential partnerships with professional bodies, regulatory agencies, trade unions, health and care providers, international workforce organisations, and leadership and management networks.
We are committed to developing a comprehensive knowledge exchange strategy that will actively engage these stakeholders in identifying key research areas, addressing knowledge gaps, and exploring workforce innovations. Through these collaborative efforts, we aim to conduct high-quality research with a significant impact on health and care workforce practices, both nationally and internationally.
Current work
- Completing applications for external funding (NIHR, UKRI).
- Undertaking PhD recruitment and development, including a Vice Chancellor's PhD Scholarship, 'Exploring the theory and practice of nursing and midwifery leadership in digital health policy', supervised by Prof Gillian Janes and Salford University.
- Holding a regional seminar, Sustainable Workforce Planning in the East of England.
- Recruitment of International Honorary and Visiting professors.
- Presentations and conference activity.
