We are delighted to announce that the team responsible for driving the development of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Research Nurse and Midwife Competency Framework, launched in May 2022, has been shortlisted in the prestigious ‘Clinical Research’ category of this year’s Nursing Times Awards.
The competency framework was developed by a team of research matrons and managers who identified a need for a contemporary competency framework relevant to research practice and skills for registered nurses and midwives already working in or new to these roles.
The Guy’s and St Thomas’ Competency Framework Working Group shortlisted for the Nursing Times ‘Clinical Research’ award includes:
- Clair Harris (lead) – R&D Head of Workforce, Cancer and Information Support
- Naomi Hare – Research Matron and NIHR 70@70 Senior Nurse and Midwife
- Laura McCabe – Research Matron (Competency working group)
- Hemawtee Sreeneebus – Research Matron (Competency working group)
- Teresa Crowley – Practice educator (Competency working group)
The Competency Framework Working Group created the framework through a systematic and inclusive process with contributions from patient representatives and inclusion forums within the Trust. Designed to support research nurses and midwives to develop within clinical research roles, the framework aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the core skills and abilities required across nursing and midwifery research roles.
Research nursing and midwifery careers are fundamental to the future delivery of the highest quality care and practice across the health and social care sector (NHSEI 2021). Primarily established to support staff within research teams at the Trust, the Research Nurse and Midwife Competency Framework has been well-received by several external networks since its internal launch.
Clair Harris, Head of Research Workforce (Nursing, AHPs and Practitioners) at Guy’s and St Thomas’ who led the Competency Framework Working Group, has been invited to make a presentation about the project and its findings at the Royal College of Nursing Research Conference in September 2022.
Commenting on the shortlisting Clair Harris, said: “It was a real pleasure to work on this project with Naomi, Laura, Hema and Terrie and we are delighted to have been shortlisted for this award. Our aim was to create a resource for research nurses and midwives new to research, and for those supporting their development. It was a real team effort driving the project forward with support from across the Trust on many aspects of the project from research delivery expertise, insights relating to inclusion, service user perspectives as well as practical support with funding, design and editing.”
Jackie Pullen, Director of R&D Operations Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “To be shortlisted for such a prestigious award proves yet again that Guy’s and St Thomas’ is leading the way and raising the bar by setting the highest standards within clinical research practice. I wish the team every success at the awards ceremony in October, but they’re already winners to me!”
The Nursing Times Awards take place on Wednesday 26 October; please watch this space for further updates.
