1. What is the HEE Internship Award Programme (Formerly Bronze Award)?
A: The programme is a structured opportunity designed to enable a practitioner considering a clinical research career to gain mentored learning experience of working within a research environment and develop their ability to compete for formal research training such as a Masters by Research or a PhD.
2. What does the Programme cover?
A: A single payment of up to £7,500 can be offered per Scholar to their employing organisation, which could cover; contribution to salary and incidental costs; education, training and support costs, travel expenses and other costs reasonably incurred by the Clinical Scholar.
3. Who is eligible to apply for the Internship Programme?
A: Graduates of the Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health, Chiropractic, Clinical Psychology, Healthcare Scientists, Health Visiting, Operating Department Practice, Optometry and Dispensing Opticians, Osteopaths, Pharmacy Professions, Non-Medical Public Health Specialty Trainees, Specialists and Consultants and Wider Dental Team Professionals’ who are currently registered and have a strong
interest in, and suitability for, a research focused clinical career and have a strong interest in pursuing further formal research training.
4. Do applicants need to be employed by the NHS or can they come from organisations that provide NHS services such as social enterprises, or the independent sector?
A: Applicants to the ICA Interns programme are eligible if they are currently employed by any organisation in the East Midlands which provides NHS services.
5. Can HEI employees apply if they can demonstrate engagement in clinical practice?
A: An employee of a Higher Education Institution (HEI) would be eligible to apply if they:
· Are a front-line clinician from the Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health, Chiropractic, Clinical Psychology, Healthcare Scientists, Health Visiting, Operating Department Practice, Optometry and Dispensing Opticians, Osteopaths, Pharmacy Professions, Non-Medical Public Health Specialty Trainees, Specialists and Consultants and Wider Dental Team Professionals’
· Also have a contract with an NHS employer, or a provider engaged in the delivery of NHS funded services
· Are currently registered with their appropriate professional body.
· Have a strong interest in, and suitability for a research focused clinical career
· Have the support of their service provider organisation.
6. What is the timetable for applications to the Internship Programme?
A: the Internship programme will commence in 4th November 2020 and last nine months.
7. How long is the Internship programme?
A: The programme will take place over a period of 48 days, starting on 4th November 2020. The 48 days will include 10 mandatory educational days (Lectures and Action Learning Sets) but otherwise is flexible to the needs of the Scholar and their organisation. These days are to be negotiated with the employer organisation and academic mentor.
8. Can projects that require ethical approval be undertaken as part of the Programme?
Many projects require ethical approval be obtained. Please note the time-frame for the Programme (9 months) may not allow enough time for application and acquisition of ethical approval. Therefore is it recommended that Scholars carefully consider their project proposals and explore the required ethical permissions early on in their application process. If a Scholar wishes to undertake such a project they should discuss this with their mentor as soon as possible upon commencing the programme. It is also recommended that they contact their Trust Research and Development Lead.
9. What are the expectations for the Award Programmes?
A: The Internship award comes with 15 M level credits. To achieve these credits and achieve the HEE/NIHR aims you will be required to:
1. Produce a 6,000 word project proposal which includes a comprehensive literature review on a chosen, and agreed research topic
Or
Produce a 6,000 word report on a completed project which also includes a comprehensive review of the literature. With negotiation of the teaching team this can be delivered in the form of a paper ready for publication
2. Complete a 1,000 reflective account of your research development
3. Attendance at the annual celebration event in order to showcase your work to managers, mentors, other interested people and future potential Scholars.