Three occupational therapists have got to work as AHP research champions under a new scheme launched by the National Institute for Health Research and the Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR).
Dr Jennifer Wenborn is the champion for the North Thames region, Alison McCracken is the champion for the North West Coast and Sandi Derham splits the West of England role with a speech and language therapist.
Each region's champion is charged with developing local and national AHP research networks and engagement, but how each champion will use the one day a month allocated to the role is up to them.
It is early days in planning how to do the work, but Jennifer is working closely with the other two London research champions to cover the city. The London research champions are starting by scope what is already happening, building up networks, and are provisionally considering an event for later in the year.
Says Jennifer: 'This is a great opportunity to raise the profile and thereby, potential impact of AHP research activity across the NHS.'
Alison in the North West Coast region is building on her experience as a clinical research occupational therapist to look at building connections between others. She said: 'Part of what our role involves highlighting the research that AHPs are already involved in and showcasing that, and then trying to encourage and promote others to get involved in various different ways, and acting as a person to build networks within the region. Within the region here we're working to build links between clinicians and academics and universities, especially those with dual roles to create peer support and networks.'
Sandi in the West of England is also at the planning stage, and is looking at the potential for developing a film with the local CAHPR hub to showcase people who have built an academic career.
She says one of the key things is working out what is particular to her region.
'Clinical academic careers is one aspect, but we will also be focusing on celebrating the local networks and starting small. Dipping your toe in the water doesn't have to mean jumping into that big wide ocean of clinical academic careers - it can be more personalised to you.
'We need to start small and start local, forging those links to begin with and getting them to network locally,' she says.
Dr Gillian Ward, RCOT research and development manager, said: 'RCOT met with the research champions earlier this year as we are really keen to support them to help expand the engagement of allied health professionals with the research agenda. We recommend that members who want to get more engaged with research get in touch with their local research champion and get in touch to see what is happening in their region.'