Quality Improvement (QI) is important within the NHS and trusts all have QI programs, but how does research and clinical academia fit in? Is there any benefit for hard pressed trusts to engage and support research if they already have QI programs? Whilst the NHS is struggling to recruit clinical mental health staff, why should they consider investing in clinical academics?

Aims and objectives of the event:

• To illustrate why a successful QI program needs research and academics, and why we can’t improve mental health care for patients without research and evidence base.
• To demonstrate how investment in research can bring financial returns and increase capacity building in trusts.
• To provide worked examples across Greater Manchester (GM).
• To understand barriers and facilitators to implementation of research findings.
• To increase understanding of research networks across GM.

Who is this event for: This event is for commissioners, senior trust executives, clinical academics, anyone in QI, and any interested clinicians and researchers both within and beyond GM, who want to improve mental health care for patients by improving and implementing evidence base.

What will be covered during the event: We will discuss how investing in clinical academia is essential to not only improving patient care, but also essential for building a sustainable workforce, and attracting funding to invest in research and QI capacity.

Come to this event if you want to hear how some trusts have supported and implemented research to improve quality of care and workforce capacity through case examples; how QI cannot be properly implemented without research; and how your trust and patients can benefit by supporting research.

AGENDA, Friday 19th November 2021, 1.00-3.30pm

1.00pm – Opening remarks and chairing – Prof Bernadka Dubicka, Honorary Professor, UoM and Consultant Psychiatrist, PCFT and Prof Shôn Lewis, Clinical Professor in Adult Psychiatry, UoM

1.05pm – Who are we? Overview of the research networks in Greater Manchester (GM). The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration GM (NIHR ARC GM): What do trusts get for their investment? Case examples of research improving outcomes – Prof Karina Lovell, Professor of Mental Health and NIHR ARC GM Mental Health Theme Lead, UoM

1.20pm – Why should we divert scarce resources to research? An MD discusses how investment in research has been of benefit to their trust – Dr Alice Seabourne, Medical Director, GMMH and Dr Sophie Parker, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, GMMH

1.35pm – Capacity building through the Clinical Research Network (CRN) – how local organisations can be supported to get involved with research delivery – Sarah Fallon, Chief Operating Officer, NIHR CRN Greater Manchester

1.50pm – How to build a sustainable workforce: how investing in research can help – Prof Michelle Briggs, Clinical Professor of Nursing and ARC GM Capacity Building theme lead, UoM

2.05pm – How to successfully implement research findings to improve care: The PACT study, an intervention for children with autism – Dr Catherine Aldred, Director of IMPACT and Honorary Lecturer, UoM

2.20pm – Audience Q&A

2.35pm – Comfort break

2.45pm – Panel discussion: the research continuum – how can research be better integrated with QI? What are the barriers and facilitators? And why should we do this?

Panel discussion: the research continuum – how can research be better integrated with QI? What are the barriers and facilitators? And why should we do this?

• Nathan Randles, Expert by Experience and actively involved in developing research in CAMHS including with DEFRA – Why research is important to service users.
• Dr Kirsten Windfuhr, Associate Director (Mental Health) at NHS Benchmarking Network – NHS benchmarking as a successful example of international outcome data collection and engagement: how did they achieve this and how has this data been useful?
• Dr Guy Northover, National Clinical Lead Getting It Right First Time (CYPMH urgent care) and Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, BHFT – Learnings and limitations from Getting It Right First Time: a national, clinically led programme to identify and challenge unwarranted variations in care.
• Dr Prathiba Chitsabesan, Associate National Clinical Director for CYP Mental Health for NHSE and Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, PCFT – Why clinical academia is important to NHSE strategy.

3.15pm – Audience Q&A

3.30pm – Close of meeting