RCBC Wales will fund the First into Research Fellowships for one day a week for 12 months. The Fellowships are targeted at newcomers to research or those wishing to develop confidence in research, to work on projects seeking answers to questions relevant to Nursing, Midwifery, the Allied Health Professions and Pharmacists in the specified fields. Projects must be achievable in the timescale and may cover a wide spectrum of activity ranging from institutional strategies to more discrete individual research.

The FiR Fellowship funds are intended to contribute to the day release of the Fellow from their place of work. Fellows will be supervised by experienced researchers and may have access to research methods training with their host university. It is a requirement of the award that all Fellows will become members of the Community of Scholars (CoS) and attend CoS study days. Fellows will be required to present their research at the conclusion of the scheme at a Community of Scholars event.

All applications should have a commitment to the themes and priorities of Health and Care Research Wales and the Institution to which they apply in supporting and developing excellent research which has a positive impact on the health, wellbeing and prosperity of the people in Wales. These can include studies into any aspect of nursing, midwifery, allied health care or pharmacy which have a particular focus on applied and public health research and which contribute to the evidence base for NHS Wales. This includes research into the prevention, detection and diagnosis of disease; the development and evaluation of interventions; the provision of health care services; and the implementation of research findings into practice. Further information on Health and Care Research Wales can be found athttp://www.healthandcareresearch.gov.wales/.

In addition, we would want to encourage proposals which consider public involvement in research, have potential for impact and which explore:

• new and emerging professional roles
• integrated care
• the principles of prudent healthcare, i.e.:
  • patients and professionals as equal partners through co-production
  • care for those with the greatest health need first
  • do only what is needed and do no harm
  • reduce inappropriate variation through evidence-based approaches.

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants must hold registration within the UK as a Nurse, Midwife, Pharmacist or Allied Health Professional (i.e. they must be registered with the NMC, GPC or HCPC upon commencement of study). The definition of Allied Health Professions is taken from the Health Professions Council Register (seehttp://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/professions/) and incorporates approximately 16 health professions. Biomedical and clinical scientists may be registered with the HCPC or registered through recognised voluntary regulatory arrangements via the Academy for Healthcare Science. Please note that RCBCWales does not have the funding capacity to consider professionals from outside of these healthcare professional groups.
• Candidates normally require a first degree or equivalent from a University or Institution recognised by the 6 Higher Education Institutions involved in RCBC Wales.
• Successful applicants must be resident in Wales for the duration of the award.
• Please note that RCBCWales is not an employing body and all Fellows must be in employment in Wales

  in order to take up a Fellowship.

  Recruitment for the First into Research Fellowships will be managed by the University of South Wales with input from all collaborating Universities. Fellowships will be located within established research groups within the collaborating Schools/Departments listed below. All Fellows will be assigned at least one supervisor, the principal mentor being located within one of the RCBC partnership Schools/ Departments.

  The application process will comprise the following:

  1. Eligibility check forms are to be completed and returned to marina.mcdonald@southwales.ac.uk

     any time up to 15TH FEBRUARY 2019. Applicants will be notified within 10 working days of receipt

     of the check form whether they meet eligibility criteria.

  2. To assist in refining their ideas, eligible applicants will be invited to participate in a webinar with

     experts in research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, patient involvement, ethics, and health policy and service improvement. They will also consider maximising impact and managing their project. The webinar will be held on 5th MARCH 2019.

  3. Following the workshop applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal application form by 15THMARCH 2019.
  4. After shortlisting full proposal applications, selection will be conducted via interviews. Interviews will be held on 26TH MARCH 2019.
  5. Fellowships will commence 1ST APRIL 2019.

  The relevant application forms and further guidance (including funding details) are available at

  http://www.rcbcwales.org.uk/funding-opportunities/

  For information about the specific opportunities, please contact the relevant institutions directly (details listed below). General enquiries may be addressed to Marina McDonald, RCBC Wales, University of South Wales. Email: marina.mcdonald@southwales.ac.uk Telephone: 01443 483070

Collaborating Institutions and Contacts:

University of South Wales
Faculty of Life Sciences and Education Operational Leads: Prof Joyce Kenkre Email: joyce.kenkre@southwales.ac.ukOr Dr Gina Dolan
Email: gina.dolan@southwales.ac.uk

Bangor University
School of Healthcare Sciences Operational Lead: Dr Sion Williams Email: sion.williams@bangor.ac.uk

Cardiff Metropolitan University School of Health Sciences Operational Lead: Dr Robert Mayr Email: rmayr@cardiffmet.ac.uk

Cardiff University
School of Healthcare Studies Operational Lead: Prof Danny Kelly Email: KellyDM@cardiff.ac.uk

Glyndwr University
Social Science and Education Division Operational Lead: Dr Joanne Pike Email: j.pike@glyndwr.ac.uk

Swansea University
School of Health Science Operational Lead: Prof Jaynie Rance Email: j.y.rance@swansea.ac.uk