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  1. About Us
    1. About Us
    2. The Team
    3. Member Organisations
    4. Governance
  2. Research & Knowledge Mobilisation
    1. Research & Knowledge Mobilisation
    2. Impact
    3. Social Care and Social Work
      1. Social Care and Social Work
      2. Social Care - Kent, Surrey & Sussex Region
        1. Social Care - Kent, Surrey & Sussex Region
        2. Meet the team
    4. Starting Well: Children's Mental Health
      1. Starting Well: Children's Mental Health
      2. Meet the team
    5. Primary and Community Health Services
      1. Primary and Community Health Services
      2. Meet the team
    6. Living Well with Dementia
      1. Living Well with Dementia
      2. Meet the team
    7. Co-production
      1. Co-production
      2. Meet the team
    8. Public Health
      1. Public Health
      2. Meet the team
    9. Digital Innovation
      1. Digital Innovation
      2. Meet the team
    10. Economics of Health and Social Care
      1. Economics of Health and Social Care
      2. Meet the team
    11. Implementation
      1. Implementation
      2. Meet the team
    12. Rapid Evidence Synthesis
      1. Rapid Evidence Synthesis
      2. Meet the team
    13. Knowledge Mobilisation
      1. Knowledge Mobilisation
      2. Meet the team
  3. Public and Community Involvement
    1. Public and Community Involvement
    2. What is PCIE?
    3. Getting Involved
    4. Support for researchers
    5. Resources
    6. PCIE Guide
      1. PCIE Guide
      2. Contents
      3. Introduction
        1. Introduction
        2. An overview of ARC KSS
        3. Who can help you with PCIE?
        4. Terminology and PCIE
      4. Why and When to do PCIE
        1. Why and When to do PCIE
        2. Why involve members of the public in research?
        3. Why do members of the public want to get involved in research?
        4. When to get members of the public involved?
      5. How to do PCIE
        1. How to do PCIE
        2. Communication and Accessibility
        3. Budgeting
        4. Planning for involvement and engagement
        5. How to recruit members of the public
        6. Inclusive Research
        7. Approaches – different options for undertaking PCIE
        8. Facilitating meetings and Group dynamics
        9. Ethics
        10. Feedback
        11. Impact and Evaluation
      6. Examples/Case Studies
      7. Appendix/Useful tools
  4. Learning and Development
    1. Learning and Development
    2. ARC KSS AcademyARC KSS Academy
    3. Learning and DevelopmentLearning and Development
      1. Learning and Development
      2. Learning and Development Finder
      3. Researchers Journeys
    4. MentorshipMentorship
    5. Research communities of practiceResearch communities of practice
    6. Research Week Research Week
      1. Research Week
      2. Previous Research Weeks
    7. Your Health and Social Care Research Quick GuideYour Health and Social Care Research Quick Guide
  5. Resource Library
  6. Events
  7. News
  8. Contact Us

A new initiative to strengthen research capacity in the health and care workforce is launching this September. The NIHR Health and Care Professionals Internship Programme, led by Dr Julie MacInnes and hosted by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, will offer bespoke, pre-doctoral internships to registered health and care professionals across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the programme will run for three years, supporting 23 interns annually with awards of up to £10,000 each. These internships are tailored to individual learning needs and career aspirations, offering opportunities across four progressive levels: Stepping into Research, Growing in Research, Research Delivery Leadership, and Clinical/Practitioner Academic Leadership.

Interns will benefit from placements, mentorship, academic modules, and small-scale research projects. The programme is designed to be inclusive, with targeted outreach to under-represented groups and professions, and a commitment to embedding public and patient involvement throughout.

A strong partnership underpins the programme, including nine NHS and academic organisations such as East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Brighton, and University of Kent, alongside infrastructure partners such as NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex, Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex and the NIHR South East Regional Research Delivery Network.

The programme aims to address workforce challenges by nurturing a new generation of research-engaged professionals, enhancing service delivery through evidence-based practice, and promoting equity in research access. It is a significant step toward building a more inclusive, innovative, and effective health and care system.

Want to learn more about how to apply and key dates?

Join us for the NIHR Health and Care Professional Internship Programme webinar taking place on Monday 8 September, 10:00–11:00am.

For further information contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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