Workforce Development
Source: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/hls/groups/workforce-development Parent: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/engage-and-innovate/consultancy
Group Leader(s): Professor Catherine Henshall, Dr Clair Merriman
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About us
Leadership
Membership
Projects
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About us Leadership Membership Projects
About us
The Workforce Development Research Group is co-Chaired by Professor Cathy Henshall and Dr Clair Merriman and was established in 2021. The group’s aim is to build and develop an internationally recognised and vibrant research portfolio in the area of healthcare workforce development, with a focus on key funding priorities. This includes:
- research in secondary, community based, social care and other out of hospital settings
- a focus on health care staffing roles, skill mixes and training opportunities
- research on workforce professional development and leadership roles
We are interested in exploring the best ways for staff to support patients who are living with long term conditions, as well as examining ways to support the workforce to ensure it is resilient and engages with sustainable mechanisms for practice. We consider ongoing changes to practice settings that may need evaluating or assessing.
Through the WDRG we promote and support a collaborative research culture. Membership includes early, mid and senior career researchers, as well as PhD and Masters students. We act as a forum for sharing and supporting practice developments that will inform current and future research activities, as well as knowledge exchange, innovation, teaching and policy.
Part of
- Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Oxford Institute of Applied Health Research
- Centre for Healthcare Research
Leadership
Professor Catherine Henshall
Professor of Nursing
View profile for Catherine Henshall
Dr Clair Merriman
Divisional Lead for NMAHP Research and Innovation Oxford University Hospital Foundation Trust and Oxford Brookes University
View profile for Clair Merriman
Membership
Staff members Research students
- Staff
- Students
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Staff
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Sally Bassett | Senior Lecturer in Health Care Management | sbassett@brookes.ac.uk |
| Dr Dan Butcher | Senior Lecturer - Course Lead Professional Doctorate in Nursing | dbutcher@brookes.ac.uk |
| Ms Julie Cooke | Senior Lecturer and placement lead | |
| Dr Zoe Davey | Research Fellow | zdavey@brookes.ac.uk |
| Dr Christopher Dodd | Postdoctoral Research Assistant | c.dodd@brookes.ac.uk |
| Dr Kathleen Greenway | Associate Professor of Adult Nursing | kgreenway@brookes.ac.uk |
| Ms Sarah Neal | Deputy Head Practice Education and Senior Lecturer Adult Nursing | skhan@brookes.ac.uk |
| Professor Benita Olivier | Professor of Rehabilitation | benita.olivier@brookes.ac.uk |
| Dr Robyn Stiger | Principal Lecturer in Clinical Skills, Simulation & Immersive Technology | robynstiger@brookes.ac.uk |
| Dr Laura Strumidlo | Deputy Director Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery | lstrumidlo@brookes.ac.uk |
| Mrs Lorraine Whatley | Senior Lecturer Simulation and Immersive Learning Technology | l.whatley@brookes.ac.uk |
Projects
Active projects Completed projects
- Active projects
- Completed projects
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Active projects
| Project title and description | Investigator(s) | Funder(s) | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research interest, engagement, capacity and capability Building research capacity and capability among nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare ccientists, pharmacists, and psychologists (NMAHPPs) is essential. The NMAHPP Research C&C Programme aims to explore research interest, engagement, capacity and capability at the individual level and the readiness for research at an organisational level with the purpose of determining strategic and operational priorities related to the development of research capacity and capability in NMAHPPs and wider healthcare staff. | Professor Benita Olivier | From: February 2024 | |
| Lung I-ACT: Improving Access and Recruitment to Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer Patients Clinical trials are key to advancing treatments and improving patient quality of life, but only around 3-11% of cancer patients are estimated to take part in trials. The Lung I-ACT project aims to develop and test a research recruitment resource for lung cancer nurses to support lung cancer patients to make informed decisions about entering clinical trials. Hear about key findings from focus groups with patients and nurses, and how these insights have shaped the resource on the Brookes Unscripted podcast. | Professor Catherine Henshall | Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation | From: June 2023 Until: September 2025 |
| Professional Identity in Nursing - Global While nurses globally may share a Code of Ethics (ICN, 2021) and the fundamental responsibility for ensuring people receive care that meets their needs, what constitutes being a nurse in various countries may differ considerably. Geography, politics and technology are just some of the factors that mean nurses in one country may look different to those in another. In doing this study we seek to identify the elements of professional development that are universal and not geographically dependent. There is little research on professional identity from the perspective of the graduating student nurse and even less that investigates the global similarities and variations. Gaining a better understanding of these universal elements will guide the work of educators and researchers involved in the development of professional identity in nurses. | Dr Anita Fitzgerald, Dr Dan Butcher | NLN | From: July 2023 Until: December 2026 |
| Why Healthcare Professionals Stay in Oxfordshire: An Appreciative Inquiry Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professional (NMAHP) shortages affect patient care and contribute to poor patient safety outcomes. It is vital to identify ways to attract and retain staff already working in health and social care settings. Burnout, staff vacancies, stress, low morale, increased workload, lack of work-life balance, poor career development opportunities, feeling undervalued and a lack of role flexibility are well-documented reasons for leaving. However, limited research explores factors that influence why NMAHPs stay in the NHS. Within Oxfordshire, workforce retention disincentives include a lack of salary parity compared to the London weighting uplift despite high living costs, limited travel infrastructure, and high NMAHP staff vacancies across many specialties. However, many NMAHPs choose to work and remain in their roles across Oxfordshire NHS Trusts. Furthermore, many NMAHPs apply for vacancies within Oxfordshire from further afield and stay in these roles long term. Better understanding of factors influencing NMAHP retention in Oxfordshire could enhance research, policy and practice, leading to an increase of NMAHPs in the workforce. Our study will explore the reasons why NMAHPS working in Oxfordshire NHS Trusts choose to work and remain in their roles. | Dr Clair Merriman | Oxfordshire Health Service Research Committee (OHSRC) | From: May 2025 Until: June 2026 |
| Research on internationally educated nurses and midwives support and experience The aim is to understand the experiences of Internationally Educated Nurses and Midwives (IENMs), particularly those from the Global Majority, employed at the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH). The overarching research question focuses on identifying barriers and facilitators to career progression and leadership among IENMs, and how these factors impact retention, development, and equitable representation within the NHS. The study is being carried out by London North West Healthcare NHS Trust in collaboration with Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust/Oxford Brookes University. | Dr Clair Merriman | RCN | From: March 2025 Until: March 2027 |