Integrated Clinical Academic Programme highlights importance of research

The Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme, run by Health Education England and National Institute for Health Research, is featured in a special supplement published by the Health Services Journal in November.

Called Everyone join in – why research should be everybody’s business it highlights the importance of research in improving patient outcomes, with a specific focus on the ICA Programme which encourages more nurses, midwives and Allied Health Professionals to engage with clinical academic research.

The supplement features interviews with Professor Nicki Latham, HEE’s Executive Director of Performance and Development and Professor Dave Jones, NIHR Dean for Faculty Trainees, along with ICA trainees from professions including music therapy, midwifery and nursing. Also included is an article which explores the benefits staff participating in research can bring to NHS trusts.

Nicki Latham highlighted HEE’s role in developing a clinical academic career framework and pathway.

What we really want to do is ensure that all health professionals have the opportunity to develop skills and confidence in research and to ensure that we have the next clinical academic research leaders, with a clear focus on better outcomes for patients.

The ICA programme is just one strand of HEE’s overarching Clinical Academic Careers Framework, which brings together existing academic training programmes and aims to streamline the schemes within it. The other key strand is the NIHR Integrated Academic Training (IAT) programme for doctors and dentists.

As recommended by the Shape of Caring and Shape of Training reviews, the need for evidence-based practice is clear as a means of improving patient care and experience. There are benefits to staff, patients and the NHS of participating in clinical academic research, with innovation leading to better quality of care and improved health outcomes.