"More people joining our training courses to further develop their skills within research will improve things for everybody - clinical staff and patients."

Emma Heron, Lead Training Facilitator, coordinates and leads on research training provided by the CRN WE.

What does your day-to-day job as Lead Training Facilitator involve?

I deliver research training courses and check that the material we deliver is relevant, up-to-date and of the highest quality. I also coordinate the research training facilitators for each training course.

What does being a facilitator involve?

It is about guiding delegates through the training day in a way that enables them to get the most out of the session and the most out of each other. It is not just about standing at the front of the room relaying information. We create discussions, getting to know who everyone is and their backgrounds in research. We create conversations around the delegates’ shared experiences to help them learn from each other.

In your opinion what difference does research make to the Trust?

A massive difference! Research is one of the core values at University Hospitals Bristol. Being a research active trust brings a lot of opportunities for staff to get involved in research and provides opportunities and potentially huge benefits for patients who opt to take part.

How has research developed over the years?

Before 2009 it was seen as a bit of strange role for a nurse to be getting involved with. Research was seen as an addition to your main role, whereas now I believe research is very much embedded in the day to day experience of patients and staff members. In the past mainly doctors would conduct research but now AHPs and other professionals are conducting research too. I also think patients are much more aware of research going on within our hospitals. It is much more accepted and part of the day-to-day running of healthcare.

How long have you been working in research?

I started as a research nurse in cardiac research in 2009. 

What was your favourite part of working in research?

Meeting patients. As I was hospital based, I had the daily opportunity to be with patients at different stages of their journey. I was able to talk to patients about research opportunities and deliver research that could potentially help with their conditions.


What training courses do you facilitate and what do they involve?

The main course I facilitate is the Valid Informed Consent training. The course involves
small groups discussing what each individual’s role is within the consent process.
Our delegates have a variety of backgrounds and experiences. This enables people who don’t have as much experience to connect with people who have more experience. The course is also about talking through some of the necessities of valid informed consent including legislation, history and decision-making skills. We also talk about the different aspects of the Informed Consent process including how to approach patients and what information needs to be given. We also discuss how we assess capacity, what to do if a patient lacks capacity and how we make that decision. We discuss the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and have some case studies that we talk through and ask the delegates to bring a Patient Information Sheet from a study that they are familiar with.

Who are the training courses aimed at?

Different training courses are suited to different individuals in different roles. The Valid Informed Consent course is aimed at research staff that are involved in the consent process and receiving consent from a participant. We also run the Principle Investigator (PI) Essentials training course that is geared towards anyone who is either thinking of becoming a PI or is a new PI. We have also got PI Masterclass, for people who have been PIs for longer and are perhaps more confident in that role. The masterclass training is a peer learning session. The Next Steps in Clinical Research course is for a wide range of research staff who perhaps want a more in-depth knowledge about what research is about. We go into quite a lot of detail with this course in order to embed that research knowledge.
We also offer a Let’s Talk Trials course which is a great course for those who are involved in the consent process and talking to patients. It is very much about using communication skills and interactions within your research role.

What is Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training?

The GCP course is a basic requirement for anyone who is working in research. It will help give you confidence, especially when you are first stepping into your research role. The qualification is also required to be regularly updated. For this we offer GCP Refresher sessions. But if you haven’t done this course before and you are thinking of stepping into research, completion of this course is a very good place to start.

What do you enjoy most about being a facilitator?

I love being able to walk into a room, seeing 16 people sat in front of me, and getting to know who they are and what they do. I find that I always learn from facilitating. I enjoy interacting with the delegates and guiding people through the day. It’s a real passion of mine.

What would you say to staff thinking of signing up for one of these courses?

Do it! It's fantastic! Have a look at the range of courses we offer and think about what might be right for you. Have a chat to your line manager as you will need their support to be able to attend our courses. They are very interactive courses and not ‘death by PowerPoint’! We get really good feedback from previous sessions we run and the courses are tailored to delegates within the room. So overall, definitely go for it.

What are you hopes for the future of training?

I would like to see training grow. We are in a position for this to happen as staff are keen to
complete training and we provide high quality courses. It would be really interesting to hear from staff about the courses they need and look at any gaps in the training we offer. More people joining our training courses to further develop their skills within research will improve things for everybody - clinical staff and patients.


Are you interested in the opportunity to deliver training courses within the CRN West of England locality?

Do you want to help to develop the next generation of research staff?

We are seeking facilitators to help lead our courses in Next Steps in Clinical Research, Informed Consent and PI Essentials.

Want to apply? Click here for more information.
Closing date for applications will be Monday 2nd September 2019.