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Starting out in health and social care research

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The Supporting The Advancement of Research Skills (STARS) team at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust provides high-quality research training to the current and future health and social care workforce.

This course has been produced by the STARS team along with experts in health and social care research. It is designed to suit research novices and people returning to research in the UK.

During the course, you will learn practical skills to help manage your time, balance work and research commitments alongside your existing role. You will also learn about the different stages of the research cycle - from project development through to the publishing of findings - and understand what research infrastructure and processes that are in place to support you in your career.

Working with People and Commuities to Improve General Practice in Primary Care

On week one:

we’ll think about why we work with people and communities in primary care and at neighbourhood level.

we’ll look at some of the principles of partnering with people and communities, and an overview of the legal and contractual responsibilities.

we’ll address why diversity and inclusion is important in this space, and consider some different models to enable this.

On week two:

we’ll look at how to better understand your people and communities.

we’ll highlight some approaches that you can take to work with specific groups of people who may be less likely to be represented.

we’ll show some techniques that you can use to encourage people to partner and how to get the best from them.

Supporting People with Health Conditions Into Work: Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

This course provides a comprehensive overview of Individual Placement and Support (IPS), an evidence-based approach that places people accessing mental health services into long-term employment. This course is funded by NHS England and written in collaboration between IPS Grow and Centre for Mental Health.

Supporting People with Health Conditions Into Work: Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

Inherited Cancer Susceptibility (Without Quiz)

Genomics in the NHS: A clinician's guide to genomic testing for cancer (solid tumours)

Genomics in the NHS: A clinician's guide to genomic testing for rare disease

Teacher: Amy Frost

Health-Based Interventions: Supporting Young People Impacted by Violence

Teacher: Katherine Marland

MOOC - LAM Test course 1

OD Essentials: An Introduction to Organisational Development in the NHS

OD Essentials is designed for organisation development (OD) professionals working in the NHS who want to deepen their understanding of OD theory, practice and impact.

Developed and funded by NHS England, the programme supports the ambitions set out in The Future of NHS Human Resources and Organisational Development report and reflects a collaborative effort with regional OD networks and system partners.

This five-week programme is ideal for those working in OD roles across provider, ICB and system-level settings. It builds on foundational knowledge and explores how OD contributes to system effectiveness, patient care and organisational outcomes.

Course objectives:

Introduce core OD theory and research
Explore practical applications in NHS settings
Examine OD’s role in system effectiveness
Highlight the importance of self-awareness
Demonstrate OD’s impact on care quality and safety

Course format:

Five-week, self-led programme
Six hours of study per week (recommended)
Two optional peer learning sessions

Eligibility: Participants must currently work in OD in the NHS and be able to reflect on how the learning applies to their role. Not suitable for those outside the OD profession.

Supporting People with Health Conditions into Work: IPS Case Management

This course was created in partnership with Centre for Mental Health. Explore the five stages of the IPS process in this course: outreach and engagement, building vocational profiles, employment action plans, employer engagement, and developing follow-along support.

Supporting People with Health Conditions into Work: Job Retention Strategies

This course was created in partnership with Centre for Mental Health. You’ll begin this course by learning the principles of job retention, how it fits within Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services, and why early intervention job retention is essential in safeguarding the well-being of individuals with health conditions.

Supporting People with Health Conditions into Work: Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

This course was created in collaboration with Centre for Mental Health.

On this course, you will learn how IPS is an effective way of supporting those with mental health and other health problems into paid employment and why it’s important. You will explore the role of the employment specialist, and learn the main IPS principles and best practices to help your clients reach their full potential.

Supporting Individuals with Health Conditions into Work: The Role of the Clinical Team

This course will guide you through working with Employment Specialists to help clients secure and sustain employment. You’ll learn practical ways to support clients at work, which will help them towards continued employment and recovery.

This two-week course will help you understand more about IPS, why work is important, and how it links to the recovery agenda.

Starting out in health and social care research

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This course has been produced by the STARS team along with experts in health and social care research. It is designed to suit research novices and people returning to research in the UK.

School for Change Agents

This course is all about teaching you how to be a Change Agent. A Change Agent is someone who can see that things could be different, they have the passion and skills to make change happen. The school will help you to:

Unleash the power within yourself and your teams.
Learn from real-world examples of Change Agents who’ve made a real impact.
And explore how to ‘rock the boat’ without falling out!

Core Managers: Noticing and Challenging Microaggressions

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Develop your inclusive leadership skills by learning how to recognise and challenge microaggressions in healthcare facilities.

Core Managers: Effective Allyship in Health and Care

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Understand the importance of allyship in health and care to become a more inclusive and compassionate leader and manager.

Core Managers: Increasing Disability Positivity

Understand the definition and impact of disability to better support, celebrate, and advocate for your disabled colleagues.

Core Managers: Sexual Safety in Healthcare

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Recognise, respond to, and prevent sexual harassment and misconduct in healthcare to build safer, more inclusive workplaces.

Core Managers: Leading Inclusivity within LGBTQIA+

Explore LGBTQIA+ milestones and learn strategies to champion inclusivity and social change.

Core Managers: Inclusive Workplaces (Creating a Psychological Contract)

Harness your inclusive leadership skills to create and maintain good psychological contracts in any healthcare facility.

Core Managers: Inclusive Leadership in Health and Care

Develop inclusive and compassionate leadership skills to ensure diversity and equality in the health and care industry.

Teacher: Katherine Marland

Loss of a Baby in Multiple Pregnancy: Supporting Grieving Parents

Give real support to bereaved parents after pregnancy or neonatal loss

Pregnancy loss and neonatal death are always devastating. When they occur in a multiple pregnancy, parents can be especially overwhelmed by the complex cluster of feelings that is evoked.

This course by The Butterfly Project will provide in-depth guidance into what parents are going through, how to provide bereavement support, and how to celebrate each life in a multiple pregnancy.

Gain insight into experiences following multiple pregnancy loss

On this course, you’ll get to explore the unique parental experiences of reproductive loss in a multiple pregnancy and the key challenges that arise in hospital wards and after discharge.

Unpack bereavement support fundamentals for every stage

The learning materials and guidelines in this course were developed in partnership with parents, so you can trust their effectiveness.

From dealing with the immediate aftermath of the loss to encouraging parents to create memories of the life they’re mourning, you’ll feel more confident in every clinical setting.

Learn bereavement support with an award-winning team

The Butterfly Project is a group of academics, doctors, and nurses dedicated to working with parents following neonatal death or pregnancy loss. Their latest research focuses on such losses experienced in multiple pregnancies. With unparalleled parental interviews and accounts, they deliver an exceptional course in bereavement support during and after these tragic events.

What topics will you cover?

Background to a) multiple pregnancy b) stillbirth, miscarriage and neonatal death
Feelings and experiences of parents suffering reproductive loss in the context of multiple pregnancy
Complexity of emotions associated with loss of a co-twin, and the lifelong challenges
Good practice for health professionals in communication and parental support
Bereavement support, and end-of-care; memory making

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Demonstrate understanding into the experiences of families following multiple pregnancy loss.
Assess various high-quality learning materials and guidelines surrounding bereavement support.
Explore the challenges that arise in hospital wards and after discharge.
Reflect on the feelings, experiences and complexity of emotions of parents suffering reproductive loss in the context of multiple pregnancy.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for health professionals working with expecting or recently-bereaved multiple pregnancy parents in any capacity. Doctors, midwives, nurses, counsellors, and psychologists will all find it valuable.

Managing Uncertainty in Perinatal Medicine and Palliative Care

Explore perinatal palliative care and its role in managing uncertainty

Every year, thousands of families face the challenging reality of uncertain perinatal outcomes.

Join experts from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, Sands, Bliss and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to gain the knowledge and practical tools to support patients and their families.

Understand the foundations of perinatal palliative care

Begin this course with an overview of the challenges and uncertainties families and healthcare professionals face in early life care.

You’ll be introduced to the BAPM framework, which offers an integrated approach to palliative care, emphasising parent support and care planning.

Develop effective communication with families

Then, discuss how to initiate and guide sensitive conversations with parents who are facing heartbreaking decisions.

You’ll also discover best practices for writing letters and advance care plans (ACP) to ensure parents are empowered to make informed choices for their baby.

Apply collaborative approaches to managing uncertainty

Next, you’ll gain valuable skills in handling uncertainty through collaborative, multi-disciplinary team (MDT) strategies.

You’ll hear from parents experiencing reproductive loss and from neonatologists and other specialists about how they address uncertainty in their practice and work together to provide the best care possible.

Support families through end-of-life care and loss

This course concludes with a focus on providing holistic end-of-life care, supporting families through the loss of a baby, and managing the emotional challenges of bereavement.

You’ll explore the role of specialist palliative care teams, post-mortem discussions, cultural diversity, and bereavement care while emphasising compassionate leadership during this emotional journey.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Demonstrate an understanding of the experiences of parents with a baby who has an uncertain future and may have a short life before or after birth.
Reflect on and listen to parents' experiences of perinatal palliative care.
Assess existing resources, including the British Association for Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) framework, as well as other guidelines and learning materials for perinatal palliative care, complex decision-making, parallel planning and end-of-life care.
Explore the challenges faced by parents and healthcare professionals when reaching a consensus on the optimal care pathways for babies who have an uncertain future.
Identify how experienced healthcare professionals approach complex cases, including how they communicate with parents and the wider family.

Who is the course for?

This course is for healthcare professionals who support parents during challenging moments in pregnancy and neonatal care.

Whether you’re a doctor, midwife, nurse, or mental health professional, you’ll gain valuable skills to navigate uncertainty and provide compassionate care. It’s also perfect for students interested in perinatal care.

Lactation After Loss: Choices for Bereaved Parents

Support mothers in the face of loss with actionable lactation guidance

Pregnancy and baby loss affects approximately 25% of pregnancies. Despite its frequency, the experience remains profoundly challenging for those affected, making the need for support all the more important during difficult times.

In the midst of pregnancy and baby loss, many grieving parents may be unsure of what options are available to them. From emotional support to practical decisions, the array of choices can feel overwhelming and unclear, especially lactation options which are not often shared within the healthcare environment.

In this course, learn how to support those impacted by baby loss and gain practical skills for discussing lactation options.

Understand the impact of baby loss, from lactation physiology to breast milk donation options

At the beginning of this course, you’ll explore the intricate connections between baby loss and lactation to comprehend their profound impact on families.

Then dive into key concepts of baby loss and lactation physiology while delving into practical aspects like milk donation and suppression choices.

Guide mothers with compassion through sensitive discussions to find supportive lactation solutions

In the second section of this course, you’ll trace the historical evolution of milk donation while exploring its significance and best practices in healthcare management.

Discover the motivations behind milk donation, understand contraindications, and learn effective strategies for initiating conversations with caregivers and parents.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for doctors, midwives, nurses, counsellors, psychologists and other health professionals working with recently bereaved parents. Nursing and medical students may also find this course beneficial for their studies.

GMS Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Understanding Inherited High Cholesterol

This course will explore the significance of familial hypercholesterolemia in healthcare with this comprehensive short course from the NHS.

Understand and manage familial hypercholesterolemia for future generations

Unlock the key to understanding and managing familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited condition causing high cholesterol levels. This online course equips you with essential skills to identify, diagnose, and support patients with FH.

Understand the physiology of familial hypercholesterolemia and clinical criteria

You will delve into the physiology of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and understand the clinical criteria for identifying this condition.

You’ll discover why FH is considered a significant health priority and learn how healthcare professionals play a crucial role in managing this genetic disorder.

Learn the critical role of family history in diagnosing familial hypercholesterolemia

You will consider family history as a diagnostic tool for FH. You’ll do so by exploring methods to collect pertinent family history information and practise the skill of drawing a family tree.

You’ll understand how family history can reveal risks and aid in managing familial hypercholesterolemia effectively.

Explore the principles of consent in genomic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia

You’ll wrap up this course by discussing the principles of consent during genomic testing consultations for FH. You’ll promote ethical practices by learning how to document genomic conversations accurately and ensure patients are well-informed about testing options.

By completing this course, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of familial hypercholesterolemia to become a key player in the management of patient interventions for FH.

Health-Based Interventions: Supporting Young People Impacted by Violence

Learn about the unique role of health and care professionals in advocating for a public health approach to reducing violence.

Why join the course?
Learn more about how you can help reduce violence through your role!

This course has been developed by the Violence Reduction Academy hosted by NHS London Violence Reduction Programme in partnership with Queen Mary, University of London.

Health and care professionals have a unique role in advocating for a public health approach to reducing the impact of violence. Across system, place and individual levels, we can support a holistic approach to prevention, and tackle inequalities that are often highlighted as being experiences of people affected by violence.

We hope this course provides the opportunity for health care and allied professionals across different roles to develop an understanding of what it means to prevent and reduce violence, within the context of healthcare and related services.