It all started with a conversation: research sessions for practitioners and ongoing practitioner/academic collaboration.

Steven, Alison, Maxwell, Clare and Young-Murphy, Lesley (2011) It all started with a conversation: research sessions for practitioners and ongoing practitioner/academic collaboration. In: Fuse Knowledge Exchange in Public Health Conference, 11 -12 April 2011, Durham, UK.

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Abstract

Introduction
Enabling the reciprocal exchange of knowledge between practitioners and academics is complicated.
Practitioners are under pressure to hit targets and increase efficiency, while researchers are required to ‘earn’ money and produce academic outputs. Creating opportunities to meet, discuss issues or share knowledge is often difficult.
In 2008 Newcastle & North Tyneside Community Health, the provider arm of the local Primary Care Trust, appointed a Research & Audit Facilitator (RAF) with the remit of fostering an ‘enquiry minded workforce’. Around the same time a Fuse senior lecturer (SL) in knowledge translation in public health was appointed. Through personal contact with the Deputy Director of Community Services mutual interests, including building capacity in the facilitator, led to the collaborative development of research sessions for practitioners.
This presentation will describe the sessions and further developments, explore potential impacts and highlight relevant issues.

Approach to Knowledge Exchange Practitioners views were sought and a series of research awareness sessions developed and co-facilitated in partnership (AS&CM). The aim was to provide practitioners with knowledge about research, encourage networking and for the SL to learn about current practice context and issues -two way knowledge transfer. There was a strong feeling that to make sessions worthwhile practitioners needed more than a chance to chat. Sessions acknowledged the value of the practitioner knowledge, were not didactic and combined presentations with experience sharing and discussion. Comments were fed forward and sessions developed iteratively in collaboration with the practitioners - rendering them more pertinent.

Impact and Issues
The ongoing SL/RAF collaboration has influenced further developments: a research network for practitioners, ‘master classes’, further practitioner opportunities, database development, an evaluation study and dissemination opportunities.
In contemplating this collaboration other issues have emerged: the assessment of impact, the hidden role of intrinsic knowledge exchange, the power of serendipity, organisational flexibility and support.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects:	B900 Others in Subjects allied to Medicine L400 Social Policy X900 Others in Education
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Ay Okpokam
Date Deposited:	28 Jan 2013 10:25
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 15:25
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/11049

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