Research Training Bursary Scheme 2017

Research Training Bursary Scheme 2017 Levels 1 to 3

GUIDANCE NOTES

These guidance notes contain all the information you need to help you complete the 2017 Personal Award application form and includes details on the submissions deadlines. Please ensure you have read through these guidance notes before completing the application form. 1. Introduction

Pharmacy Research UK is the principal research charity supporting pharmacists and pharmacy to improve healthcare for the benefit of patients and the public. Our broad ambition is to improve the health of the public through supporting and promoting excellence in pharmacy research.

This handbook provides a guide to the application process and key dates that applicants should be aware of.

What you need to know before you start?

The application process for 2017 Pharmacy Research Training Bursary scheme opens on Wednesday 4 January 2017.

The deadline for completed applications is 1pm on Wednesday 3 May 2017. Please note that incomplete applications or any applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

The interviews for those short-listed for the Level 3 Training Bursaries will be held in London in w/c-10/07/2017. Please ensure that you are available to attend an interview during this time, in case you are shortlisted. An exact date and location will be provided in due course.

Please note: Applicants shortlisted for a Level 3 Research Training Bursaries are required to attend an interview. Applicants for Levels 1 to 2 are not required to attend an interview.

Timetable for 2017 Pharmacy Research UK Research Training Bursary Scheme

2017 Pharmacy Research UK Awards application process goes 4th January 2017 live Deadline for submission of Personal Research Award applications 3rd May 2017 (1pm) Deadline for submission of signed Declarations page 3rd May 2017 (5pm) Applicants notified of outcome w/c 26th June 2017 Interviews in London w/c 10th July 2017 Applicants notified of outcome w/c 24th July 2017

2 2. Purpose of the Research Training Bursary Scheme

Purpose of the Research Training Bursary Scheme - Level 1

The Research Training Bursary Scheme Level 1 is intended to support pharmacists who have an interest in developing skills in conducting research relating to their practice. It provides funding for such pharmacists to undertake one or more taught research modules and a supervised small scale research project.

The aim of this funding is to develop a group of community and primary care pharmacists who have basic experience and skills in research.

Purpose of the Research Training Bursary Scheme - Level 2

The Research Training Bursary Scheme Level 2 is intended to support pharmacists who have an interest in developing skills in conducting research relating to their practice. It provides funding for such pharmacists to upgrade a Diploma in Clinical/Community Pharmacy to an MSc. This usually involves undertaking a further two modules (one in research methods) and a project.

The aim of this funding is to develop a group of community and primary care pharmacists who have basic experience and skills in health services research who will pursue research as part of their practice, working in collaboration with other researchers or as part of larger projects led by academic departments.

Purpose of the Research Training Bursary Scheme – Level 3

The Research Training Bursary Scheme Level 3 is intended to support pharmacists who have an interest in developing skills in conducting research relating to their practice. It provides funding for such pharmacists to pursue formal training at Masters Level which includes teaching in fields relevant to practice research (e.g. public health, health economics, epidemiology or sociology etc.). Selected courses must include a period of supervised research and preparation of a thesis or dissertation.

The aim of the Scheme is to develop a group of pharmacists who have basic experience and skills in health services research who will pursue research as part of their practice, working in collaboration with other researchers or as part of larger projects led by academic departments.

3 3. Who is eligible to apply?

Funding for these bursaries has come from the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust and is, therefore, to be used to help individual community and primary care pharmacists who demonstrate a real need for external support to develop their skills and careers in research.

All registered community and primary care pharmacists who are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) are eligible to apply.

IMPORTANT – Please ensure you meet all of the above criteria before applying.

4. What support is available?

Annually, £40K is made available to fund a number of projects over the following levels of funding listed in Section 2 above.

Level 1 Bursary applications up to a maximum of £5,000 per pharmacist can be made for one year (or two years part time pro rata).

Level 2 Bursary applications up to a maximum of £10,000 per pharmacist can be made for one year (or two year’s part time pro rata).

Level 3 Bursary applications up to a maximum of £30,000 per pharmacist can be made for one year (or two year’s part time pro rata).

Each Bursary may (if required) include a contribution to the following items of funding:

 Salary (pro rata for part time)/Locum costs  Course fees  Research costs (up to a maximum of £500, to include printing, postage and travel)  Supervision costs  Conference attendance (up to a maximum of £400 towards attendance and presentation of work at UK conference(s))

4 5. Duration

While it is preferred that projects last no longer than three years, the Scientific Advisory Panel will consider projects of a longer duration if justifiable.

6. Notes on completing the application form

General points for completing the form

 Please read through this guidance document carefully before you start your application.  Please ensure you meet the entry requirements listed in Section 3 above.  Please retain an electronic copy of the form you submit.  All text should be a minimum of 10 points.  Please proofread your bursary application form and ask a friend/colleague/supporting organisation to critically appraise it for you before submitting.  Please allow sufficient time to obtain the necessary signatures and leave yourself plenty of time to complete your application.  Do your research - both about your chosen research topics, the organisation and individuals that will support you, Pharmacy Research UK’s research and areas of interest and the panel members interviewing you (interviews applicable only to Level 3 Bursary applications).  Please ensure that your two hard copies are collated correctly, double-sided and stapled.  Please ensure you make appropriate arrangements to ensure that the necessary documents arrive in our office prior to the closing date and time.

Submitting your application form

Applicants are asked to submit a PDF (.pdf) and word (.doc) version of the completed application form to the email address provided below. Applicants are also required to submit a fully signed, wet-ink copy of the Declarations page only to the address below:

Training Bursaries Pharmacy Research UK 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1W 1AW [email protected]

When submitting your Declarations page, please include a cover note to confirm the title of your application and the type of bursary you are applying for (i.e. Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3). This will assist us in matching the Declarations page to the appropriate application.

5 Please do not forget to attach your own and your supervisor(s) Curriculum Vitae to your application, as appending documents.

Section 1 - Personal Details

Please insert your personal and contact details as requested.

Applicants must be registered pharmacists with the GPhC and members of RPS and be working as a primary care or community pharmacist (including locums).

Please clearly indicate which level of bursary you are applying for.

Section 2 – Current Employment Details

Please insert the address of your current workplace and the name of your current employer.

If you are self-employed, please state so under post title. If a self-employed locum, please state “locum” in the post title section.

If you work in a pharmacy regularly, we would like you to add the details of that pharmacy under the current employer’s name and address.

Applicants must have secured the agreement of their employers to attend taught course modules and to conduct research as part of the dissertation. Section 7 requires the signature of a representative from the employer.

Section 3 – Details of Proposed Training Bursary

Our intention, in funding Research Training Bursaries, is to provide pharmacists with the basic skills and knowledge needed to conduct (or engage) in research as part of their everyday practice.

Level 1

The Bursary can be used to fund any course which is relevant to conducting ‘practice research’ in pharmacy. Examples of the types of courses applicants may wish to undertake are: modules from an MSc course or short course on research methods.

We will be interested to know why you have chosen the course and will be looking for evidence that you have chosen a course that best suits your plans for the future and your experience of research to date. Please provide as much detail as possible about the course in terms of module content and any assessments that will be undertaken.

We are asking you to identify an area of your practice that may form the focus for the project. It is recognised that the detail of the research project will emerge during training, however, an early indication of the area and potential research question would be useful. You will also need to state who will be supervising your research project and it is expected that this will be someone from your supporting organisation. If you are successful you will be asked to submit a summary of your research project including a timetable prior to starting the

6 project.

Training Programme

We are looking for detail of the training you wish to undertake, formal and informal. As well as details re: modules, their timing and length, where they will be undertaken and costs, we would also like this information to be linked to your existing skills and knowledge gaps and match the ambitions of the proposed topic(s) for research. Applicants need to provide information on the various modules/courses that they will be undertaking. For modules/courses not contributing to a degree or formal qualification, the length of the course(s) and indication of the assessment/evaluation needs to be outlined.

Additional useful information would be why you have chosen to do this particular course as opposed to any others, and how they relate to your proposed study area(s).

Proposed Topic for Research

We recognise that your ideas may not be fully worked up at this stage and that, following your training, the direction of your research interests may change. However, we expect this section to cover areas of your research that you would like to pursue, where these interests have come from and how they relate to your practice/professional progression and the wider health context.

Demonstrating some knowledge of existing research in your chosen area(s) and policy would be advantageous.

Level 2

The bursary can be used to fund any course which is relevant to conducting ‘practice research’ in pharmacy. Most relevant courses will lead to a Masters Level qualification.

We are seeking details of the course you intend to undertake. We will be interested to know why you have chosen the course and will be looking for evidence that you have chosen a course that best suits your plans for the future and your experience of research to date. Please provide as much detail as possible about the course in terms of module content and any assessments that will be undertaken. We are asking you to identify an area of your practice that may form the focus for the project. It is recognised that the detail of the research project will emerge during the course and that, as a result of the taught modules, this may change completely. We will explore at interview why you think this aspect of your practice requires research and why it is of particular interest.

It is anticipated that applications for Level 2 funding will be supported by a Higher Education Institution supporting organisation. Links to Schools of Pharmacy can be found at: http://www.rpharms.com/what-qualifications-do-i-need-/where-can-i-study-.asp.

7 Level 3

The Bursary can be used to fund any course which is relevant to conducting research in pharmacy. Any course selected must include significant teaching relating to research methods and a supervised period of research experience. Subject areas that Trustees have identified as being particularly relevant include:

• Health economics • Epidemiology • Sociology • Psychology (e.g., health, organisational) • Management studies • Public Health • Research Methods • Health Services Research • Law and Ethics • Philosophy • Anthropology

Most relevant courses will lead to a Masters Level qualification.

IMPORTANT: Bursaries cannot be used to support higher degrees in clinical pharmacy.

We are seeking details of the course you intend to apply for – this information will be explored in more detail at interview. We will be interested to know why you have chosen the course and will be looking for evidence that you have chosen a course that best suits your plans for the future and your experience of research to date. We are looking for you to identify courses that best meet your needs.

Please provide as much detail as possible about the taught modules (both compulsory and optional), the length of time to be spent on a research project and the requirements for assessment.

We are asking you to identify an area of your practice that may form the focus for the project. It is recognised that the detail of the research project will emerge during the course and that, as a result of the taught modules, this may change completely. We will explore at interview why you think this aspect of your practice requires focus.

PLEASE NOTE: All research projects must be conducted in accordance with national and local ethics and research governance guidelines (further information can be found on the Department of Health’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/139565/dh _4122427.pdf). Successful applicants will be expected to obtain both ethical and R&D approval to cover the sites in which they work before the programme of study can commence.

8 Section 4 – Your Professional Development through Research

Here we are interested to know if you have any previous experience in research and why you are interested in developing your research skills. You will need to demonstrate here, and at interview, that this Bursary provides a significant opportunity for you to develop your career in research.

In funding these Bursaries we are looking to increase the numbers of pharmacists who are able to develop careers that include research activity. You may be planning to stay in practice, but would like to work on projects locally or you may have plans to undertake further academic training.

It is not essential for you to have extensive experience at this stage, but some grounding in research will be an advantage. We are just interested to know your plans and how you see this Bursary contributing to your professional development.

Balancing your current work activities with your proposed research project and training

You need to be realistic about what you are proposing to do and the amount of time that it will take to achieve this. You will need to demonstrate that you have thought through what this study and training programme will involve in terms of time commitment and how you will balance this with your current work activities.

Section 5 - Sources of Advice and Supervision

Ongoing Support and Supervision

Making use of the available support and expertise from your supporting organisation is critical. You should discuss your needs with the relevant parties and agree the support arrangements they will provide (both in time, expertise and resources). Pharmacy Research UK would like to see an indication of the kinds of support you will be receiving from individual/organisations identified including formal and informal arrangements.

Areas that might be included from a research training perspective are:

 Developing your existing idea into a feasible research question  How to conduct a literature review  Identifying paradigms and approaches to match the problem/questions  Refining the questions/hypotheses, selecting a general research design and identifying a suitable sample  Selecting appropriate quantitative data collection tools and analysis techniques  Selecting appropriate qualitative data collection tools and analysis techniques  Identifying suitable partnerships/collaborations  Advice on ethical considerations and approval processes

Practical areas of support might also be relevant, for example:

 Office resources/facilities

9  Library facilities  Professional contacts  Peer support

The above lists are not exhaustive and you may have additional contacts (professional/academic) that you may wish to list here (e.g., a professional colleague who can act as a “critical friend”).

10 Section 6 – Summary of Financial Details

Level 1

Bursary applications up to a maximum of £5,000 per pharmacist can be made for one year (or two years part time pro rata).

Level 2

Bursary applications up to a maximum of £10,000 per pharmacist can be made for one year (or two year’s part time pro rata).

Level 3

Bursary applications up to a maximum of £30,000 per pharmacist can be made for one year (or two year’s part time pro rata).

Each Bursary may (if required) include a contribution to the following items of funding:

*Please note: For the purposes of calculating salaries for self-employed applicants’ average community pharmacy annual salaries will be used as a benchmark.

We will expect to pay the course provider directly for any course fees and will pay the other components of the award directly to the Bursary holder. It is the responsibility of the Bursary holder to arrange for any tuition invoices to be sent directly to Pharmacy Research UK. The salary or locum component of the Bursary will be paid quarterly, in arrears direct to the Bursary holder/institution. Research costs and conference attendance will be paid in arrears and we will require proof of registration (for conferences) and details of research costs before payments can be made.

PLEASE NOTE: These awards are student bursaries. We understand that under Section 331 Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, they may be exempt from income tax. Their primary purpose is learning, not employment, and so we understand that the bursaries produce no National Insurance contribution liability. However, depending on your individual circumstances you may find your local tax office will wish to tax your Bursary. In making the final arrangements for receiving your Bursary you may like to take this into consideration.

Pharmacy Research UK will not make any grant to meet a tax liability, should tax be deemed payable.

11 Section 7 – Declarations and Signatures

We need signatures from you, your employer (if appropriate) confirming that you have study leave agreed and a confirmed supporting organisation/individual.

We also require that the applicant provides declaration from their department or organisation confirming the work can be accommodated in the department and organisation.

For further details of local organisations that may be able to support your application for funding go to:

NIHR Research Design Services http://www.rds.nihr.ac.uk/

Links to Schools of Pharmacy can be found at: http://www.rpharms.com/what-qualifications- do-i-need-/where-can-i-study-.asp

7. The Selection Process

The awarding of the Research Training Bursaries is undertaken by the Scientific Advisory Panel, which is appointed by Pharmacy Research UK. Each application received will be independently reviewed by two members of our Scientific Advisory Panel.

The Panel will normally comprise researchers drawn from within and outwith pharmacy and health services research. One or more Panel members will therefore be familiar with the areas of research and will be aware of any duplication. You will be expected to be aware of any other research currently being undertaken in the field. If your proposed research is similar to that being undertaken elsewhere, you will need to make a strong case for replication.

Applications will be judged against specific criteria:

 Contribution to developing research capacity and capability  Suitability of training identified  Supervision/support arrangements  Appropriateness of the research area/question identified

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be given feedback on their application.

All short-listed Level 3 applicants will be invited to the RPS headquarters in London for a short interview (approx. half an hour), at their own expense, where they will be asked questions on their application. The interviews for those short-listed for the 2017 Level 3 Training Bursaries only will be held in London in w/c 10/07/2017. An exact date will be provided in due course, but please hold this time for now just in case your Level 3 application is shortlisted.

12 8. If Your Application Is Successful

You will be asked to agree to the Pharmacy Research UK’s standard Terms and Conditions which will detail the level of the award and payment schedule. Dates for submission of interim and final reports will be agreed at the start of the project. All reports should be of a publishable standard and will be the property of the Pharmacy Research UK.