South West England

Hello and welcome to the South West consortium of CAHPR.

Our mission is to provide a range of networks, contacts, links and signposts to support the AHP workforce in undertaking research-related activities.

We aim to develop AHP research, clinical academics, and researchers in the region.

We want to support the strengthening of evidence of the professions’ value and impact for enhancing service user and community care. We want to enable the professions to speak with one voice on research issues, thereby raising our profile and increasing our influence.

Our vision is for strong AHP research activities and outputs facilitating the translation of research findings into practice and education across the South West.

CAHPR South West is run through a network of Co-Leaders, Research Champions, and our marvellous administrator, Jessica Coggins.

Click here to join our mailing list and network.

Our Twitter / X handle is @CAHPRsouthwest.

Figure 1 South West Coast Path, Fowey; Photo by Aleks Marinkovic on Unsplash

Meet the team


	Dr Jen Pearson Co- Leader University of the West of England, Bristol
	Dr Kim Diment Co-Leader Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
	Dr Ralph Hammond Co-Leader and Consortium Lead Somerset Clinical School, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
	Jessica Coggins Consortium Administration University of the West of England, Bristol

NHSE SW / CAHPR Advancing research careers for under-recognised groups in AHPs across the South West project

Funded by NHS England SW, this is a CAHPR South West project.

Katie Williams (pictured right) is leading this project. We aim to support the implementation of strategic aim 2 of the Developing a Research Skilled Workforce strategy 2023 – 2026: to improve access and equity,

In phase one, 190 AHPs and AHP support workers from the South West region signed up to engage with the project. Of those, a total of 66 AHPs and AHP support workers contributed by sharing their perspectives on what under-recognised aspects of AHP research career progression meant to them, as well as the barriers and enablers they experienced within research career development. All 15 Allied Health Professions, from all seven systems of the South West and a range of career stages and health and care settings are represented in the project

Phase 2 flyer

However, only 4.5% of participants were from a global majority or Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic background. The research team are commencing phase two of the research project which offers virtual conversations to AHPs and AHP support workers across the South West who are from a Global Majority or Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background to hear their stories of developing their research skills or navigating research careers. Please see the flyer and information sheet attached for further details. We welcome your support to share this opportunity forwards with colleagues who may be interested to get involved and share their experience with us.

Anyone wanting to find out more or with specific questions can email katie22.williams@uwe.ac.uk for more information.

Feedback and thank you session

Thursday 23rd May 2024, 12.00-13.00, MS Teams

This event is a fantastic opportunity to hear about the findings of phase one, the plans for phase two and how attendees can potentially contribute to the work. Additionally, there will be a series of five-minute lightening talks to raise awareness of research career building opportunities and resources available to South West AHPs and AHP support workers. Further details to attend the virtual event are included on the flyer below.

For further information and to register, please click here.

Developing a research skilled workforce in the South West

NHS England SW has commissioned the University of Plymouth to lead the promotion and engagement of the SW workforce in implementing its regional strategy.

The regional research strategy: DRSW

There are 6 domains to this strategy:

1. Invest in and nurture our workforce