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This update outlines a process of change for the UEA ImpACT Research Group (ImpACT RG) from the 30 December 2022.
The ImpACT RG was established at UEA in August 2020 to support an integrated approach to workforce development and system level transformation across health and social care provider organisations in the East of England. In the space of two years, the team has created a strong platform for research and evaluation activities along with co-designed commissioned programmes delivered through its Collaborative Workforce Transformation Academy. The work of ImpACT RG reached finalist stage for the UEA Innovation and Impact awards in 2021 and 2022 consecutively.
In July 2022, Integrated Care Systems were introduced by NHS England, representing one of the largest system reforms across health and social care since the National Health Service began in 1948. Therefore, the ImpACT RG is to be embedded into the newly formed Norfolk Initiative for Coastal and rural Health Inequalities (NICHE), as an Anchor Institute programme funded by Health Education England (East).
The strong platform ImpACT RG has achieved will support the work of NICHE as an Anchor Institute, to scale up programmes of work already started and co-create new collaborative innovations for workforce and system transformation with our local, national and international partners. Ongoing impact and outcomes over the next two years will continue to be co-created with you, as important stakeholders and collaborating partners, to ensure we have clear indicators of success that continue to build upon ImpACT RG’s original strategic plan. Ideas for collaborative working in our forthcoming NICHE programmes include (but are not exclusive to):
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New system learning opportunities, such as a series of focussed webinars
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Curriculum advancements for addressing global public health in association with climate change and sustainability agendas
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Project deliverables as participants, active team members and critical advisors
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Scaling up activities, testing and comparison work at an international level across coastal, rural and deprived areas and/or with hard-to-reach communities
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A series of co-authored discussion/research papers on inclusive evaluation strategies, workforce and system innovations
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Blended roles across NICHE and system partner organisations
We invite you all, as important collaborating partners, to continue to engage with us to strengthen and maximise opportunities this brings. We look forward to continued engagement with us on this next phase of work.