NHS Improvement Appoints Nursing Research Fellow for Study on Developing Ward Leaders

NHS Improvement has appointed clinical academic Dr Rachel Muir as a nursing research fellow. Dr Muir will work with Principal Investigator Dr Jacqueline McKenna and nursing fellow Catherine Pelley to lead a study assessing the impact of peer shadowing on the confidence and effectiveness of newly-appointed ward leaders within acute NHS Trusts. This study will inform our broader professional development programme for nursing and midwifery staff, to support NHS providers in cultivating clinical leadership at all levels.

The study is funded by The Burdett Trust for Nursing, and will be overseen by Professor Ruth Harris from the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care at Kings College London and an independent Trial Steering Committee. Its aim is to determine whether a peer shadowing programme is an effective model for supporting and developing new ward leaders as senior nursing leads in general medical and surgical acute wards. 

The study will assess whether pairing new ward leaders (typically at a Band 7 on the NHS Agenda for Change scale) with an experienced peer in a shadowing arrangement, has a positive impact on factors such as ward culture, workforce issues such as burnout and the practice environment, as well on the confidence and effectiveness of the newly appointed ward leaders.

Dr Muir has a background in critical care nursing and clinical research. After graduating with a BA Hons in Conflict Resolution, she completed a Masters in Research and PhD in social sciences, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and was later awarded a Florence Nightingale Travel Scholarship. She recently completed a HEE NCEL/ CLAHRC Research Fellowship, hosted by Dr Fiona Stevenson and the Department of Primary Care and Population Health at University College London, after a secondment from her post as Senior Matron for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Facility at University College London Hospitals (UCLH). She joins us on a full time secondment basis from UCLH for the duration of the study.

Quote from Ruth May, Executive Director of Nursing at NHS Improvement:

'Dr Muir will support a critical piece of research for NHS Improvement, which forms part of our broader professional leadership remit, supporting NHS Trusts in the ongoing development of their nursing and midwifery workforce. Ward leaders are the clinical leaders of our future, so this study will be crucial to understanding the complex support needs of those that are newly appointed. I’m also grateful to The Burdett Trust and King’s College London, for supporting us as partners in this important work and to UCLH for supporting the secondment.'

Quote from Professor Ruth Harris, King’s College London:

 'The role of the ward leader has always been pivotal to the delivery of safe and effective patient care in acute hospitals. It has changed and evolved over time in response to developments in healthcare delivery contexts. However, there is still very little evidence about how to support the preparation of newly appointed ward leaders. This study led by NHS Improvement and funded by The Burdett Trust for Nursing will begin to fill this gap. We are delighted to be a partner in this important study which has the potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the development of frontline clinical leaders.'

Quote from Shirley Baines, Chief Executive of The Burdett Trust for Nursing:

'We are pleased to support this important development and leadership programme for new ward leaders. The collective goal is to enable and empower frontline managers to get the best from their people in the pursuit of delivering the very best in care and the insights drawn from this piece of research will help inform that ambition.'

Quote from Dr Rachel Muir: 'I know from experience the transformative impact that ward leaders can have on culture, team working and the patient experience, which is why I was keen to work with Dr McKenna on this important study. Whilst it is widely recognised that supporting the transition and development of new ward leaders is both important and complex, there is relatively little evidence on what types of support work best, for whom and why. This study will develop and test a shadowing intervention, and will provide a significant contribution to our understanding of the developmental process and transition of new ward leaders. I’m pleased to have the support of NHS Improvement, King’s College London and The Burdett Trust as partners on this research, which will inform the evidence base for nursing leadership at ward level.'

Any NHS Trusts that are interested in becoming a host site for this study can contact Dr Jacqueline McKenna at NHS Improvement: jacqueline.mckenna@nhs.net