Healthcare

We have delivered multiple projects for NHS Education for Scotland, most recently undertaking a wide range of evaluations of the impact and effectiveness of workforce development programmes. We have completed research and evaluation projects that explore career development and training, and their impact on practice for the health and social care workforce in Scotland. These projects involve engaging with a wide range of senior stakeholders as well as participants across the healthcare sector, from midwives to student nurses. Our reports support NHS Education for Scotland in their continuous improvement of programmes, as well as in higher-level decision making on future programme commissioning.

We were commissioned to undertake research into countries with equivalent standards for mental health nursing regimes, to support NHS Trusts’ recruitment in mental health nursing. This work involved establishing a robust definition of ‘similarity to the UK’, based on a comprehensive analysis of UK mental health standards and professional regulation. This definition was the basis for mapping and desk-based research to identify a range of countries; further analysis estimated the potential supply and a high-level overview of average career earnings of mental health nurses overseas in comparison with the NHS.

To understand the impact and benefits of changing their standards, the NMC commissioned two pieces of research and gathered views from their stakeholders. Harlow Consulting was commissioned to carry out one of these pieces of research: a desk-based review of the effectiveness and impact of EU education and training requirements, and a review of nursing and midwifery education standards in other countries, sub-national regions and for other UK health professionals. We produced an evidence review report and a benchmarking report which helped the NMC understand the impact and benefits of potential changes to their standards.