Background A community of research practice (CRP) was established to increase research capacity and provide learning opportunities and networking for healthcare practitioners, working within a Children’s Care Group. The CRP aimed to engage research-interested practitioners in research to develop their skills and confidence, encourage networking, and build research capacity.

Aim To report the results of a service evaluation that was undertaken to review the CRP’s value in practice.

Discussion Thematic analysis revealed four themes – ‘positive environment’, ‘confidence’, ‘professional development’ and ‘networking’ – highlighting benefits from the CRP, alongside the challenges encountered.

Conclusion This article highlights the significant contribution of CRP for practitioners in the context of an innovative organisation with a supportive culture.

Implications for practice A CRP empowers healthcare practitioners to engage with research while in clinical practice, enabling increased research confidence, and the development of research skill and knowledge and enhanced networking. CRP can potentially influence recruitment and retention.

Nurse Researcher. 30, 2, 36-44. doi: 10.7748/nr.2022.e1820

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

tracey.long3@nhs.net

Conflict of interest

None declared

Long T, Williamson K, Banbury S et al (2022) Experiences of a community of research practice: a service evaluation. Nurse Researcher. doi: 10.7748/nr.2022.e1820

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Children’s Care Group director Christina Harrison and assistant director for research Heather Rice at Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) for their ongoing support and commitment to research and practitioner development. Thanks are also extended to the Grounded Research team and Jeannie McKie and Cheryl Long at RDaSH, and the Knowledge, Library and Information Service at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for their invaluable input

Published online: 28 April 2022