NIHR Health and Care Professional Internship Programme

Funding

Each intern will receive £10,000 to develop a programme that meets your own learning needs and areas of interest. The funding can be used to cover salary backfill, research training and development, research and other activities.

 

Eligibility

The East Midlands Internship is open to applications from Health and Care Professionals (excluding doctors and dentists from the listed regulatory bodies). You must hold your main employment in the East Midlands region and have the support of your line manager.

 

Meet the East Midlands NIHR Health and Care Internship team:

Our East Midlands Health and Social Care Internship (EMHCI) partnership, is made up of three hubs. It is led by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), in collaboration with the University of Nottingham (UoN), Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (LICB), University of Lincoln (UoLi), University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and University of Leicester (UoL). The partnership has been selected to deliver on our ambition to provide tailored learning and development to a diverse range of registered health and care professionals across a range of research-related opportunities.

Leads of these organisations are: 

• Dr Louise Bramley and Dr Helen Janiszewski - Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Dr Kerry Evans - University of Nottingham
• Dr Linzy Houchen-Wolloff - Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)
• Dr Seth O’Neil - University of Leicester
• Professor Ros Kane - University of Lincoln
• Kirsten Guy - Lincolnshire Integrated Care System 

 

Our partners:

Name	Organisation	Example offer (s) for internships
Prof. G Stacy	Nottingham Trent University	Working with Nottingham Civic Exchange on community-engaged research projects
N Riley	Engagement Lead Skills-for-Care	Insight visits and support
Dr L Bernhardt	Leicestershire Partnership Trust LPT	Full R&I offer across all three pathways specialist in Community and Mental Health Services
C McDonald	Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland ICB	Case study in research delivery, Research Engagement Network and Underserved Communities
E Orton	Leicestershire County Council	Health Determinants Research Collaboration, engagement in research priority setting with our Citizens’ Assembly and community research champions
I Brockhurst	Primary Care Network/ Charnwood Federation	Raise the profile and opportunities across the Federation.
C Barrow/ Dr Z Islam	LOROS Hospice	Training programme to support community   researchers to undertake sensitive national research
Dr E Rowley	EM.ARC	Learn by doing opportunities linked to knowledge mobilisation
Dr K Hinsliff-Smith	De Montford University	Clinical academic support and research placements
D Kumar	RRDN	Learning and development opportunities via the NIHR Training Teams
E Redman	Midlands Health Alliance	Expedite opportunities for innovators and innovation across our infrastructure
Health Innovation East Midlands Network	Health Innovation East Midlands Network	Shadowing opportunities
N Brunskill	Leicestershire Academic Health Partners	Shadowing opportunities/strategy designing and implementation to include Innovation. Research experience programme (REP)
B. Kumaramel	College of clinical leadership	Leadership insight visits
Prof S Singh, Dr Linzy Houchen-Wolloff	NIHRLeicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)	Training and capacity development. Clinical academic careers for NMAHPs. Research placements in BRC themes. Links to EDI/ Research Inclusion and  Cultural Competency Training
Prof D Wright/ Prof J Manning/ Prof D Battacharya	University of Leicester	Clinical academic support and research placements incl. paediatrics and pharmacy.
K Fairbrother/V Booth and A Cowley	Nottingham University Hospitals	Research Delivery Placements and wider support in research translation and clinical academic
A Steel	Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust	Learning visits and placements within the 'Research Academy'
H Finch	United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals	Shadowing, research set up / delivery, Clinical Trials pharmacy time
A Ghezzi/	University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust	Institute for Excellence in Healthcare (IEH): Clinical academic support and research placements and research delivery
D Stacy/L Leaston	Lincolnshire County Council Public Programme Leads	Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Evaluating health campaigns and disease prevention programmes
R Reza	Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derbyshire ICS	Research delivery teams are able to host interns either across different services in own organisation or across settings and sectors in the system or research infrastructure organisations in the region.
Dr H Slyne/E. Lambert	Northampton General Hospital	Research Delivery Placements and wider support in research translation and clinical academic
D Jeffrey	Lincolnshire Community Health Services	Experience of different types of research studies from most specialties delivered in community and primary care.
K Guy	Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board	Coordination of internships through the Lincolnshire ICS.
R Illingworth	Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board	Research at a strategic level and the importance of a collaborative and partnership approach
G Bird	Nottinghamshire Alliance Training Hub and Practice Nurse Lead	Access to GPN researchers and shadowing Nottinghamshire Mid Notts and Bassetlaw
Dr C Diver/Dr S Redsell	University of Nottingham	Access to INSIGHT cohort and UoN Clinical academic support incl. paediatrics/Health Visiting

Further information about the NIHR Health Care Professional Internship can be found in the presentation and video below from the launch event on 16th July 2025.

PRESENTATION SLIDES - East Midlands NIHR Health Care Professional Internship Launch 

VIDEO — NIHR East Midlands Health Care Professional Internship Launch

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the East Midlands NIHR Health & Care Professional Internship Programme? 

The new Health and Care Professional (HCP) Internship Programme is based on the previous ICA Internship Programme. It has increased eligibility and scope as part of the NIHR Academy’s expanded portfolio of career support for health and social care professionals.
The East Midlands region is offering a semi-structured package. This involves some core workshops, alongside the opportunity to further build and internship programme to suit your own circumstances, interests and work needs as long as it fits within the NIHR remit.

2. Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible to apply you need to:

• Be registered with one of the below listed regulatory bodies.
• Work in the East Midlands Region in NHS healthcare, social care and public health settings.
• Have signed support from your employer for release for the duration of the programme.

3. Do applicants need to be employed by the NHS?

No. If you meet the eligibility requirements and 40% of your time in your overall role is providing care on behalf of the NHS that is free at the point of delivery to the patient then you are eligible. 

4. Do I need my manager's support to apply for this programme?

Yes, you will require your manager’s support to apply for this programme. Your manager will need to be aware of the requirements for completing the internship. You will be required to confirm on your application form that you have your manager’s support. If your application is successful, your line manager will be asked to provide a letter of support.

5. Can you apply if you are not registered or are currently working towards registration?

You need to be registered at the start of the programme.

6. Is there a minimum period that staff need to have been working clinically to be eligible?

There is no minimum period specified. It is all about what is appropriate for each person dependent on their career stage. 

7. Would I be required to resign from my current position to participate in the internship, or is it possible to undertake the internship alongside my existing role?

You would not be required to resign from your current position. The funding will be used as backfill to ensure that you can be released from your current role for the number of days agreed by their line manager.

8. How many internships are available? 

There will be 23 internships available in the East Midlands region.

9. How long is the programme?

It is usually between 6-12 months but it is also dependent on the development plan and funding for the backfill.

10. What is the difference between the 6 months and 12 months programme?

Is it the same programme offer but the programme length may differ for different interns. The programme will be bespoke depending on how the funding will be used and the training plan.

11. Is the programme full time, part time or flexible?

It is a part time programme with the funding to be used in a bespoke way and depending upon the training plan which is developed.

12. What is the weekly time commitment expected of interns?

The programme is flexible so you can plan your time around your working days. Your line manager will need to approve the number of days you are released from your role.

13. Do I need to do the internship in my own time?

No, you should not be expected to do this in your own time. As there is funding attached to the programme, this enables you to be released from your role to undertake this programme. The number of days will vary from intern to intern and should be agreed between the intern and their manager.

14. Is the start date fixed?

Yes, this is a practical approach to ensure all participants attend the core workshops.

15. If I book annual leave, will I also be released from the programme?

You would arrange your time on the programme around your working days and be released. You should not be working on the programme on a non-working day. Apart from the set workshops, the dates you undertake the programme will be flexible so you can work around your leave to ensure you get the maximum possible opportunities.

16. How does the funding work?

Each intern’s organisation will receive £10,000 to support the individual for the duration of the internship. The funding is primarily used to cover salary backfill but can also be used to cover other activities (e.g. research training and development, engagement activities) at the organisation’s discretion providing it supports the intern’s development as a researcher.

17. Will I receive the £10,000 personally or is it paid to the organisation?

The £10,000 is paid to the organisation to cover backfill for you to attend the programme.

18. Do I need to ascertain how many days the £10,000 funding will cover for backfill with finance colleagues pre-application or during the early part of the award?

It would be useful to start to look at this pre-application so you will have an idea of what it will cover in terms of salary.

19. What types of projects are available and how is it decided?

There are three pathways. You can develop your bespoke development plan with your work-based mentor at the beginning of the programme.

20. Is it best to have a project in mind before applying?

You do not need to have one mind, but equally if you have then the programme can help develop this. You may not end up doing an actual project as such. You may have some ideas about the route you would like to take and the detail can be worked up early in the programme.

21. Does my project have to take place in my current employment unit/department?

No. We will help you to gain wider experiences outside of your immediate environment. 

22. Should applicants have met and collaborated with their mentor to design their bespoke training prior to applying?

There is no requirement to have done this, however it may be that those conversations have taken place and that is fine as well. Part of the internship programme is around developing the bespoke training plan with the named programme mentor and the work-based practitioner mentor.

23. Can I do more than one pathway?

The application form will ask you to identify one pathway to focus on. You can do elements of each to meet your needs but it is unlikely that interns will have the time to do all the content for all three pathways.

24. Do I need to nominate a university to do my training/workshops with?

No. We will help you to make any arrangements. This will be included within the programme. Our partners are universities across the East Midlands who are delivering elements of the programme.

25. Do I need to be linked to a university research group or act as an independent researcher?

This is a personal award, so it is about individual development.

26. Should the application contain a costing plan, a Gannt chart of planned activities and/or an additional letter of support?

There is no need for costing plans at application and planned activities will be arranged with the mentors once the programme has commenced. No appendices are needed just the completed application form.

27. Do I have to attend all three core workshops?

Yes, interns will be expected to attend the three core workshops.

28. Where will the workshops be held?

The workshops are held online.

29. When are the core workshop dates?

These are available here: NIHR Health and Care Professional Internship Programme | NUH 

30. How is the success/outcome of the internship programme measured?

Each intern will produce a Reflective Portfolio.

31. What is the success rate for an application meeting the submission criteria?

This is the first time this programme has run so this information is not yet available. 

32. Is this programme a one off or will there be another opportunity next year?

The East Midlands have been awarded the opportunity to deliver this programme for 3 years.

33. How do I apply?

You can and complete the application form via our website here: NIHR Health and Care Professional Internship Programme | NUH If you are successful at the written application stage, you will be invited to attend an interview.

34. If I am invited to an interview, will I receive further information about the interview process to prepare?

Yes, applicants who are invited to attend the interviews will receive further information about what the interview process will be, what to expect and how to prepare for that. 

35. I am unable to attend the online live launch event session. Can I access the recording?

Yes, a copy of the recording and presentation slides are available for you to watch on our website here: NIHR Health and Care Professional Internship Programme | NUH

 

Should you have any concerns or queries that have not been addressed, please contact the team at nuhnt.eminternship@nhs.net