NIHR Health and Care Professional (HCP) Internship Programme (NORTH WEST REGION ONLY) APPLICATION FORM 2026/27
If you are experiencing issues with filling the form online, please email sara.coppa@researchnorthwest.nhs.uk.
ENSURING ELIGIBILITYPlease complete the declarations below to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria of the HCP Internship programme. This is required ahead of submitting personal data as part of your application process.As engagement with your supervisor and mentor is essential throughout the Internship, your application must include details of these arrangements and be accompanied by a research focused personal development plan (PDP), to be reviewed and developed throughout the internship. Please enclose a and CV with your application.You must have your main employment in the North West with an NHS body, a provider of public or third sector funded health and/or social care services (for example a commissioned social enterprise, local authority, or hospice that provides at least 50% of its services free at the point of delivery). Please confirm your compliance below:
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Yes
No
Please note that personal information you provide will be collected and shared with the broader NHS R&D North West team and the NIHR. This is required to enable NHS R&D NW to share future NIHR sponsored and other programme and event information with you and will be used to support the planned impact and evaluation study of the HCP Internship Programme. Please confirm your acceptance:
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Yes
No
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION
First Name
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Preferred name
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Last Name
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Which following professional regulatory body are you registered with?
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Academy for Health Science
General Chiropractic Council
General Dental Council (please note that Dentists are not eligible)
General Medical Council (please note that Physicians are not eligible)
General Optical Council
General Osteopathic Council
General Pharmaceutical Council
Health and Care Professions Council
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Social Work England
UK Public Health Register
I am not registered with any of these (This indicates non-eligibility for this internship).
Which professional group do you belong to?
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Art therapist
Basic Scientist
Behavioural Scientist
Biomedical Engineer
Chiropractor
Clinical Research Practitioner
Computer Scientist
Counsellor
Dental Hygienist
Dental Nurse
Dental Therapist
Dietitian
Dispensing Optician
Dramatherapist
Epidemiologist
Food Scientist
Health Economist
Health Services Researcher
Healthcare Scientist
Information Specialist
Midwife
Music therapist
NHS / R&D Manager
Non-medical Public Health
Nutritionist
Nurse - Adult Nursing
Nurse - Children's Nursing
Nurse - Learning Disabilities Nursing
Nurse - Mental Health Nursing
Nurse - Nursing Associate
Nurse - Specialist Community Nursing
Occupational therapist
Operating department practitioner
Optometrist
Orthoptist
Osteopath
Other
Other Research Scientist
Paramedic
Pharmacist
Pharmacy Technician
Physician Associate
Physiotherapist
Podiatrist
Practitioner Psychologist
Prosthetist and Orthotist
Psychologist
Practitioner Psychologist
Radiographer (Diagnostic)
Radiographer (Therapeutic)
Social Care Researcher
Social Worker
Speech and language therapist
Statistician
Job Role Title
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Telephone number
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Email
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Re-enter your email address
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Professional registration number
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Year of registration
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ORCID ID (if applicable)
Do you have any access or special requirements you’d like us to be aware of?
EMPLOYING ORGANISATION
Name of your employing organisation in the North West region.
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Employing Organisation Address
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Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City
State / Province
Postal / Zip Code
Do you have support from your line manager to undertake this HCP internship programme and fully engage in the internship?
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Yes
No
Employer's Full Name
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Employer’s Email Address.
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Employer’s Phone Number.
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Research Experience and Aspirations
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE - Please tell us about any research experience you have had to date. This does not have to be your OWN research. (Examples include but are not limited to any experience of promoting and or delivering studies, collecting and analysing data, presenting research, research project experience, developing research questionnaires, involvement with patient groups, involvement in research journal clubs, literature reviews.) (max 250 words)
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RESEARCH ASPIRATIONS - Please outline below why you want to undertake the HCP internship? (Examples may include how you see the internship helping you to become more involved in research, how it could develop you as a researcher, develop research leadership skills, how the internship may influence practice within your team, helping you to develop initiatives to reach underserved populations, helping you to develop closer links with your Research Delivery Network i.e. exploring RDN key roles and developing an understanding of the strategic landscape.) (max 250 words)
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What are your future research or career plan and how will the internship help you to achieve them? (Consider research training, developing your practice, developing knowledge of research skills, developing your leadership capabilities, networking/collaboration opportunities, carrying out a research project in your own area of practice or working with others in research-based activities. NB: Due to the timeframe of the internship programme, no research activity will be undertaken in the programme which requires you, as an individual, to seek formal ethical approval.) (max 250 words)
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How do you think participation in the internship will enhance your practice? (Examples include a greater understanding of high-quality research, effectiveness to change practice, greater understanding of outcomes, embedding research into practice, exploring your potential within the development of or enhancement of a clinical academic role, extending your networks and collaborative working opportunities, exploring research leadership potential or becoming a research champion for your organisation or profession.) (max 250 words)
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Please provide a brief overview of your current research interest(s) or intentions if you do not currently have a specific project in mind. (Examples include where you would like to ‘make a difference.) (max 250 words)
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0/250
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Please upload your Personal Development Plan (PDP).
Please note that your PDP needs to be achievable within the 12 months of the internship. Please download the PDP from the NHS R&D NW Internship page, fill it, and upload it here.
Please Upload your PDP (accepted formats: .docx, .doc, .PDF. Max size accepted 2MB)
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SUPERVISION AND MENTORING Please complete section A or B and C below where applicable.
Applicants need either an Academic supervisor or a Research Delivery supervisor, or none (we will support finding one)—not both. Academic or Research Delivery supervisors cannot be the same person as the mentor.
If you currently have no supervision arrangements in place and would like assistance from NHS R&D NW in securing a supervisor please indicate
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I have an academic supervisor
I don't have an academic supervisor, I need assistance finding one
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To be completed in conjunction with your proposed academic supervisor
Title
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First Name
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Surname
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Host Faculty/ Centre / School/ Practice Base
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Address for correspondence
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Contact email
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Contact phone number
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Please outline briefly your experience of supervising higher degrees by research (max 250 words)
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Please describe broadly the research programme you will provide for your intern, your expectations and the experience he/she/they will obtain. (max 250 words)
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Declaration from supervisor
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I confirm that I have met with my supervisor and that we have agreed the above programme of work in support of the NIHR Internship Programme
Supervisor Signature (Please note this can be a screenshot, a scan or a digital signature. Accepted formats: jpg, jpeg, png. Max size accepted 500KB)
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To be completed in conjunction with your contact in your proposed research delivery environment.
If you currently have no research delivery environment arrangements in place and would like assistance from NHS R&D NW please let us know
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I have a proposed Research Delivery Environment
I don't have a proposed Research Delivery Environment, I need assistance finding one
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Research Delivery Network contact information
Title
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First Name
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Surname
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Host Faculty/Centre/School/Organisation
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Address for correspondence
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Contact email
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Contact phone number
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Please describe broadly the support that you will provide for your intern, including expectations and experiences he/she/they will obtain. (max 250 words)
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0/250
Declaration from research delivery contact
I confirm that I have met with my research delivery contact and that we have agreed the above programme of work
Research Delivery Contact Signature (Please note this can be a screenshot, a scan or a digital signature. Accepted formats: jpg, jpeg, png. Max size accepted 500KB)
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Mentoring Arrangements
If you currently have no mentoring arrangements in place and would like assistance from NHS R&D NW in securing a mentor please let us know
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I have mentoring arrangements
I don't have mentoring arragements, I need assistance finding one
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Mentor’s contact information
Title
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First Name
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Surname
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Host Faculty/Centre/School/Organisation
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Address for correspondence
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Contact email
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Contact phone number
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Please outline briefly your experience of mentoring. (max 250 words)
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Declaration from mentor.
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I confirm that I have met with mentor who has agreed to provide mentorship for the duration of the NIHR Internship Programme.
Mentor Signature (Please note this can be a screenshot, a scan or a digital signature. Accepted formats: jpg, jpeg, png. Max size accepted 500KB)
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EMPLOYER SUPPORT
Applicant's Name
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Support Statement - Please provide a personalised statement from your line manager (do not copy bullet points; max 300 words).
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Please review and confirm all employer declarations by ticking each box below.
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I am aware that the above-named individual has applied for the NIHR Internship Programme for non-medical healthcare professionals delivered by NHS R&D NW.
I understand our organisation can claim an employer capacity support payment, of up to £3000 upon providing evidence of appropriate support provided to enable the applicant to participate fully in the programme.
I understand that I need to contact the finance department of my Trust or employing organisation to facilitate payment of the employer capacity support.
I understand that the personal award for the individual, if successful, will be held by NHS R&D NW with a request to draw down from the funding made by the individual direct to NHS R&D NW over the duration of the programme.
I confirm that the above-named applicant will be released from their clinical obligations to fulfil the programme activities. This will be up to a maximum of 37 days and release to be agreed with the applicant, line manager and academic supervisor/research delivery network.
Name of Line Manager
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Contact email for the line manager
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Signature of Line Manager (Please note this can be a screenshot, a scan or a digital signature. Accepted formats: jpg, jpeg, png. Max size accepted 1MB)
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Any Additional Comments? This space is for anything else you want to share.
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What happens next?
Following the submission deadline, all applications will be checked for completeness and eligibility. All eligible applications will then be considered for shortlisting for interview. Deadline for applications is 06/07/2026. Online interviews end of Aug/beginning of Sept. Internship Programme start Nov 2026. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via email following the interview. Feedback will be sent on request to unsuccessful applicants. If you require further information please contact Jo-Anne Simpson, Chief Operating Officer, NHS R&D NW - joanne.simpson@researchnorthwest.nhs.uk. Please ensure you attach a copy of your CV and completed personalised development plan with your application and have obtained all necessary signatures and permissions.
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