Session Item

Recruitment and retention of key NHS staff has been an ongoing challenge. The Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention (RePAIR) initiative was set up by Health Education England (HEE) in 2015 to explore effective interventions to improve retention across the student journey, from pre-enrolment to two years post qualification.

 Key objectives:

·        Map and identify areas of good practice, opportunities, and challenges of the RePAIR recommendations in England

·        Further embed partnership working across a range of stakeholders

·        Develop a shared online repository of good practice and understand the impact of COVID-19 on student education and training.

Project delivered by Society of Radiographers (SoR), funded by HEE.

Sample: Radiotherapy approved Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) n=10 and Radiotherapy Healthcare Providers (HCP’s) n=51 in England.

 A two stage project:

·        Multi-method survey of HEI’s, HCP’s and therapeutic radiography students on a placement expansion programme in England

·        Follow-up semi-structured interviews and Dual Moderator focus groups with key stakeholders

A 100% HEI and 88% HCP survey response rate. 

Key findings:

• 80% of HEIs and 98% of HCPs were in favour of standardising clinical assessment documentation.

• HEIs, HCPs and students felt simulation could replace up to 20% of clinical practice.

• 70% of HEI’s and 51% of HCP’s surveyed had informal student support mechanisms however only 15% of HCP’s and 20% of HEI’s had extra support for year 2

• Physical and mental health and wrong career choice, were the most common reasons for attrition. 

• Recruitment initiatives were evident in all HEI’s and in 82% of HCP’s, however, only 27% of HCP’s were involved in retention initiatives. 

• Formal use of ‘culture of care’ tools was not standard practice.

• All HEI’s had a transition to professional practice. 80% of HCP’s had a preceptorship programme with 20% collaborating with local HEI

• Only 20% awareness of RePAIR from survey findings

Priority areas were identified and developed into workstreams: 

1. Effective recruitment initiatives (e.g. outreach)

2. Effective retention initiatives, student support toolkit, return to practice

3. Strategies to increase student placement capacity (e.g. simulation and non-traditional placements)

4. Placement allocation and funding support

5. Standardised clinical assessment documentation

6. Preparation for practice (e.g preceptorship)

This led to the development of an online toolkit – AHP Support Programme for Implementing Recruitment, Retention and Engagement (ASPIRRE), 

Standalone projects were identified, requiring separate research and development. 

• National project exploring requirements of implementing standardised clinical assessment.

• Production of a professional body guidance document on simulation within pre-registration Therapeutic Radiography education and training programmes

These projects address student and professional workforce growth, placement expansion and transformation requirements.