Implementation of the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s national strategy for nursing research in mental health service provider organisations: A survey and documentary analysis of nurse leadership roles and related strategies

In the context of the launch in 2021 of the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s nursing research strategy, this report presents results of a mixed methods study of nursing research leadership roles and strategies implemented in mental health service provider organisations in England. Information was elicited about 40/51 relevant organisations, but only 22 responses to an online survey questionnaire (n=12) or Freedom of Information request (n=10) provided details about their relevant activity. Information from all sources indicated that developments in a core subset or provider organisations in the form of dedicated roles for nursing research leadership have been made. However, even in these, the roles lack standardization in terms of focus, responsibilities, and pay grade. Specific nursing research strategies were said to exist in a very small number of provider organisations, but we were unable to obtain any for inspection. More commonly, organisation-wide strategies covered nursing. While some of these addressed the historical underrepresentation of nurses in research, they rarely made concrete suggestions as to how that might be redressed. The CNOs strategy appeared to have had some limited influence in informing providers’ strategy. In summary, a small number of research-intensive mental health service provider organisations have actively developed their plans to boost nursing research. Others need to increase their efforts to do likewise or they risk missing out on the benefits that accrue to research active services, their staff and service users. We make recommendations for future activity aimed at strengthening nursing research leadership in provider organisations.