All staff are being asked to help shape the future of healthcare by becoming a CMI Champion. By signing up, you can join a supportive research community, develop your skills, get the opportunity to access a personalised development programme  and become a visible advocate for research and innovation. 

What is a CMI Champion? 

Count Me In is Mersey Care’s approach to supporting more staff and service users to get involved in research.  

As a CMI Champion, you may be asked to: 

  • be an advocate for Count Me In, promoting it in your locations/area 
  • share information on new studies, projects and achievements  
  • help people access research that might benefit them or their service 
  • work with different teams 
  • build skills that are useful to improve the care you are delivering and for your future career 
  • take part in research related events, learning sessions, shadowing and meetings 
  • identify any research training needs for your team / service area. 

This is an exciting role that can be shaped by you in the team or area you work in.  

Who can become a CMI Champion? 

Any Mersey Care staff member, regardless of band or being in a clinical or non-clinical role, can become a CMI Champion. You do not need any experience in research.  You however need to be curious, enthusiastic and have a desire to help bring research into everyday practice. 

How will the CMI Champion network make a difference? 

Evidence shows that research active NHS organisations have better health outcomes. This is why research and innovation is embedded within the NHS constitution and is instrumental to our mission to work together to deliver outstanding healthcare. As a Champion, you will play a vital role in supporting this work. 

What’s in it for you?  

Every CMI Champion is supported through the IDEA framework, a personalised development programme covering four areas: 

  • Implementation - accessing evidence, using library resources, delivering service evaluation, quality improvement and embedding research findings into practice. 

  • Delivery – understanding current studies by supporting the process of  identifying eligible patients, supporting safe and efficient delivery of research. 

  • Engagement - promoting research within teams, sharing updates, supporting events and helping colleagues and patients understand the value of research. 

  • Academia - guidance on academic pathways including applying for external funding  and getting appropriate supervision for those interested in building a clinical academic career. 

Champions can focus on one area of the framework or move between them as their interests develop.  

But is it a significant time commitment? 

We appreciate everyone is busy so the CMI Champion role is designed to be flexible. It is not particularly time consuming and can fit around your existing role. There will be lots of support available for you and you can keep up to date with one-to-ones,  research café meetings and regular email updates. 

How do I sign up? 

Register your interest by completing our CMI Champion form. 

Register your interest in becoming a Count Me In Champion