Research and training fellowships as a mechanism for building research capacity in social care:an evaluation of the fellowship component of a capacity-building programme in England

Research capacity building in social care has received increased attention and dedicated <br/>funding in recent years, yet opportunities for practitioners to engage with research or apply <br/>evidence-based practice remain limited. This paper evaluates one mechanism for developing <br/>capacity through a research-practice partnership: funding and supporting social care staff to <br/>undertake practitioner-research fellowships.<br/>This qualitative study incorporated interviews with fellows, applicants, mentors, line managers, and experts by experience; focus groups with academic supervisors and <br/>programme leads; and reviews of progress reports. Using thematic analysis, it identified three <br/>themes: challenges in applying for and undertaking fellowships, and partnership support that <br/>helped address them; the impacts of fellowships on social care practitioners and organisations; <br/>and lessons learned at individual, team and system levels, including the importance of engaging middle managers, creating a supportive academic environment, and widening access across a diverse social care workforce.<br/>Although research capacity building in social care remains in its infancy, fellowships provide <br/>valuable opportunities to nurture practitioner-researchers and foster a research culture. They <br/>enable two-way learning between practice and academia, bridging the research–practice gap. <br/>However, questions remain around sustainability, inclusivity, and long-term pathways for practitioner-researchers, highlighting the need for continued investment, infrastructure, and flexible models of support.