Workwell Trial - Volunteers Needed!

[Kim-NRAS]

NRAS is pleased to make you aware of an opportunity to become involved in the following research project:

Workwell Trial

This research has the aim of developing the skills of health professionals to better enable them to support patients to remain in or return to work, following diagnosis. Professor Alison Hammond at Salford University is the chief investigator and the trial is sponsored by the University of Salford.

They are now at the stage of implementing the devised programme and are looking to involve more people as PPIs (patient and public involvement) to become part of the team as they progress towards the end of the first year of the nation wide trial.

They are looking for 6 volunteers for this group who have inflammatory arthritis and are still employed/working, self employed or recently retired - you are not expected to have any specific knowledge or skills in order to take part.

The members of the group will be expected to attend meetings; about 4 to 6 per year. You will also be asked on occasion to read and feedback any observations on various paperwork (reports, questionnaires etc.) as provided by both patients and professionals involved in the trial. Much of this can be done online, but for the meetings you attend in person, travel expenses will be paid.

Please note: meetings will take place in the Derby area, so ideally you will live within about 30 minutes travel time.

If you think you might be interested in taking part, or you would like to know more please email [e-mail] with a brief outline of your background and how it may be relevant to this study (i.e. your current or past experiences of managing work and RA). Your email will then be passed on to June Culley, patient partner and co-author of the Workwell Trial, who will be in touch with you to have an initial conversation.

Deadline for responses is Friday 11th October.