Case study: Your Path In Research - Daniel Scott, Research Practitioner, Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Daniel Scott is a Research Practitioner at Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Here he talks about how why he would recommend a career in health and care research.

Q: How did you become involved in health and care research?

A: As a research administrator following my psychology degree graduation.

Q: Why did you get involved in research?

A: Getting to work with people and look at ways of improving people's wellbeing through novel forms of research.

Q: What do you enjoy about working in health and care research?

A: My team are amazing, friendly and kind. I am able to work with so many different groups of people and give them a space to talk and reflect whilst providing answers to important research questions.

Q: How can research benefit/add to your career?

A: It can benefit massively- I got to do a six month assistant psychologist job swap/secondment in the Devon Memory Service which massively helped develop my clinical skills. Through working with vulnerable people I have learned how to best interact with those in situations such as mental health crises or advancing dementia.

Q: Why do you think health and care research is important?

A: Because it collects the evidence of what will benefit people the most, there is no stronger argument/cause for a treatment or intervention than one founded in empirical evidence.

Q: What are your hopes for your career in research?

A: I'm not sure! But I love that research keeps so many doors open and options available.

Q: Why is it important more people become involved in delivering health and care research?

A: The more people that are involved, the more bespoke and informed our research and its findings can be.

Q: What impacts have you seen research make in health and care?

A: Currently working on the ODDESSI trial has shown me that research helps provide a voice for those in receipt of secondary mental health care services, and that researchers can help amplify that voice to clinicians so that people receive the most appropriate care.

Q: What would you say to someone thinking of starting a career in research?

A: Do it! Look around as there are so many different disciplines and areas that one can work in for NHS research.