Bridging the gap between science and care: a qualitative exploration of the role of the Scientific Linking Pin researcher working in research and practice partnerships

Context: The Living Lab in Ageing and Long-Term Care (Netherlands) and Nurturing Innovation in Care Homes Excellence in Leeds (NICHE-Leeds; UK) are partnerships between science and care. The Scientific Linking Pin (SLP), a senior researcher employed by a university, works one day per week in a LTC organization, and has a pivotal role in the partnership. Objective: To explore the nature of the SLP role Methods: A qualitative approach was used. Fifteen individuals with at least one year’s experience as a SLP in the Living Lab or NICHE-Leeds participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were thematically analyzed. Findings: Participants described how the SLP role gave them insight into what matters to care organizations, and how it enabled them to impact LTC practice. Participants experienced the role to be multifaceted. Goals and activities performed by SLPs included developing relationships, raising awareness of the practice-science partnership, identifying (research) priorities and generating research questions, building committees, brokering knowledge, developing research studies, generating academic output, building links and connections, and assisting with internal projects. Challenges faced were mistrust by care staff and poor engagement, working with staff from different professional backgrounds, research not being a priority, multiple and rapidly changing priorities, and differences in expectations. SLPs addressed these challenges through relationship building, creating a ‘safe’ space for care staff, building engagement, and expectation management. Implications: Partnership working in the care sector is gaining international recognition and adoption, and therefore it is useful to capture and share learning about successful implementation of our approach.