What are health care assistants’ experiences of redeployment?
This study is gathering opinions from healthcare assistants in the Midlands area about their experiences of being moved, or 'redeployed,' to work in a different part of the NHS. Researchers want to understand both the good parts and the difficult parts of these changes. By listening to these personal stories, the study hopes to find ways to better support healthcare staff when they have to change their work area, especially during busy or difficult times. Ultimately, the goal is to make these moves smoother for staff and continue to provide good care for patients. If you're a healthcare assistant who has been redeployed in the last year in the Midlands, you might be able to share your story.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Imagine you're a healthcare assistant, and your workplace asks you to temporarily work in a different department or area. This study, called "What are health care assistants’ experiences of redeployment?", wants to hear all about what that was like for you. The researchers believe that by understanding the personal stories of healthcare assistants who have been moved to new roles, they can learn valuable lessons.
The main aim is to find out what works well and what doesn't when staff are redeployed. They want to know how these changes affect the staff themselves, and also how it might impact the care patients receive. The goal isn't just to talk about problems, but also to discover what makes a 'good' redeployment experience and what conditions are needed for it to be successful. This information is really important because it can help the NHS prepare better for similar situations in the future, making sure staff feel supported and healthcare services remain strong, especially during busy periods or times of crisis.
Ultimately, this research hopes to create a better working environment for healthcare assistants if they ever need to be redeployed again. By sharing your experiences, you could help shape future policies and support systems, making a real difference to your colleagues and the healthcare system as a whole.
Key takeaways
- Helps understand healthcare assistants' experiences of changing work areas.
- Aims to improve support for staff during difficult times.
- Involves a single interview about your personal story.
- Open to healthcare assistants in the Midlands who were redeployed in the last year.
- Your input could shape better future redeployment practices.
Who may be eligible?
To take part in this study, you need to be a healthcare support worker or healthcare assistant. You must work for an NHS Trust in the Midlands region of England.
Crucially, you would have needed to experience working in a different department or area (this is called 'redeployment') within the last 12 months. This redeployment must have been for at least one shift, and it can't have been a shift you took through an agency.
Anyone aged 18 or over is welcome to participate. The study is open to both men and women.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you a healthcare support worker or healthcare assistant?
- Do you work for an NHS Trust in the Midlands region of England?
- Have you been moved to work in a different area (redeployed) in the last 12 months?
- Was this redeployment for at least one shift, and not an agency shift?
- Are you 18 years old or older?
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part in this study, you won't need to take any medication or attend regular follow-up appointments. Your involvement will focus on sharing your experiences through an interview. This interview will be 'semi-structured,' which means there will be some main topics to discuss, but also plenty of room for you to share your own unique story and thoughts.
You'll have a choice of where and how to do the interview: either in person at a convenient location or virtually using Microsoft Teams. The researchers will be collecting these interviews starting from September 2025 and will continue for up to a year. The total amount of time you'll need to commit will be the length of this single interview.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (2)
- Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustCity onlyStafford, England
- Royal Stoke University HospitalApproximateStoke-on-trent, England
Common questions
What exactly does 'redeployment' mean in this study?
It means you were moved to work in a different department or area within the NHS than your usual one, for at least one shift, and not through an agency.
Who is running this study?
It's supported by University Hospitals of North Midlands and Midlands Partnership, and conducted by researchers from the Open University.
Will my answers be kept private?
Yes, your personal experiences will be handled carefully and kept confidential by the researchers.
How long will the interview take?
The study description doesn't state the exact length, but semi-structured interviews typically last between 30 minutes to an hour and a half.
When will the study results be available?
The study runs until August 2027, so results would likely be shared after that period once the research is complete and analysed.
How to find out more
Ben Richards
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
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