RePAIR Special Interest Group

In response to the increase seen in student attrition and challenges with retention within healthcare training programmes, the Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention (RePAIR) project was set up by Health Education England (HEE) in 2015 to explore effective interventions to improve retention across the student journey – from pre-enrolment to two years post-qualification.  In March 2021, two RePAIR champions were appointed on a six-month secondment to the Society of Radiographers to explore the implementation of the RePAIR recommendations within radiotherapy services across England. The outcomes of this project will contribute to the volume of evidence from the HEE National RePAIR programme in relation to the recruitment and retention of therapeutic radiographers and shape future workforce transformation.  The Radiotherapy RePAIR report identified a number of different proposals based on the largest response rates and national workforce agenda and were priorities into a traffic light system where red was the highest priority, followed by amber and green.  The report also highlighted two standalone projects requiring separate funding, one of which was started in Dec 2021 to produce national guidance on the use of simulation in the education and training of Therapeutic Radiographers.  

Six streamlined recommendations were identified from the priority areas and form the basis of this special interest group, they are as follows:

1. Effective recruitment initiatives (including outreach) 
2. Effective retention initiatives (national student support toolkit)
3. Strategies to increase student placement capacity (including the role of simulation and non-traditional/ non-clinical placements)
4. Placement allocation and funding support 
5. Standardised clinical assessment documentation 
6. Preparation for practice (addressing the ‘flaky bridge’ of transition from final year student to employment as a newly qualified professional, described by RePAIR as step 3 in the practitioner journey) and early career support (preceptorship)

This Special Interest Group will act as a sustainable resource to share good practice among each of the 6 priority areas and address the proposals from the RePAIR in Radiotherapy report to facilitate ongoing progression of the RePAIR agenda and workforce recommendations.

If you’d like to join the SIG please contact