Bridging the Gap: A Qualitative Exploration of the Scientific Linking Pin Role in Science and Care Partnerships

Background: The Living Lab in Ageing and Long-Term Care (Netherlands) and Nurturing Innovation in Care Homes Excellence in Leeds (NICHE-Leeds; UK) represent partnerships between science and care. The Scientific Linking Pin (SLP), a senior researcher employed by a university, works one day per week in a long-term care (LTC) organisation, and has a pivotal role in the partnership. Objective: To explore the nature of the SLP role. Methods: A qualitative approach was used. Fifteen researchers with at least one year's experience as a SLP in either the Living Lab or NICHE-Leeds participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were thematically analysed. Findings: Participants described how the SLP role provided insights into what matters to care organisations, and how it enabled them to impact LTC practice. Participants perceived the role to be multifaceted. Goals and activities performed by SLPs included developing relationships, raising awareness of the partnership, identifying (research) priorities, generating research questions, building committees, brokering knowledge, developing research studies, generating academic outputs, building links and connections, and assisting with internal projects. Challenges faced were mistrust from care staff and poor engagement, working with staff from different professional backgrounds, research not being a priority for care organisations, 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 managing expectations. 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 this approach.