The role of mentors in integrating research and practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of brokerage as a vehicle for integrating research and practice within the mentor role in the Practitioner Research: Older People Programme. Design/methodology/approach – The main component is a reflective analysis of the experience of mentoring three practitioners working within an NHS acute hospital environment. Findings – Mentors played a key role integrating research into the practitioner ' s work environment as well as supporting achievement of the programme objectives. Personal reflection highlighted four components: being a research advisor; supporting the practitioner; quality assuring the process; and championing practitioner-research. A key element linking each of these components was that of being a knowledge broker, which accorded with the concept of “boundary-spanning”, whereby the practitioners fulfilled a new role of being both practitioners and researchers. Mentors adopted different approaches, which were partly influenced by geographical proximity and their relative position in the partner organisation. Practical implications – Mentors fulfil a crucial role brokering the worlds of research and practice and need to be able to tailor their support to individual needs. Originality/value – The notion of brokerage as a way of integrating the practitioner-researcher role is a useful way to conceptualise the mentor role.