Getting to know the Knowledge and Evidence Specialists
Get to know your Knowledge and Evidence Specialists:
Maria- Maria has worked in Library and Knowledge Services for over 13 years, beginning her career as a Library Assistant at institutions including The British Library, the London School of Economics, and University College London. She joined Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Library and Knowledge Services in 2018. Her experience spans acute, public health, and mental health settings, including outreach work with the Public Health Team at Kent County Council and time as a Mental Health Librarian with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust. Maria has a particular interest in the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare and how emerging technologies can support evidence-based practice.
Nikki- Before joining MTW in 2024 Nikki worked as an Evidence Support Information Specialist at the British Medical Association in the Library and Archives team doing literature reviews and systematic review searches. Prior to that she worked in a Ministry of Defence scientific research organisation as a Knowledge and Information Agent doing literature searches, database/Information Management/Knowledge Management training, looking after the MoD reports repository, editor of the organisation's wiki and managing communities of practice. Nikki has a particular interest in current awareness tools to help people keep up to date with the latest evidence. She is also keen to improve knowledge sharing across the organisation using the Knowledge Mobilisation framework and launched the inaugural Coffee Connect round at the end of last year.
Mary- Mary completed her initial library training at the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Social Science library. After graduating from UCL with a Master’s degree in Library & Information Studies, she worked at the Templeman library at the University of Kent. She joined the NHS in 2022, working in the Library & Knowledge Services at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, before coming to MTW in 2024. Her current professional interests include the impact of climate change on the NHS and the ways in which library services can support sustainability.
1. What is a Knowledge and Evidence Specialist?
From 1st April the Clinical Librarians will be changing job titles to Knowledge and Evidence Specialists. The core service will continue, but with a clearer evidence-focused identity. The services that we provide are all designed to support evidence-based decision making across the Trust. We also help with the acquisition of knowledge through services and resources provided through the Library and Knowledge Services.
More about why we have library services within healthcare settings can be found in the national NHS Knowledge & Library Services strategy.
2. How do we support evidence-based decision making?
We carry out literature and evidence searches for staff and learners across the Trust, whether clinical, managerial, research, business or operational decisions. Most decisions need an evidence base and that’s what we provide. Here are some examples of searches we have completed recently:
- How organisations can mitigate the impact of cuts, mergers, and similar disruptions
- How artificial intelligence is being used in recruitment processes
- The use of Zoomorphic robots for mental health and wellbeing
- Forensic service models and interventions for autism
- Laboratory predictors of venous thromboembolism in high-risk cancers
- The use of AI tools for sleep disturbances
Having high-quality evidence can support decisions by ensuring that changes are effective, safe and cost-effective. Whilst staff often don’t have the time to gather and sift through evidence themselves, the Knowledge and Evidence Specialists can present a report with high-quality, available evidence to support decisions. We can also help identify evidence gaps to support research applications.
If you would like to request an evidence search, please fill out our online form
3. Who can use this service?
We support all staff groups—clinical, non-clinical, corporate, trainees, AHPs, nursing, medical, students and learners.
No prior knowledge of research or searching is needed.
5. How can you work with us to save you time?
The Knowledge and Evidence Specialists have expert searching skills which speeds up the gathering of evidence. The Evidence Specialists know how to navigate complex medical databases and where to look for the right information for your query. We also have expertise in developing robust search strategies. Search quality improves the decision-making process.
An average search can take up to 4 hours, whilst a more complex search can take days to gather all relevant evidence. This is a big time saving for staff.
6. What training do we offer?
We also offer a range of training sessions to support with information literacy skills and staff development. These include:
- Evidence Searching
- Critical Appraisal
- Study Skills
- Health Literacy
- Beyond the Databases
- Getting Research Published
- An Introduction to AI in Healthcare
Sessions are bookable on MTW Learning or iLearn (for KMMH staff). Or we also can provide 1-1 training or training delivered to a team.
7. What else do we provide?
Evidence searches and training sessions are a large part of what we deliver, but it’s not all we do. Here are some other services that we provide:
- Current awareness and evidence updates
- Knowledge mobilisation support
- Staff research repository
- Help with referencing, research design or publication processes
- Journal club support
For more information on Knowledge and Evidence Specialists, please see our website Knowledge and evidence specialist services | Website
To contact us, email mtw-tr.evidence.specialists@nhs.net
