PSP103: RDN Nomenclature, Settings Definitions 

• A setting is defined as the environment in which the potential research participants are provided with care or support for their health or care needs. The Community of Experts within Settings have expertise particular to that environment relevant to research. Settings are agnostic of Specialty and may include multiple types of organisations and research locations. The RDN will use the following Settings framework and descriptions

• The following page provides definitions for various RDN settings, further information is available on the the RDN Microsite (access by nihr email address only)

Description

First point of contact for care for the general public. This includes but is not limited to:

• Optometry

• Audiology

• General dental practitioners

• Community pharmacy

• GP out of hours care and 111 Service

• NHS Talking Therapies

• Vaccine Clinics

• General Practice (GPs) (including Primary Care Networks and Federations)

• Primary care facing activities of the Ambulance Service

Description

Community based health and social care that is typically referral-dependent outside of hospitals. This includes but is not limited to:

• Community based prevention programmes and activities e.g. community weight management services

• Home-based care e.g. personal care, support at home, social care outside residential care settings

• Community care teams e.g. physiotherapy, health visiting, midwifery, district nursing, virtual wards led by community team

• Community-based services for people with mental health needs

• Any other community-based care provided by NHS Community Trusts

• Adult and children's social care services (including community based learning disability services)

• Schools e.g. school nursing service

• Sexual health services

• Community diagnostic services

Description

Care that is delivered in a short or long term residential or custodial setting. This includes but is not limited to:

• Care homes and nursing homes

• Sheltered housing

• Homelessness services

• Women's refuges

• Hospices

• Secure care facilities (adults and children)

• Settings within the justice system (including prisons, asylum facilities, Youth Offender Centres, Probation Service)

Description

Secondary, tertiary, emergency or urgent care leading to hospital based care. This includes but is not limited to:

• All NHS acute trusts and specialist hospitals

• In-patient ward based care (including in Mental Health Trusts)

• Emergency or urgent pre-hospital care e.g. minor injuries units, urgent treatment centres, hospital facing activities of ambulance trusts/paramedics

• Secondary and tertiary care led-virtual wards

GP: General Practitioner / General Practice

NHS: National Health Service

RDN: Research Delivery Network

Jacqueline Mathews

Health and Care Settings Programme Lead

Contact: jacqueline.mathews@nihr.ac.uk

Version 1.2

February 2025