Prisons Research Network
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What is the Prison Research Network?
What is the Prison Research Network?
West Midlands Prison Research Network
is a collaborative initiative between prisons across the region and your local Research Delivery Network (RDN), the NIHR West Midlands RRDN.
Mental and physical health problems among prisoners have been well reported. It is in this context the Prisons Research Network is being developed. We can influence, be part of, and explore together health and care research in prison settings.
By getting involved in UK-wide research studies, focusing on the health and wellbeing of prisoners and young offenders, we can learn about different types of research and gain skills and confidence in this under represented community.
What is the RDN?
What is the RDN?
We are part of the National Institute of Health and Care Research, (NIHR) which has been supporting research delivery in primary, community, and hospital settings across our region since 2006, and more recently expanding its support into wider care settings, such as prisons, care homes, hospices and schools. Last year almost 1.4 million people in England participated in NIHR studies.
We are funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and work in partnership with the NHS, universities, other research funders, participants, and the public.
We are able to provide advice, support, and assistance to allow your prison to take part in high-quality health and care research.
The aims of the Prison Research Network
The aims of the Prison Research Network
The aim of the Network is to improve the health of prisoners by building new knowledge, bridging gaps in research, applying learning to practice, supporting the prison staff’s development, and sharing findings.
We aim to invite prisons to take part in innovative research studies that focus on the health and well-being of prisoners, young offenders and staff. We also want to support researchers to share their research opportunities and findings for the benefit of all involved.
This will not only help your prison contribute to shaping the health of the nation but also will give you the chance to take advantage of new treatments or screening programmes that are not yet available to the general population.
How can we support your Prison
How can we support your Prison
Inform you of opportunities to take part in high quality research
Support your prison with the setup and delivery of a research study (most studies will require minimal resources from the prison)
Provision of nurses, research practitioners, and data managers where appropriate
Support with necessary governance arrangements
Provide access to funding to reimburse staff time and involvement in research
Provide continued support throughout the study
Provide access to free research training
Our offer to Prisons
We hope the Prisons Research Network will be able to influence, be part of, and explore together health and care research in prison settings.
We want prisons to feel like active members who shape the Research Network.
The research will be prison-specific, having gone through all the correct ethical and regulatory procedures and they will be NHS-adopted studies.
Opportunities for prisoners and prison staff to input into research study design
Identifying the key areas of need, we will work with academic partners to develop prison research studies to inform change.
We will also promote opportunities for participation in local and national studies.
Remuneration
Support Cost
If there are any additional costs related to undertaking the research these will come directly from the study team and are called ‘Research Costs’ (research activity is almost always undertaken directly by the research team).
When we circulate research opportunities each study will clearly state the total remuneration for Prisons.
Support with health and wellbeing initiatives/training, including mental health
Depending on the needs identified, we can facilitate support from clinicians and academics within partner organisations.
Share research findings to inform evidence base and contribute to policy and practice
We will ensure the dissemination of all findings of research where you have assisted. This will include publications and recommendations for policy change.
Meetings with Governors and Healthcare Providers to speak about research and areas of interest for individual prisons
We can support meetings with Governors and Healthcare providers to help develop research studies that are of an interest to the prison.
Offer prisoners the opportunity to be involved in research
Helping to understand more about prison life and the effects of health and care on individuals. Provides staff and offenders a place to share their experiences
Studies Open for Participation in Prisons
About the Impact-C19P study:
About the Impact-C19P study:
Impact-C19P is the short name for the research project
“Impact of Covid-19 on delivery and receipt of prison healthcare in England and implications for health inequalities: a mixed methods study”.
Please click on this link or
click on the image to the left for more information.
Fathers Together Study - A study to support young fathers in prison and their families.
FT Participant Information Sheet [Young Men & Young Fathers] v.2 (28.04.2023).docx.pdfWhat will happen if my prison decides to take part?
Permission from the Governor will be required
We would ask for assistance in gaining security clearance and induction training for the researchers
We would ask you to support identifying suitable prisoners to approach as part of the study
The research team (academic researchers or research nurses/allied health professionals) will discuss the study with the participant and receive informed consent
Support identifying space to conduct the interviews with the participant
Prison officer support may be needed to assist in moving around the prison to different wings
Contact wm.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk with the subject marked as ICDT for more information.
Please note that this study is currently not open to new sites.
Join the Prison Research Network
Join the Prison Research Network
We are seeking expressions of interest from forward-thinking prisons who would like to join the Prison Research Network.
This will provide you the opportunity to be the first to find out about high profile prison research studies taking place in your area.
Joining the Prison Research Network does not commit you to taking part in a particular study and is free.
We will keep you updated on:
New studies
Resources and research results
Training and opportunities for the whole team
Research funding call
Research funding call
Please see the below funding opportunity for your consideration, or pass on to colleagues who may be interested:
‘Interventions to support men in prison or post-release
The NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research which evaluates the effectiveness of interventions in promoting the physical and mental health of men in prison or post-release.
This is a two-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an Outline Application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a Full Application.
Closing date: 25 April 2025 at 1:00 pm’ For further information visit:
Welcome to Be Part of Research
Be Part of Research enables you to find and take part in a range of health and care research. Health research helps to discover new and better ways to treat diseases, and improve the NHS and the quality of care across the country.
Anyone can take part in research whether you have a health condition or not. You could take part in research at a local hospital, GP practice – or even at home. It's easy to get involved. Simply sign up online and choose the health conditions you are interested in. You will be sent details of approved studies that match your interests to decide if you want to take part by Clicking Here.
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