Application guidance

Section A: Applicant Details 

Question 1: Local authority  

Applications can only be submitted by a local authority and cannot be submitted by an ICB or external organisation. Partner organisations can be listed in Q19. 

Submitting a joint application 

First, list the name of the local authority the LARP would be employed by, then state the second local authority they would be working within.  

• In Q17 explain how the hosting arrangements for the role would work and line management arrangements 

• In Q19 outline what networks and support both local authorities will offer 

• In Q21 explain how both local authorities would benefit equally from the role and include a clear plan for how this would be sustained at the end of the funding.  

• A joint application will only be accepted for 0.8FTE or 1FTE, to ensure both local authorities benefit from LARP activity.  

Question 5/6: Finance contact name and email  

If your application is successful, we will copy this person into the outcome email to assist with finance details and claims.  

Section B: Funding  

Question 7: Total funding requesting from SCPH

The maximum the SCPH will award is £50,000 (for a 24 month period or pro rata for reduced timeframes). If you are successfully awarded funding you will submit claims in six monthly arrears. 

Question 8: Match funding

If you are unable to match fund, due to unique circumstances, you must contact the SCPH to discuss your application before you submit. We understand many local authorities are under financial constraints. It is insufficient to state in your application that you cannot match fund due to financial constraints including budgets. 

During our discussion with you, we would need to understand the detail of your unique circumstances and avenues you have explored to match fund.  

Examples of funding streams other local authorities have been able to leverage for match funding include Public Health Strategic Reserve, Public Health Grant, Town Fund, local university contribution, ICB contribution, match funding for a three-day or four-day a week post, a joint application with another local authority.   

Provide more detail of your matched funding arrangements in Q22. 

Question 11: Proposed start date

The exact start date of the LARP will not be known at this stage, but it is very helpful to the SCPH if the date provided is realistic. Outcomes are likely to be announced mid-February 2024. If you are successful, consider the time you will need to sign your award contract and recruit the LARP.  

Question 12: Proposed FTE  

Applications will only be considered for 0.6, 0.8 or 1 FTE.  

The SCPH are unlikely to award funding for the LARP role at 0.4 FTE, the role is too ambitious.  

Section C: Application Form

Question 14: Existing post holder 

It is possible to apply for LARP funding for an existing postholder in your local authority who is already working to meet LARP objectives.  Please clearly outline how this persons JD currently covers LARP objectives.  

Question 15: Ambition 

Example strategies within your local authority that you could reference and may relate to the objectives of the LARP role: Health, and Wellbeing Strategy, Five/Seven/Ten Year Plan and/or Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. Your local authority may even have a Research Strategy already.  

Question 16: SMART objectives

Objectives should reflect the FTE of your proposed bid, be sure to set a realistic and achievable number of objectives.  

SMART = Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely 

Implementation objectives are suitable. These are like outputs, where the ‘measurement’ of the objective is completing a task. Example objectives 4, and 5, below are implementation objectives.  

Examples of SMART objectives:  

1. In nine months, meet with all Heads of Directorates and collate how much ‘research’/service evaluation activity is taking place across the local authority.  

2. Following the mapping activity, and before the end of year one, contact and meet with staff in both public health/relevant departments at our two local universities to share findings and establish relationships.  

3. Within 18 months, learn about relevant funding schemes and support two funding applications from our local authority.  

4. Within the first year, share two communication pieces about research activity in internal bulletins.  

5. Develop a training workshop on [x], which has been identified as a skills gap.  

Question 17: Management and support  

The local authority is expected to provide a supportive and structured environment within which the post will be hosted. They need to demonstrate appropriate management, supervision and support arrangements within the public health team, or corporately if more appropriate. Specific named individuals are not required in the application, but please include the role of the proposed line manager and explain the team/wider structure (the line manager needs to be suitable and realistic). Identify wider colleagues and partners the LARP could work with/learn from.  

If you are successful, we will ask for the name and email address of the LARPs line manager promptly, to include them in all communications.  

Question 18: Training and development  

To answer this question, consider what skills/experience you are likely to include on the person specification for this role if you are successful. 

Are you aiming for candidates from a research background, or are you more interested in strong communication skills? Consider this, and the relevant salary band, to identify gaps in knowledge and what training could be made available to the LARP. Consider all themes and skills relevant to the role i.e. research skills, local authority knowledge, public health, public involvement and community engagement, communications, negotiation etc. Explore and include what training is available internally, and via your local HDRC, NIHR, universities etc.  

Question 19: Internal and external networks  

Please explain all relevant external networks, meetings, partnerships your local authority has, or is hoping to develop (e.g. with HDRCs, other local authorities, ICBs, HEIs etc.). Detail how the LARP will be supported to contribute to these and what the expectations will be. How formal or informal are these connections and how established? What has been achieved via these networks already?  

Internally, the local authority should support the opportunity for the LARP to network across all its functions that relate to the wider determinants of public health. This will allow them to identify opportunities for research, assess the capacity and capability across the local authority to facilitate research, and work with colleagues across the authority to strengthen the research culture and address any barriers to research. What meetings and internal structures are in place to support the LARP in their work and how will they be connected to, and contribute to, these?  

If your local authority currently has limited networks, then establishing networks will be a key part of the LARPs role. Detail with whom the LARPs could connect, how they will contribute and what you would like to achieve via these networks.  

Question 20: Public involvement and community engagement (PICE) and research inclusion  

Research inclusion is the new term used by NIHR. It was formerly known as Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). It is integral that communities are partners in the prioritisation, objective setting and delivery of research.   

Find out more about public involvement community engagement (PICE) on the NIHR webpages. PICE is the same as Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), it just removes the word patient so it is more relevant to local authorities.

In this answer we would like you to consider all your previous answers to questions 15, 16, 18 and 19 and explain how PICE and research inclusion are included in these.

• What ambition does your local authority have around PICE and research inclusion? What role can the LARP play in developing awareness and infrastructure for this? 

• Please provide a minimum of one objective for your LARP relating to PICE and research inclusion in the space provided for this question. 

• What training and development is available for your LARP to undertake relating to these topics?  

• What networks do you already have established relating to PICE and research inclusion, and/or what networks are you hoping the LARP will develop? 

If you are new to this work, and/or don't know where to start answering this question, reach out to our PICE Manager Kasia Kurowska and she will happily discuss this with you: Kasia.Kurowska@newcastle.ac.uk

Question 21: Plan for continued funding

We appreciate that you cannot guarantee that if you are successful, your local authority will be able to continue to fund the LARP role beyond the SCPH funding period. There is no expectation to appoint a LARP on a permanent contract. Previous successful local authorities have recruited LARPs on fixed term contracts.  

This is an ambitious role that requires long term commitment. To demonstrate your commitment, please outline ways you plan to explore obtaining the necessary budget to continue the LARP role beyond the SCPH funding.  

Question 22: Match funding and in-kind support  

In this section, please confirm that you have obtained match funding, and where you have leveraged this funding from. We require this detail as confirmation. 

Please detail any further in-kind support you would provide the LARP, in addition to what is provided in the management, training, or networks questions. Examples can include providing office space, equipment, or a mentor.  

Supplementary information  

Letters of support and any supplementary information sent will not be considered as part of the application. The selection criteria do not cover supplementary documents.