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Over the last 9 months we have had informal conversations with 59 local authorities, 27 of those with NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) status.
We’ve also started to identify some emerging themes from these meetings.
Informal conversations with local authority research staff
Informal conversations with local authority research staff
59 local authorities
including 27 with HDRC status
Discussed current research governance & ethics processes and future plans
Also discussed issues and gaps
More emerging themes
More emerging themes
Where research governance frameworks and processes exist within local authorities, they are often not widely known about or fully utilised.
Infrastructure for research and academic research activities in local authorities can be limited (journals, reference management, statistical software) with many barriers to publication in 'traditional’ peer-reviewed journals.
An organisation-wide awareness of current and previous research is essential to prevent duplication, ensure impact, and ensure diversity of voices.
There is a variety of opinion on the extent to which research governance and research ethics are, or should be, separated.
Enablers and blockers for local authority research governance and ethics processes
Enablers and blockers for local authority research governance and ethics processes
Enablers
Enablers
Clarity on definitions and scope of processes
Dedicated staff resource
Leadership and wider workforce ‘buy-in’
Accessible language and clear links with practice (e.g. ‘what it means to my role’)
Contacts (allies) in key departments for advice (e.g. Information Governance, Legal, Finance)
Blockers
Blockers
Processes and expectations that are not clear or visible
Lack of organisation-wide awareness of research or research-like activities
Duplication of processes/effort (e.g. requirement for multiple ethical reviews)
Relying on individuals (what happens to the process if the individual leaves?)
Lack of time/capacity to develop, maintain, and review, processes
What we are doing in response
What we are doing in response
Definition of research
Definition of research
The consensus exercise to define what ‘research’ means in a local authority setting is almost complete.
We are developing decision tools and guidance for research governance and ethics once this work is complete.
Release of explainer resources
Release of explainer resources
We have produced and released a set of explainer documents on research governance, research ethics, research integrity, and research sponsorship.
We are looking to expand our list of explainers, please let us know if there are any topics you would like us to cover.
Dedicated project management support
Dedicated project management support
We are delighted to announce that 2 project managers are joining the SCPH team.
They will be taking on a number of projects identified as part of the research governance and ethics, and training scoping work. They will be working with local authority colleagues to prioritise and deliver these projects.
Potential areas of focus include costing and finance, access to research infrastructure and/or software.
Research governance and ethics working group
Research governance and ethics working group
We hope to support development of a local authority research governance and ethics working group.
This group will be a forum to share good practice, ideas and knowledge about research governance and research ethics.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you to all the local authority colleagues and others who have shared their experience and examples of frameworks, policies, processes and templates with us.
If you have a document or resource you are happy to share, please let us know.
We are keen to continue the conversations around research governance and ethics in local authorities and would love to hear from you. Please contact laura.brown8@newcastle.ac.uk.
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