If you plan to do any research that collects information from people who use our adults’ or children’s social care services, their families, carers or staff, you must have research governance approval. We encourage high-quality research, audits and consultations which support the priorities of the Council Plan.
Good research governance helps to ensure that resources and services are targeted effectively and efficiently, staff are highly skilled and supported, and risk and change are managed effectively. Our commitment to effective research governance means that the social care research that is undertaken in Warwickshire contributes to best practice that, in turn, results in better outcomes for customers.
Research governance is the process by which the quality of research can be assured and the rights, dignity and safety of those involved can be protected. This process aims to:
- protect vulnerable people from poor research
- help to raise standards
- co-ordinate activity locally and regionally (preventing unnecessary duplication, over-researching of local groups etc)
- help ensure findings are accessible and are used
- prevent unnecessary research from being undertaken.
Which studies need research governance approval?
Warwickshire’s research governance process applies to research carried out by either council staff, staff from other organisations, by students, or collaborations between staff and external organisations, even if the research proposal has gone through a research governance process in another organisation.
The definition of research used within the UK policy framework for health and social care research is extremely broad: the attempt to derive generalisable or transferable new knowledge to answer or refine relevant questions with scientifically sound methods. In less technical language, research may be defined as collecting, analysing and interpreting data in a structured way and considering it in relation to policy or practice, or using it to increase understanding about local needs and good practice. The only thing that is ruled out as far as a definition of ‘research’ is concerned is the routine collection of management information.
In Warwickshire, the Research Governance Framework covers:
- research involving children, young people and adults, who use or have used Social Care and Health or Children and Young People Directorates' services, or their families or carers, and any staff member in those directorates.
- projects undertaken as part of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) process involving people of all ages who use Social Care, Health and Youth Justice services.
- surveys, evaluations and focus groups, best value reviews, non-financial audits
- research funded internally or externally
- research carried out in-house, in collaboration with external organisations, or by students or by people who are employed by another organisation.
How does the research governance process work?
Warwickshire’s research governance process is administered by the People Skills Development Team in the Resources Directorate. Research proposals are reviewed by experienced members of staff from adult and children’s social care and Public Health against standards set out in the Research Governance Framework. The reviewers decide whether or not your research application should be approved. Reviewers use a risk assessment tool to establish the likelihood of any adverse impact on research participants or Warwickshire County Council.
They will consider:
- research participants
- researcher competence
- nature of information being sought
- methods/nature of data collection
- appropriateness of method and quality of research design
- relationship between the researcher and participants
- level of privacy for participants
- external considerations
- resource considerations
- the relevance of the study.
Reviewers will decide whether to approve your application based on the information you give on the application form and the supporting documents you provide. If you provide full and clear information at the outset, the approval process will be quicker and simpler. You must also, separately, obtain agreement from the relevant service area and Service Managers to begin your research if you will be involving staff or their customers/service users.
Details of the research governance process and timescales are set out in the Research Governance Application Guidance (PDF, 134 KB).
How to apply for research governance approval
- External researchers/students: If you work for an organisation other than Warwickshire County Council or are a student, you must complete a Research Governance Application Form (DOCX, 47 KB) if you want to carry out research in adults’ or children’s social care or Public Health. The form includes a checklist of all the information needed by research reviewers to consider your research proposal.
- Warwickshire County Council staff: Staff undertaking research or colleagues undertaking research that comes out of the JSNA involving people who use Social Care, Health and Youth Justice should submit the Internal Research Governance Application Form (DOCX, 151 KB).
What to do when the research is completed?
Once the research is completed, you must supply the People Skills Development Team with a copy of your report or a summary. This will ensure that your findings are circulated to the right people and used effectively to improve practice and outcomes. If you have any queries about our research governance process, please contact us.