What is research governance?
‘Research is a core function of health and social care. It is essential for our health and wellbeing and for the care we receive.’ – Health Research Authority, 2017.
Therefore, research is supported by the City of Wolverhampton Council. However, research can also involve an element of risk, in regards to the safety and wellbeing of research participants and the return on investment for the research.
Strict governance of research is therefore essential to ensure that the public can have confidence in and benefit from quality health and social care research.
As a public body there is an expectation on us to conduct research to high scientific, ethical and financial standards. We are expected to demonstrate transparent decision-making processes, clear allocation of responsibilities and robust monitoring arrangements.
To ensure that any health and social care research that takes place in the City of Wolverhampton Council is of good quality, ethical and useful we have a stringent research governance approval process in place.
This process ensures that prior to research, researchers have taken reasonable actions to protect the rights, safety and wellbeing of any service users, families, carers and staff that may be involved in the research.
Our Research Governance Approval Consultation
Our research governance approval approach is based on the principles for the management and conduct of research that have been outlined in the ‘UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research’.
The public health department handles the Research Governance Approval process. Two members of the department will make an independent review of your application. They will then discuss their findings and come to a joint decision.
To come to a decision, the following will be taken into consideration:
- Whether the research proposal meets the principles set out in the UK Policy Framework,
- Whether you have provided all evidence required as set out in this guidance pack,
- Agreement and support from the service manager of the service(s) that will your research will involve.
The research governance application will involve filling in an online consultation that requests information about how you are going to conduct and manage your research, including data protection and provision of certain supporting documents. The majority of the information requested should have been thought about when compiling your research proposal for your research organisation.
The consultation is split into two parts, A and B. You may not need to complete both parts, please see the guidance document to decide which parts you need to complete.
For further information and guidance on the Research Governance Approval Consultation please download the guidance pack, listed under downloads. Alternatively, please email us at Research.Governance@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Links to consultation forms