Social Services Research Group
SSRG continues to work closely with the Department of Health in developing a programme to support councils in implementing the Research Governance Framework for Social Care. Chris Russell discusses progress and presents details of FREE workshops.
Work has centred round the activity of the RGF Advisory Group which has strong representation from SSRG, including several local authority lead officers with direct experience of RGF implementation.
In May, the publication of the Implementation Plan for social care, with its expectation of first stage implementation - external research only - by December 2004, led to a flurry of activity in some authorities and a quiet groan in others. The advisory group focussed its attention on developing the guidance materials which would help RGF lead officers to put systems in place. These are now ready and will appear as an SSRG publication. The RGF Resource Pack will be tested at the forthcoming training workshops (see below) and launched at the SSRG Annual Workshop in Reading: 11-13 April 2005. The Resource Pack is fully funded by the Department of Health and copies will be distributed free of charge to local authorities. Further copies will be made available in electronic format, and RGF lead officers listed on the SSRG database will automatically receive this version
The Department of Health has commissioned a series of SSRG training workshops to be held across England and Wales. These are happening in February and March and details are on the opposite page. Workshops are filling up fast so if you are responsible for RGF implementation in your authority, DO BOOK NOW!
These workshops are designed to assist lead officers responsible for implementing the Research Governance Framework (RGF) in their local authority to review progress, share experiences, and plan next steps. Sessions will be informal, with short presentations to stimulate discussion and allow plenty of opportunity for small group work, information sharing and active planning. Some RGF leads have already agreed to do a short presentation at the workshop they are attending. If you are one of them, thank you! If you would be interested in doing so, please let Chris Russell know as soon as possible (rgf@barn.abelgratis.co.uk).
Workshops are being actively supported by Making Research Count, Research in Practice and INVOLVE, with representation from one or more of these organisations at all the workshops. Details of individual workshops will be sent out before the day.
Involving service users is vital if RGF is to be implemented successfully. (In Cornwall, for example, a series of information sessions for service users and carers has generated a list of people who are willing to attend RGF Panel meetings.) With this in mind, SSRG is working with INVOLVE - formerly Consumers in NHS Research - to identify service users with an interest in research. Two places are available at each workshop for service users or carers to ensure that we take account of the service user perspective right from the beginning. If we get it right, the potential for service user involvement at the next stage will be even greater.
Some of you have already put forward names of interested people to attend specific workshops, which is really encouraging. Specific funding is available to cover travel expenses, access requirements and optional honorarium payments.
RGF is a steep learning curve for everyone. The timescales are tight and the competing pressures and priorities from other parts of the workload are great. Yet RGF does give a powerful boost to raising awareness of the importance of research activity in social care organisations and it can be a positive force for improving the research culture. The trick is to remember the principles behind RGF - good quality, respectful research – and move confidently towards building good practice. That approach has produced some robust and realistic systems in some places already and the SSRG training workshops and Resource Pack will enable this learning to be shared. Good luck to you all!
Chris Russell will be discussing issues relating to the RGF at the SSRG Annual Workshop in Reading.
This programme of free workshops is funded by the Department of Health
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Target Audience: Local Authority lead officers responsible for RGF implementation
Participants: Each local authority is invited to take up one place, free of charge, at a workshop of their choosing. Additional places may be available. Maximum numbers of places at each workshop are indicated above. This number includes 2 places at each workshop for service users or carers acting in an advisory capacity to promote involvement from the beginning.
Facilitators: The workshops will be led by freelance researcher and trainer Chris Russell, supported by representatives from the RGF Advisory Group, Making Research Count, Research in Practice and INVOLVE.
Time: Tea & Coffee and registration at 9.30am for 10.00am start; Finish 4.30pm
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