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Research Governance in Haringey

This information is important if:

  • you are a member of the public or work for an external organisation and you wish to conduct a piece of research involving users of services provided by or on behalf of Haringey Council, or their personal records; or
  • you are a member of staff at the Council or a Council contractor and you conduct research or consultation exercises involving users of services, or their personal records; or
  • you have been asked to participate in a research project.

Research Governance

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What is Research Governance?

The Research Governance Framework (RGF) has been drawn up by the Department of Health. It aims to ensure that all research undertaken within health and social care organisations conforms to a set of common standards. These standards are:

  • Ethics: Safeguarding the dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of participants as the primary consideration for all research studies;
  • Science: Checking that no unnecessary duplication takes place and conducting appropriate independent reviews of all proposals by relevant experts;
  • Information: Ensuring free and comprehensive access to information on research in progress and on completed research findings;
  • Health and safety: Prioritising the health and safety of research participants, researchers and other staff at all times;
  • Finance: Ensuring financial probity, compliance with the law and with requirements for use of public funds.

Haringey Council implemented the RGF from 1 April 2008 in all the social care services for adults it provides and commissions. It has now been extended across the Council to Housing Services and to Children and Young People's Services.

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Why is Research Governance necessary?

Haringey Council views research as a valuable tool for learning, for user engagement and empowerment and for service improvement. However, the Council also has a duty of care towards staff, service users and carers.

Having a system to record, assess and monitor research and research-related activity:

  • promotes best practice in research and research-related activity;
  • helps to avoid unacceptable risk, including risk of:
    • harm to participants in the research, or the researchers, or
    • generating unreliable or invalid results, or
    • going over the agreed budget, or
    • breaching data protection requirements;
  • promotes efficiency and reduction of 'consultation fatigue' by avoiding duplication of research activity through central review and logging
  • improves dissemination of current and future research findings
  • contributes to genuinely evidence-based policy
  • promotes equalities and diversity, as good research is inclusive research
  • smoothes compliance with Freedom of Information and complaints requirements by ensuring relevant information about all research is readily available; and
  • facilitates greater public acceptance where necessary for any research undertaken.

What if the research involves people who lack capacity?

Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (external link) all research with adults who lack capacity must be reviewed by a recognised Appropriate Body under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They cannot be reviewed by a local authority or a university Research Ethics Committee (REC).

The Social Care Research Ethics Committee (SCREC) is the Appropriate Body for England. Further information on the SCREC and how to apply to them can be found on the SCREC website (external link)

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What are Haringey Council's responsibilities?

Before research takes place, the Council is responsible for ensuring that:

  • a sponsor has been identified who is willing to take overall responsibility for confirming that everything is ready for research to begin;
  • an independent review has taken place to ensure that the research is worth doing and that it meets the required standards;
  • the quality of the research methods has been independently reviewed by a qualified individual or organisation;
  • adequate arrangements are in place for the financial management of the research;
  • there is free access to information both on the research being conducted and on the findings of the research (once these have been subjected to appropriate scientific review); and
  • the safety of participants, and of research and other staff, is given priority at all times and Health and Safety regulations are strictly adhered to.

What does Research Governance mean if I want to conduct a research project?

If your project involves collecting information from or about individuals who are service users, their relatives and friends, or employees of services provided by or on behalf of Haringey Council, you must work within the RGF.

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What does Research Governance mean if I’m asked to take part in research?

Hopefully you will feel confident that any research you are asked to take part in is a good and necessary piece of work. The research should be explained to you clearly, and once the study is finished you should be told about the results.

What should I do next?

To carry out a research project which is covered by the RGF, you must:

  • read thoroughly and follow carefully the Council’s formal policy and procedure document for research governance
  • complete the application form for researchers
  • complete the Risk Assessment Tool that is used to assess applications and is also available to download for information.

Copies of all these documents can be viewed in the attached files section at the end of this page.

After submitting your application, the Research Governance Co-ordinator will normally contact you with the Council’s decision (approval, rejection, or a request for amendments) within 30 days.

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If you are unsure whether your research project is covered by RGF, please contact the Research Governance Co-ordinator for advice.

If you have been asked to take part in a research project and you have any questions, you can contact the Research Governance co-ordinator.

Research Governance Panel deadlines

The Research Governance Panel meets four times a year. The board dates and application deadlines for this year are:

  • 31 October 2011: application deadline 17 October 2011 (this has now passed)
  • 16 January 2012: application deadline 2 January 2012
  • 16 April 2012: application deadline 2 April 2012
  • 23 July 2012: application deadline 9 July 2012

Further information

If you have further questions, they may be answered in the Council’s policy and procedure document for research governance, which is available in the attached files section at the end of this page. This includes detail of the Council’s process for considering applications.

If you still have further questions, please contact the Council’s Research Governance Co-ordinators:

For research involving adults

Policy Officer
Policy, Equalities and Partnerships, Haringey Council
7th Floor, River Park House
225 High Road
Wood Green
London
N22 8HQ
Tel 020 8489 2405

For research involving children or young people

Principal Policy Officer
Policy, Equalities and Partnerships, Haringey Council
7th Floor, River Park House
225 High Road
Wood Green
London
N22 8HQ
Tel 020 8489 3373

For research involving users of housing services

Commissioning Manager (Housing Related Support)
Haringey Council
3rd Floor, Apex House
820 Seven Sisters Road
Tottenham
London
N15 5PQ
Tel 020 8489 4526

Attached Files

The following links are not part of the Haringey Council website. Please read our legal disclaimer before using these links

Page Last Updated: 8 May 2012

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