If you would like to carry out some research with our social care services, staff or service users, we will need to approve your proposal. We have a Research Governance Framework (RGF) based on the Department of Health’s RGF for health and social care.
You will need to follow the research governance approval process and have an ethical, management and methodological approval for your research.
This is not the mechanism for making freedom of information requests.
Research Governance Framework
Our RGF ensures that research is of a high quality and that the rights of any research participants are appropriately protected.
In particular, our Framework recommends we maintain records and publicise all research projects being undertaken:
- provide a clear structure to assess all research projects before granting access to service users, carers and staff or any information relating to them
- ensure that there is an appropriate organisation assuming responsibility for the management of the project
- ensure that written agreements are made between us and any parties involved in the research project
You need to consider the RGF if you are undertaking any project that involves contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults, or with data about them.
The Framework also ensures that we adhere to sound information governance principles.
Before completing a full project plan, you will need to email us some brief details of your research idea, including:
- name
- organisation
- telephone number
- what you are researching
- who the subject of your research is
- how you propose to complete the research
- when you are wanting to do the research
- if you already have approval of the methods you will use
- if you have already got ethical approval
- who has given you approval
We’ll consider your proposal and tell you if we agree to your research idea in principle. If we agree, you’ll need to fill in the RGF Project Plan form if you do not have the relevant information in an existing format.
If we’re not able to agree, we’ll contact you to explain why and give further guidance.
Send your email to socialcareresearch-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
Lighter touch process
A lighter touch process is available in the following circumstances:
- If a research proposal is made by a university student in conjunction with a nationally recognised body, with research governance and ethical approval in place either agreed by the university or the involved national body and you have all the information we require but in a different format, you will not be required to additionally complete the RGF application form to seek approval. We will base that on your existing documentation.
- If your proposed research does not include any direct contact with people accessing services. In this situation, and if you are required to complete the RGF application form, you will not need to complete section 6.
Approval process
We’ll aim to review your project plan within seven working days of receipt, and decide on the risk level of your proposal.
If we approve your proposal, you’ll need to meet any conditions and then complete the Research Governance Framework application form or provide the equivalent information and email it to us at socialcareresearch-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
If we reject your proposal, we’ll contact you to explain why.