National standards or clearly defined research governance and ethics frameworks for much of the research happening in local authorities do not currently exist. This creates uncertainty and barriers for those supporting, or conducting, research.
There is widespread recognition of the need for robust research governance and ethics systems in local authorities, and systems and good practice already exist.
The NIHR Research Support Service Specialist Centre for Public Health (RSS SCPH) delivered by Newcastle University and Partners was established in October 2023 to provide support for public health research taking place outside of the NHS.
As part of our offer, which includes pre-award research design advice, funding for local authority research capacity, training, and public involvement expertise, we aim to support research governance and ethics processes within local authorities.
Examining governance and ethics processes
Since June 2024, we have been undertaking a scoping exercise of research governance and ethics processes within local government. Although the initial focus of this work was public health and wider determinants research, many of the findings are relevant across all areas of local authority research, including social care.
Through informal conversations with 61 local authorities, we have identified common themes and enablers for local authority research governance and ethics processes. A full report of the scoping exercise is in preparation, but we are pleased to share initial findings from this work.
Some local authorities have, or are developing, research governance systems (examples include North Yorkshire, Wolverhampton, Shropshire and Cumberland Councils). Systems may cover certain directorates or teams, however increasingly a council-wide approach is being taken.
Identifying challenges and enablers
Although not without its challenges - including capacity, shared vocabulary around what research consists of in this setting, and a range of differences in decision-making structure - this work has identified several enablers for research governance and ethics processes within local authorities.
These include:
- Having research governance within job descriptions or work plans so there is dedicated and appropriate colleague resource.
- Senior leadership and wider workforce ‘buy-in’.
- Using accessible language and terms, making a clear link between research and practice and being clear on expectations and scope.
- Pragmatic, proportionate, and timely processes.
- Examples and case studies of what has worked and has not worked.
- Advice and support from partner organisations (for example, integrated care systems, local universities).
Support and guidance around research governance and ethics is available to local authorities via several routes.
These include:
- Colleagues with research experience (including Local Authority Research Practitioners, Public Health Engagement Leads, Embedded Researchers, Consultants in Public Health, and Directors of Public Health, colleagues within Data and Insights teams).
- Health Determinants Research Collaboration colleagues.
- The NIHR Research Support Service Specialist Centre for Public Health and Specialist Centre for Social Care.
- Research governance and ethics support teams within the NHS or universities.
We are using the findings to inform a programme of projects to promote the above enablers and address the challenges in implementing research governance and ethics systems, within local authorities.
Projects include a consensus exercise on a definition of research and an accompanying decision tool, development of a repository of useful research governance and ethics resources and exploring options for local authority-specific ethical review. Findings from the work and the challenges faced will also be communicated to national research funders and supporting organisations.
You can learn more about our work, including research governance and ethics, on the SCPH intranet.
We are keen to hear from anyone with experience of research governance or ethics processes in local authorities. If you would be interested in contributing to our work in this area, please get in touch.