Ensuring that our services are safe and effective is one of the most important things we do as an organisation. For our services to be the best they can be we need to be able to test new ideas and treatments to see if they work, and gather vital evidence to prove it.

Our dedicated research development unit brings together experts with clinical, research and academic backgrounds to lead on our work in this area.

They work alongside service users, carers, staff, commercial companies, charities, universities and other NHS Trusts to run a range of research and clinical trials in our services across Sheffield.

We also provide a research management and governance (RM&G) service to primary care across Sheffield, commissioned through the Integrated Care Board (ICB) at Sheffield Place.  

By working together we are able to learn and share best practice that helps us to continually make improvements to the services we provide.

There is clear evidence that NHS Trusts involved in research provide safer services, deliver better quality care and have improved performance overall.

Not only does it benefit our service users, carers and their families, but it also has huge benefits for our staff. By getting involved in research they are able to develop professionally and use their clinical experience to make improvements.

Results of completed studies are here.

Here at SHSC, coproduction and voices of people with lived experience are key to the work we do in the Research Development Unit. We are pioneering new ways of coproducing research and it is at the heart of everything we do.

Since 2018 we have had a dedicated lived experience research ambassador working within the department, ensuring that the lived experience voice has a presence in how we conduct our research.

Ways in which people with lived experience are involved in research at SHSC include (but is not limited to):

• Membership of our Lived Experience Research Partnership (read more below)
• Contributing to building our research, innovation and effectiveness strategy and how this is implemented in SHSC
• Participating in research studies
• Being an ambassador for research – sharing their 'research journey' and ways to be involved
• Contributing to the design and delivery of research studies – including becoming lived experience research interviewers
• Being co-applicants on National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) grant applications for research and subsequently on the teams running the projects
• Being members of steering and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) groups for research studies

Who are we working with?

We provide a research management and governance service across primary care services in Sheffield.

Why do we provide this service?

To ensure all research undertaken through or with South Yorkshire ICB Sheffield Place is managed by the same team and in a consistent way.

What do we do?

Oversight of NHS research governance and research permission or approval is managed at national level through the Health Research Authority. Feasibility, capacity and capability checks are carried out locally.

We:

• Undertake all the necessary local checks and provide evidence that all appropriate reviews have been satisfactorily completed. This is known as capacity and capability assurance
• Validate research passports and issue letters of access assurance for NHS staff and non-NHS staff
• Provide hands-on practical support to practices on a case-by-case basis

How do we do this?

Our established standard operating procedures ensure our tasks are carried out in a consistent way.

Who to contact

• Mishell Cunningham, primary care research manager
• Linda Mulunda, research facilitator

More information about Mishell and Linda on the meet the research team page.

How else do we help?

We have developed a library of Q&A leaflets and templates which GP practices and other primary care sites may choose to use as good practice guides for setting up and delivering their research.

Health Research Authority (HRA)

The Health Research Authority protects and promotes the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research. It ensures that our research is governed properly, is legally compliant and ethically approved. All our research has been reviewed by the HRA before it starts.

You can find out more about the HRA here.

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

The National Institute for Health Research funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth.

Getting involved

Being involved is not the same as taking part in research. It is not about taking part in a trial or study to test a new treatment or care option. It is about being a member of the research team that works together to design and run the study.

More information is available on the National Institute for Health Research website.

You can also contact our Lived Experience Research Ambassador to find out more about our current opportunities by emailing ellie.wildbore@shsc.nhs.uk

We regularly report to the National Institute for Health Research on our research performance. To view our recent reports click here.

This includes information about projects we are already taking part in and projects that we are about to begin.

You can take a look at our historical reports by clicking on the list below.

Our Research, Innovation and Effectiveness strategy aims to create a vibrant, engaged improvement culture, using the best and most up-to-date evidence to achieve the best outcomes for people who use our services.

You can read all about our strategy here.