INSIGHT Project

In this project, we will work together to produce and test a new quality awards programme for organisations involved in medical research (e.g. the NHS & universities).  These awards will recognise and showcase how they involve members of the public in their research. Public involvement is the active partnership of researchers and members of the public in research projects and organisations.

What parts of the project can I get involved with?

The project’s official launch event was held online on the 15^th September 2020. Given the team approach of this project, we invited a range of stakeholder organisations to ensure that the event had good patient and public (lay) representation. The event provided an overview of the project and early work to be carried out under the project themes.

Following this launch event, work on the project has been divided up into four working groups, also known as “task and finish groups”.  These groups will focus on a different area of the project and work on this over a 3-month period. These groups will be made up of stakeholders and lay representatives. You will be invited to join one of these groups.

What would I be committing to?

You will be assigned to a task and finish group. Each task and finish group will meet every two weeks over 3-months. In total this will be 6 meetings, each lasting an hour (6 x 1 hour meetings over 3-months).

There may also be some pre-reading or reflection outside of these meetings. This will be explained in your first group meeting.

Your overall commitment is expected to be 8 hours:

• 6 hours – task and finish group meetings
• 2 hours – pre-reading and reflection (in between meetings)

Your allocated task and finish group will focus on one of the following areas of the project:

1. A public involvement quality ratings scheme - this will bring together the Expert Citizens Insight Awards with the UK Standards for Public Involvement.
2. A way of evaluating organisations using the new public involvement quality ratings scheme.
3. A training programme for the quality assessors (professional and public members).
4. Plans for a future annual Insight | Public Involvement Quality Awards event.

You will be contacted by the project manager to confirm the task and finish group that you will be involved in. There will be the opportunity to change groups should you prefer.

We will ask you if you agree to your name and contact information being passed to the INSIGHT project team (Keele University, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Expert Citizens and the Clinical Research Network) as required to coordinate your involvement in the project (e.g. invite you to meetings, share documentation etc.).

What are the benefits of this project?

We hope that the quality awards programme will help organisations with public and patient involvement in research. This is important as the potential benefits include the improvement of:

• Patient experience
• Recruitment to research
• Awareness of research

Will I get paid for my involvement?

There will be an involvement fee paid to lay members involved in the project. This will be paid at the national INVOLVE rate of £75 for a half day or around £22.50 an hour. You will receive this in the form of gift vouchers.

How can I take part?

If you are interested in taking part in this project, please contact Nicola Evans (see contact details below) who will be able to allocate you a task and finish group.

Please note that in order to take part you must:

• Have previously taken part in research
• Have access to a computer and the internet
• Be comfortable with remote (home) working/meetings

You are free to withdraw from this project at any time without giving reason. Withdrawing will not affect any future care you receive.

Who can I get more information from?

Please call Nicola Evans (INSIGHT Project Manager) on 01782 734868 or email n.evans@keele.ac.uk.