Background
To improve healthcare, we need to further our knowledge and understanding of diseases and their treatments. Research is a fundamental function of health and social care and research activities are essential components in improving clinical care.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Health and Social Care Trust is setting up a research and development (R&D) office, having appointed their first R&D Manager in February 2022. The NIAS R&D team are committed to ensuring that the voices of services users, carers and members of the public are heard, listened to and valued. It is important that there is meaningful personal and public involvement (PPI) at every stage of the research cycle. Therefore, NIAS R&D are seeking to appoint a group of PPI representative volunteers to sit on a Research PPI Group.
This document sets out the roles and responsibilities for the representatives who will sit on the research PPI Group.
Responsibilities
It is not intended that the PPI representative will represent any group of patients or organisation but will lend his/her individual perspective as a member of the general public or a patient, client or carer with experience of a particular illness, condition or service.
The Research PPI representatives will be asked to:
- Provide comments and feedback on a number of research related activities by email, telephone, virtual or face-to-face meetings.
Through these activities they may be asked to give views on the:
- topics researchers are studying
- research questions they are asking
- wording of patient information sheets
- methods of recruitment of patients or clients to research studies
- burden/impact of a participant taking part in a study
- value for money of a study
- the way in which the research findings are being shared
Terms of Reference
PPI representatives on the Research PPI Group are asked to:
- bring their own experience as a service user, carer or member of the general public to assist the group in understanding the perspectives of service users and the public that are relevant to the discussion
- not act as a representative of any particular group or body
- contribute to the discussions which guide the group’s decisions and recommendations
- prepare for the group by reading papers before the meeting and raising any issues for clarification with the Chair
- keep confidential any information that they acquire as a result of being a member of the group
Support
NIAS R&D will ensure the provision of ongoing support. This may include:
- a named point of contact
- an induction into your role in this work
- reimbursing out of pocket expense e.g. travel
- providing support before, during and after meetings
- providing adequate information in a timely manner
Person Specification:
Essential Attributes
- an ability to listen to others and express views in a polite but effective manner
- interest in and commitment to improving health and social care through research
Desirable Attributes
- knowledge or experience of a specific illness or social care context
- confidence to discuss issues with health and social care professionals
- knowledge or experience of the research process
- experience of taking part in meetings or panels
- experience of reading documents and providing feedback
Contact Research@nias.hscni.net for more information
