Research, consultation, evaluation and monitoring plays a key role in service development and delivery.

Research can be defined as any work that involves collecting information from or about individuals who may be service users, their friends and relatives or carers or staff. 

It includes surveys, focus groups, evaluations, consultation with staff/service users and/or work in connection with service reviews, audits and student projects, the voluntary sector, the academic sector, government departments, research companies and the NHS.  It may be funded internally or externally.  However, it does not include the routine collection of management information.

Find out more by taking a look at some Frequently Asked Questions available below.

As a researcher you need to ensure that you have considered all ethical, science, health and safety, information and financial considerations in your application – see below to refer to the Checklist for preparing your research proposal.