Quality Assurance Framework Tower Hamlets Quality Assurance Framework for Community Research   4th July 2018

Quality Assurance Framework The main objectives of the quality assurance framework are: To underpin community research/insights activities carried out by LBTH CRs and assure that the process and product is robust To establish minimum requirements and standards with commissioners when drawing up project delivery plans. This can also inform specifications when commissioning community insights/ research projects. To have wider application and to be shared as best practice with other stakeholders in the Borough who are commissioning/undertaking community research/ insights activities Development of a Standards Framework for Community Insights Research Team A set of guidelines for research commissioners to ensure community research is a genuinely participative process

Work Carried Out Brief literature review Interviews with commissioners A Community Researchers Workshop A Community Organisations Workshop A Co-Design Workshop for all parties Analysis

What was needed? A Statement of Commitment towards Community Research A commitment to Co-Production and Partnership for Community Research A Pre-research and Process Checklist A Series of Guidance E.g. An Ethics Checklist & Guidance for Methods for Research Evaluation Framework for Community Research

Brief literature review initial findings No Quality Assurance Frameworks for community research or community researchers were found One standard for community engagement was found which may benefit the evaluation The evidence is generally of low quality (observational studies, reports, expert opinion, anecdotal evidence, etc) There may be enough detail to create an ethical checklist for community researchers and commissioners Only some very limited evidence was found on problems relating to sampling, representativeness and generalisability in community research. This may allow us to make general statements on how to deal with these issues within any QAF No evidence relating to validity was found. If it is necessary, this may need a further search A few documents discussed what is good research or what is involved in community research There was nothing on indicators or assessments of good community research practice Eight organisations using community researchers were found

Need for a Statement of Commitment towards Community Research A celebration and recognition of the history of community research A belief that community research give the community a stronger voice in influencing strategy, policy, commissioning and service design for beneficial and impactful change A belief that community research add value above other types of research in its ability to access and speak with the community A commitment to creating and refining the processes and mechanisms needed to include the community voice to influence strategy, policy and commissioning A commitment to involving all parts of the community in the community research process and in identifying and mitigating barriers that may prevent certain members of the community from being involved A commitment to adequately training and supporting community researchers, commissioners of community research, and other relevant staff and volunteers, in all aspects of the community research process A commitment to using co-production to work in partnership with all sections of the TH's community A commitment to feedback to the community affected by the community research A commitment to be clear about expectations around any piece of community research A commitment to building a community insights network

Guidance Methods Guidance: Recommendations for what methods to use in what circumstances Ethics Checklist What to include in an introduction or background to the community research for the community What to include in a Review Meeting How will research be conveyed to wider audience? Report structure and style recommendations GDPR: clear instruction on the obligations Referrals: Onward referral for people in community who need support Evaluation Process

Pre-Research & Process Checklist Category Example Preliminary Information Has a background or introduction to the research been created? Are expectations for this research clear and clearly explained? Time Line What are the review meeting dates? - what will be included in each review meeting? Checking the Repository Has check been made in CIN Repository that research hasn't already been done? Method(s) of interview Target Community What is the Target Population? What is the sample size required? Risks and Ethics Has the Ethics Checklist been used? Process Is a literature review required? Who will do the analysis? Training Is training needed for community researchers? Reporting What is the Report Structure and Style that will be used? Feedback and Validation Feedback –when will it take place; to whom; by what method? Evaluation Who will carry out the evaluation?