RESEARCH IN SOCIAL CARE: GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCHERS
6 OBTAIN ETHICAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITY APPROVAL
All those involved in research must be aware of their legal and ethical duties.
Codes of ethics
Codes of Ethics for social researchers have been produced by the:
An article in the British Journal of Social Work discusses a code of ethics for social care research
Research Governance Framework
Under the Research Governance Framework (RGF) it is the responsibility of the researcher/chief investigator to get ethical approval for the study. This may be obtained from a Higher Education Institution (HEI), from an NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC), or from a social care REC at local or regional level; plans are currently being discussed for a central Social Care REC.
Obtaining ethical and other approvals for your study depends on where your study will take place and which service users or staff will be involved. Those working in Higher Education Institutions may be able to get ethical approval from the university’s ethical committee. The Research Ethics Framework applies to all HEIs which receive grants from the ESRC.
National Social Care Research Ethics Committee (SCREC)
The Social Care Research Ethics Committee reviews adult Social Care research study proposals from researchers based in England. Applications for approval can be made via the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) and choosing the Social Care REC option ensures the appropriate forms are generated.
Research on social care for adults
Before the research can take place approval will have to be granted by:
- the relevant department(s) within the local authority
- the relevant ethical committee. Guidance about systems for ethics approval in social care is available in the RGF Resource Pack
- the ADASS, if the research involves more than one local authority
Research on children and families
Before the research can take place approval will have to be granted by:
- the relevant department(s) within the local authority
- an appropriate ethical committee. For those working in an HEI this is likely to be the university’s in-house system. Researchers based within a local authority may be able to use a REC at local or regional level
Research involving health services
Ethics review in the NHS is managed by the National Research Ethics Service, which is located within the National Patient Safety Agency.
The National Research Ethics Service (NRES):
- Coordinates the development of operational systems for local and multi-centre Research Ethics Committees (RECs) on behalf of the NHS
- Maintains an overview of the operation of RECs
- Develops and manages a national training programme for REC members and administrators
- Develops, implements and maintains operating procedures and standards for RECs which will be consistent across the UK
The NRES provides guidance for researchers on:
- The definition of research in this context
- Which studies need ethical approval?
- Guidance for applicants
Applications for NHS REC approval are made via Integrated Research Application System (IRAS).
Note that in the NHS clinical audit and service evaluation do not have to go for ethical approval, but that the same distinction may not apply in social care.
