Here at the Institute we are keen to develop documents, guides and resources that help and support researchers to carry out good patient and public involvement activities, and we want to make it easier to access and understand opportunities for public contributors to be involved with confidence.

Taking Part in Research

The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Patients, Carers and the Public website offers pages where you can find more information about taking part in studies, getting involved nationally, and learning more about the meanings, definitions and actions connected with Public and Patient Involvement.

Nationally, there are directories Public Contributors can join to learn more about research and get involved:

• The NIHR has prepared a “Starting Out Guide - Why and how to get involved in research” designed to help public contributors and early career researchers  understand more about PPI.
• Where you can find out about health and social care research that is taking place across the UK Be Part of Research (nihr.ac.uk) (outside organisation)
• A place to register your interest in taking part in vital dementia research - Join dementia research - register your interest in dementia research : Home (nihr.ac.uk) (outside organisation)

NIHR Briefing Notes on Public Involvement

The NIHR has compiled a series of Briefing Notes on Public Involvement in NHS, Health and Social Care research. The total document is a 46 minute read but contains information for both researchers new to PPI and those wishing to refresh their knowledge in the area of good PPI. These briefing notes also contain a number of links to other NIHR pages offering more detailed insight into specific topics and areas and we would recommend this be a useful starting point to read up on the values, importance and qualities that good PPI can bring to your research.  

NIHR Learn

If you are looking for learning and training resources for Public and Patient Involvement it is helpful to know what is already in the public domain and created before looking to invest time, effort and resources on duplicating training information.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research, with it’s Centre for Engagement and Dissemination, has created a website dedicated to learning and development for public involvement in health and social care research. It is a building resource where you will find information on what Involvement is all about and how to do it well. It brings public involvement information and resources (such as guidance, websites, videos, articles and blogs) and training together in one place.

The Public Involvement Coordinator of the Institute of Mental Health is registered within the website and will also share our own training resources to the repository when available, to ensure what we develop and consider good practice is shared wider than our own stakeholders – for the benefit of good public involvement.

Public and Patient Involvement Leads in grant applications

When looking to submit an application to the National Institute of Health and Care Research you will be considering who your PPI (Public and Patient Involvement) Lead will be. This may be someone already in the team, or this may be someone who has the existing skills and capacity to support and deliver the public and patient involvement activity and responsibilities for this project. You may be considering inviting a public advisor or contributor to work as the Public and Patient Involvement Lead for your project and be named as the co-applicant responsible for this in your study.

Here is some information from the National Institute of Health and Care Research about the definition, role and responsibilities of the Public and Patient Involvement Lead. 

Payment for Public Involvement in Health and Care Research: A guide for organisations on determining the most appropriate payment approach

The National Institute of Health and Care Research has recently published guidance on Payment for Public Involvement in Health and Care Research. The National Institute of Health Research has frequently led the way with payment and other Involvement guidance documents and in their transition from INVOLVE to the new Centre for Engagement and Dissemination they have now released this guidance document as a “consultation in use” document for a six month period. More information and the guidance document can be found here.