Primary Care Research Team Assessment
Research Ready Self-accreditation
The RCGP have launched a new
self-accreditation level of PCRTA known as Research Ready.
This has been developed in conjunction with the NIHR Clinical
Research Network and the newly established Primary Care
Research Networks (PCRNs).
Research Ready self-accreditation is a
basic entry guideline to primary care research in
England. It will signify a practices' up to date
knowledge of the standards that are needed to undertake research
and the physical facilities required to successfully comply with
research demands based on the latest research governance
frameworks.
Criteria
The criteria is based on 5 Core Competencies
that are essential for a practice involved in research, and within
these we have chosen further criteria relating to each competency
with the option for participants to assess themselves against
additional competencies necessary to run safe clinical
trials. These are considered the minimum standard for
research active practices.
Online self-accreditation
The self-accreditation assessment takes the
form of an online questionnaire; it is a formative process
that encourages practices to involve the whole research team. The
process requires practices to work through each section and
answer yes to all the questions in order to become successfully
accredited. They must also be able to agree they can comply
with all criteria when they take part in research.
Which research practices?
For practices that are already research
active, this is a useful tool to ensure that all the essential
areas are being met, and that all staff are aware of their
responsibilities. Practices that are not yet active will
find this a formative process which will provide them with the
means to take part in research in a safe and effective
manner. We strongly encourage practices of this sort to make
links with their local PCRN.
Find out which practices have been
accredited.
Find out which practices Research Ready is
for.
Database of Research Ready
practices
Once the self-accreditation is completed, the
practice will be asked to answer a short questionnaire about the
practice’s patient demographic and research interests. This
populates a database of Research Ready practices and will be used
to encourage participation in research and recruitment to trials
with other key stakeholders. This will also offer the
opportunity for practices to be contacted about new and exciting
research projects. Read more about the database.
Free
Currently Research Ready will be offered free
to all practices, though this is likely to change in the future,
so we advise you to become involved straightaway to
benefit from this.
The scheme is avaliable to all practices in
England. Begin the self-accreditation process
here.
Or if you have already registered your
practice,
view the self-accreditation tool.
Reaccreditation
Practices are required to renew their
accreditation after one year. The process is straightforward;
please check through the original details, which will already be
available:
-Research status
-Contact details
-5 competencies criteria
-Demographic information
You can also change your Clinical Trials
status at this stage if applicable. In addition, the practice
is required to enter information on research they have undertaken
during the year. We will provide a reminder to individual
practices one month before their accreditation is due to
expire.
If your practice is due for reaccreditation,
please visit:
http://www.extension.rcgp.org.uk/researchReady/practicelogin.aspx
Nominations
Research active organisations can now nominate
practices that they have worked with for RCGP Research Ready status
based on their research performance and experience.
To nominate practices, you must be an
employee/member of a University, NIHR Research Network or, the
Medical Research Council. The process is quite simple. If you
are satisfied that your nominated practice meets the criteria,
please visit:
http://www.extension.rcgp.org.uk/ResearchReady/Nomination/Default.aspx
You will be required to complete details about
your organisation and then some details on the practice.
However, many of the fields have been left optional if you
would prefer the practice to complete them.
We will be updating these pages frequently
and keeping information current about the criteria
and what is required of the practice, so come back
regularly to see what's new.
If you would like to know more about Research
Ready, or register your practice, please contact the Research Project Officer, or call on
0203 170 8247.