Research First – Research Focused 

Ideas & Impacts 

 

ASCRU2 – Who we are and what we do 

 

Our work within ASCRU2 is to provide robust research evidence to inform social care policy, in particular for the Department of Health and Social Care. 

 

We believe one of the best ways to impact policy is to show how the results of our work can affect the lives of those who need social care support (whether they use services or not), their carers and society at large. 

 

By involving these public groups in the planning, execution, and dissemination of our research we will put the beneficiaries of social care at the heart of our evidence and results. By encouraging research teams to co-create and co-present in academic, social care and political arenas we will maximise the impact of our work by giving a voice to all those affected by social care policies. 

 

Finally, by using creative methods of involvement in all aspects of research and dissemination we can reach the broadest possible audiences for our findings, including audiences traditional academia struggles to reach. 

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How did we develop our Strategy? 

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We have drawn upon the UK National Patient and Public Involvement Standards1 and the four challenges of reach, relevance, refinement and relationship outlined in Going the Extra Mile to develop our Strategy. 

 

We have also learned from, and embodied into our strategy, the experience and ways of promoting Public Involvement and Engagement (PIE) within social care research of other PRUs (Policy Research Units) and relevant organisations and networks. 

 

Our Strategy defines an underlining set of Values and Objectives which establish what we are trying to achieve with PIE3. These are supported by an Implementation Plan which establishes how we work to achieve them. 

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Diagram produced by the UK Standards Partnership https://sites.google.com/nihr.ac.uk/pi-standards/home  

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Who was involved? 

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The PIE Strategy was developed by a working group including Public Advisors, (Monica Jefford and Chris Pavlakis), PIE leads (Jennifer Bostock and Karen Jones), our Involvement Coordinator (Jo Ward), the Unit Director (Jose-Luis Fernandez) and the Unit Manager (Anji Mehta). 

 

Our wider Public Involvement and Engagement Group (PIEG) fed into the development of this Strategy, and we will work together across ASCRU2 to implement its approach and ensure it is embedded within project-level work with individual research teams. 

 

Why is PIE important to ASCRU2? 

 

“True progress in social care policy is achieved when the voices of those it touches are woven into its foundation. Public and patient involvement transforms research into a shared vision, making policies more empathetic, grounded, and responsive to real-life challenges.” 

- Jose-Luis Fernandez 

 

“PIE is strategically intrinsic to ASCRU2 as service recipients' interests and wellbeing are at the heart of its service provision. Such an overarching statement is all inclusive and at each level of the organisation, professional and lay, alike can embrace its principles to ensure their care is led/managed effectively and delivered appropriately at point of care.” 

- Monica Jefford, ASCRU2 PIEG Member 

 

“PIE is a critical component to think thoroughly, design and conduct health and care research. It is a necessity, not a ‘nice-to-have’, with lay members wearing the hat of a critical friend.” 

- Chris Pavlakis, ASCRU2 PIEG Member 

 

What do we want our PIE to be? 

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Minimal Bureaucracy, Meaningful Involvement, Amplified Impact 

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Objectives 

 

Our Strategy focuses upon 6 objectives, identified by asking ’What is important to us and our Public Advisors?’ 

 

Objective 1: Pursing excellence in PIE activities 

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Public Advisors should have a positive experience working within ASCRU2 and feel valued and engaged. To achieve this, we will: 

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Objective 2: Oversight, governance, and independence 

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Our PIE leads and representatives from our wider PIEG will attend all ASCRU2 management meetings playing an equal part in agenda setting. ASCRU2’s Public Advisors are crucial in having critical independent oversight of ASCRU’s activities, both at the management and at project levels. 

 

Objective 3: Learning and sharing 

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Our focus on ‘Research First’, within a culture of trust, will encourage researchers and Public Advisors to work in a way that acknowledges and values all sources of knowledge and co-learn together to meet the needs of the research. 

 

Objective 4: Recognition and reward 

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All Public Advisors will be compensated for their time at recommended NIHR rates. We shall ensure that research teams have a budget that covers necessary funding for involvement work and expenses. We recognise that some of ASCRU’s advisors have needs necessitating higher budgetary considerations and we shall accommodate these where possible. In addition to financial compensation, within ASCRU2 we encourage research teams to seek opportunities to creatively involve Public Advisors and to acknowledge their contributions in all outputs, including co-authorship and co-presentation where appropriate. 

 

Objective 5: Capacity Building – Here, there, and everywhere 

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PIEG members have diverse backgrounds, expertise, skills and personal experiences of social care and research. We shall aim to share, learn and build a PIE network of Public Advisors who will enrich and enhance social care research now and in the future. By sharing practice across the Unit and with other allied units and groups we aim to contribute to a growing understanding of Involvement practice across the sector. 

 

Objective 6: Maintaining PIE through the life of the Unit 

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We recognise that circumstances change, and that the motivation of ASCRU’s Public Advisors and researchers may fluctuate. We shall aid motivation and momentum by maintaining strong relations between researchers and public advisers and promoting communication and enthusiasm within individual research teams and in the wider Unit.  

 

Alongside capacity building, creative opportunities for development and recognition, such as through certificates, providing references and making university resources available where possible, will aim to ensure advisors find fulfilment through being part of ASCRU2. 

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How will we know our Strategy is working? 

 

The delivery of our Strategy’s objectives will be facilitated by a culture of openness and transparency within ASCRU2, which encourages researchers and Public Advisors to identify and discuss with the PIE team what things work well and what things do not.  

 

ASCRU2’s culture will promote flexibility to respond to projects’ needs appropriately and encourage further PIE, based on mutual collaboration (between public advisors and researchers), shared decision making and dealing with all/any matters arising at the earliest point feasible.  

 

Our Strategy is a living document which is regularly examined as our research needs change. It is supported by an internal Implementation Plan, which outlines the day-to-day processes to guide our work. 

 

To ensure that our PIE is impactful - not tokenistic - we will ask the question ‘What will this/has this involvement done for the research?’ We will aim to consistently document this information, from project planning through to dissemination, and build a database of PIE impacts in ASCRU2. 

 

Who will be delivering our Strategy? 

 

Everyone within ASCRU2 will play a role in delivering our Strategy. However, we have designated roles for some; they are: 

 

• Jennifer Bostock – ASCRU2 PIE Co-Lead and PIEG Member 

• Karen Jones – ASCRU2 PIE Co-Lead  

• Jo Ward – Involvement Coordinator: the main point of contact for staff and for Public Advisors and is responsible for administration, support and engagement related to involvement. 

• Daniel Gulliford – ASCRU2 Administrator: responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Unit 

• Jose-Luis Fernandez, as ASCRU2 Director, will have ultimate responsibility for the success of PIE arrangements and activities 

• Anji Mehta – ASCRU2 Manager: responsible for management of the Unit 

 

Financing and Resources  

 

We are committed to ensuring all PIE activities are appropriately funded and Public Advisors receive resources in a timely manner.  

 

Resources for this Strategy include time to develop and implement it by the PIE Team and PIEG members. This will be funded through central ASCRU2 resources.  

 

Funding will also be provided for involvement, training and support needs for ASCRU’s Public Advisors for activities to meet the objectives set out above. This will include time compensation to participate in PIEG and Management Group meetings, and associated costs for online/in-person meetings.  

 

Each ASCRU2 project will budget for its PIE activities, with resources allocated after project-level plans are discussed and approved with the PIE team.

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Equity Diversity and Inclusion 

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​ASCRU’s PIEG is made up of public members, who were selected through an open application process. As part of this, they shared information about their background, experiences and passions for being involved. This helped to develop a group which aims to bring together a diversity of voices and experiences to contribute to ASCRU2. 

 

We provide ongoing support, guidance and resources and informal training to achieve an inclusive group which empowers its members to contribute to different activities and work with them to develop involvement opportunities which are meaningful and manageable. 

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​​Questions

 

If you have any queries about the role or would like more information, please contact Jennifer Bostock and Jo Ward, ascru@lse.ac.uk.​

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