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Social care research

The Social Care Research Ethics Committee reviews the following types of applications submitted by researchers based in England:
  • adult social care research
  • other studies using social sciences methodology and not involving any clinical interventions or changes to clinical care.

The Social Care REC is appointed by the Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) and forms part of the National Research Ethics Service.  Its membership and expertise have been developed to reflect the social care context.  It has adopted the NRES SOPs.


Social care research in Wales and Northern Ireland is reviewed by RECs in those countries.  The Social Care REC may review social care research taking place in England and another UK country.  Where the project involves adults lacking capacity in Scotland as well as England/Wales, separate review is required by the Scotland A REC.

Where research falls within the remit of the Social Care REC, researchers are strongly encouraged to apply directly to the Social Care REC.  Please contact the Social Care REC Co-ordinator with any queries about the appropriate source of review.
 
Where applications are accepted for review by the Social Care REC, they do not then require separate review by another REC within the NRES.

All applications to the Social Care REC should be prepared using IRAS.


The Social Care REC

The Social Care REC reviews applications involving the social care sector (e.g. in local authority, private and voluntary care settings) that would not otherwise have access to ethical review, or which cross sector boundaries.  It generally expects to review the following types of study:
 
1.    Social care studies funded by Department of Health.
  • Research commissioned directly through the Policy Research Programme.
  • Information Centre (IC) studies (i.e. those to be designed by IC for implementation by Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities, who do not then individually need to seek additional review).
  • Studies commissioned by or through National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Social Care Research.
  • Social care studies funded (in rare cases) through NIHR.
2.    Social care research that involves people lacking capacity in England and Wales and requires approval under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The Social Care REC is recognised by the Secretary of State as an Appropriate Body for this purpose.

3.    Social care research involving sites in England and another United Kingdom country.

4.     ‘Own account’ research undertaken by Councils with social services responsibilities, where the Chief Investigator and/or sponsor feels there are substantial ethical issues.

5.    Studies where investigators do not have access to other review systems. This could
include service user-led research. 

6.    Studies taking place in NHS settings with NHS patients or service users where the approach to data collection uses social science or qualitative methods, provided that the research does not involve any clinical interventions or changes to clinical care.  A study collecting patients’ views of care and treatment through structured questionnaires or qualitative interviews would be an example of this type of study.