
Background
In the past, there was no clear, national guidance on the procedures for handling HR arrangements for researchers in the NHS. In many cases Honorary Research Contracts (HRC) were being issued inappropriately, resulting either in a lack of clarity about liability or waste of resources and the NHS accepting liability inappropriately, depending on whether they were under or over used. Pre-engagement checks were also being performed unnecessarily, resulting in delay and waste of resources.
In response to this situation, standardised procedures, including a Research Passport system, have been introduced.
The procedures, amongst other things, involve NHS Trusts placing reliance - provided certain requirements are met - on existing pre-engagement checks, CRB disclosures and occupational health clearances.
The new procedures will feed into the NIHR Coordinated System for gaining NHS Permission (CSP).
Procedures
The procedure to be followed will differ depending on the status of the investigator.
Investigators with a substantive employment contract or honorary clinical contract with an NHS organisation
Investigators in this category will not need to go down the Research Passport route and do not do not require an HRC.
The investigator will only require a letter of access from the NHS Trust hosting the research. Investigators / teams should speak to the R&D department at the NHS Trust(s) that will be hosting the research. The host NHS Trust(s) will cooperate with the employing NHS Trust to arrange letters of access. The host NHS Trust(s) may request that additional pre-engagement checks (CRB clearance, occupational health clearance etc) be carried out.
Investigators with no contractual relationship with the NHS
Investigators in this category will need to go down the Research Passport route.
The Investigator should complete a Research Passport Form, obtaining the necessary signatures from the appropriate departments at his/her employer, and send the research passport form along with supporting documentation to the R&D department at the host Trust. The host Trust will review the form and may request that additional pre-engagement checks (CRB clearance, occupational health clearance etc) be carried out. If the research will have a direct bearing on quality of care, an HRC will be issued. If the research will not have a direct bearing on quality of care, a letter setting out the researcher’s responsibilities and allowing access to patients will be issued.
Investigators who are students
Investigators in this category will not be required to go down the research passport route and do not need an HRC if their research is part of a healthcare placement and they will be supervised. Student investigators who have a professional qualification (e.g. doctor, nurse etc) and will not be supervised must proceed via the Research Passport route to get an HRC.
Research Passport
The Research Passport is essentially an application form that provides information regarding the researcher and the research process involved in the study to the NHS Trust hosting the research. This information will enable the Trust to decide whether reliance can be placed on existing checks before issuing an HRC or letter setting out the researcher’s responsibilities and allowing access to patients. The Research Passport will be presented, along with supporting documentation, to every Trust that the researcher wishes to conduct research in. It is important to note that the Research Passport does not obviate the need for a researcher to obtain an HRC, or letter setting out the researcher’s responsibilities and allowing access to patients, from each Trust. It is simply intended to speed up the process and reduce the need for fresh pre-engagement checks.
Additional information
More detailed information can be found about the Research Passport and the implementation of the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) on the NIHR CRN CC Research Passport web page.
You can also visit www.isa-gov.org.uk to find out more about VBS.
Contacts
| Trust | Name | Telephone | Email | |
| Bedford Hospital NHS Trust | Dr Mohammad Wasil | 01234 355122 ext 5855 | ||
| Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care Partnership Trust | Nicole Stokoe | 01582 709085 | ||
| Bedfordshire PCT | Viv Shaw | 01223 725466 | ||
| Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | ||||
| Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust | Natercia Godinho | 01223 746145 | ||
| Cambridgeshire PCT | Viv Shaw | 01223 725466 | ||
| Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust | Vikki Hughes | 01480 364821 | ||
| Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Diana Hardy | 01582 718243 | ||
| Luton Teaching PCT | Viv Shaw | 01223 725466 | ||
| Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Sophie Jackson | 01480 364388 | | |
| Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Anne Shipp | 01733 874036 | ||
| Peterborough PCT | Viv Shaw | 01223 725466 | ||
| The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust | Ann Osborne | 01553 613792 | ||
| West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust | Dr Hester Goddard | 01284 712790/01480 364181 | | |
| University | Name | Telephone | Email | |
| Anglia Ruskin University | Julie Scott | 0845 1964210 | | |
| Cranfield University | Elspeth Shepherd | 01234 750111 ext 5587 | | |
| University of Bedfordshire | Anne-Marie Kinsella | 01582 743894 | | |
| University of Cambridge | ||||
Last updated: 20 January 2010