Evaluating our progress as a Coventry HDRC
As Coventry HDRC, we are tracking our progress through an ongoing evaluation. Our evaluation helps us to understand what is changing because of the HDRC and how we can improve. Using methods like interviews, surveys, documentary analysis, observation, and case stories, we are using the findings to develop our next steps and share our learning.
Baseline assessment of the Coventry Health Determinants Research Collaboration
This study, carried out towards the beginning of the HDRC, was to find out how Coventry City Council was already involved in research, and to understand how the HDRC were working together. We carried out two surveys, with plans to repeat them in years 3 and 5 to track change.
In one survey, we asked people working at Coventry City Council about how research is being carried out and used at the Council. We also requested information about Council employees ' training, skills, and research experience. In the second survey, we asked people working in the HDRC how they felt the group was working together. For example, we asked members of the HDRC about communication, leadership, and respect in the HDRC. We analysed the findings from both surveys to know more about how things work at this early stage. We then came up with recommendations for how the HDRC should develop.
The survey helped the HDRC team ensure that plans would be more valuable and relevant to council teams. For example, training plans were developed to suit people with no previous research experience and other opportunities for people who have already completed courses. Around one quarter of council survey respondents had been involved in research in some way, highlighting ways the HDRC could maximise involvement. Work is ongoing to develop guidance around how to ethically carry out research, where clear communications will be important. Also, ongoing work is needed to raise awareness of the HDRC and available support.
Members of the HDRC collaboration reported positively about working together, the potential important benefits about the HDRC, and about leaders setting local direction. Areas to develop related to making sure there was enough time and opportunity for collaborators to come together and discuss plans, developments, and challenges as a team.
You can read the full report and survey findings on the NIHR open research portal.
Collaboration with 10 HDRCs to understand baseline assessments
Whilst we planned and delivered our Coventry baseline assessment, we collaborated with other HDRCs in a peer support group. We found this to be a valuable forum, and we decided to formally bring together and share our learning. Coventry led a publication involving 10 HDRCs to share reflections and findings from carrying out baseline assessments in local authority and HDRC contexts. Read the full publication here.
Phase 1 evaluation
Our phase 1 evaluation was carried out to understand what worked well during the Coventry HDRC’s first two years, what some of the difficulties were and why, and what the HDRC should do next to achieve its goals. To do this, we combined findings from surveys, interviews, focus groups, meeting observations, and document reviews. We analysed the data using a research method called framework analysis.
The findings were grouped into themes: building the team, collaboration, culture change, progress in priority research areas, routes to impact, and further funding. The findings showed that Coventry HDRC wanted to build strong foundations for research with the council and communities. There were significant achievements in setting up a collaborative team, building partnerships, and developing supportive tools and policies. Challenges included delays in recruitment, having enough time for the team to get together, and setting up new research processes, particularly because the HDRC was complex. Progress was sometimes slower than expected, because the team needed to solve these challenges before the right research could start to happen.
The findings highlight the importance of influential leadership and using data and research to tackle local priorities. Going into year three, Coventry is moving towards applying for research funding, involving diverse local communities, and creating lasting impact.
For more information, please get in touch via CoventryHDRC@coventry.gov.uk