Research in the NHS - Human Resources (HR) Good Practice Resource Pack
The Research in the NHS - Human Resource (HR) Good Practice Resource Pack describes the Research Passport system. The scheme streamlines procedures associated with issuing honorary research contracts or letters of access to researchers who have no contractual arrangements with NHS organisations who host research, and who carry out research in the NHS that affects patient care, or requires access to NHS facilities.
The Department of Health recommends the "Research Passport" to the NHS, to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and to other research employers working in partnership with the NIHR. The
UKCRC Partners endorse the routine use of the Research Passport.
The resource pack was initially developed with extensive support from the NHS R&D Forum working with DoH partners in the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC). The package sets out guidance and good practice standards, underpinned by standard documentation, so that individual NHS bodies can be confident that the process used to carry out criminal record and other checks on honorary researchers is in line with NHS Employment Check Standards. If an NHS body is in any doubt about these checks it should take the action it considers necessary to confirm them.
Following a systematic roll-out of its implementation in England, supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Networks, the HR resource pack has been refined to reflect feedback from users of the scheme, including researchers, HR in the NHS and University sectors. The pack has also been amended to take account of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.
This Good Practice Resource Pack consists of:
- a Research Passport system for HEI researchers who need to undertake their research within NHS organisations, which provides evidence of the pre-engagement checks undertaken on that person in line with NHS Employment Check Standards; and
- standardised procedures for issuing Honorary Research Contracts (HRCs) or Letters of Access (LoAs), in line with the nature of the researchers’ activity, and the NHS and / or employer’s responsibility for that activity
- standardised procedures for handling HR arrangements for NHS and HEIs researchers who need to work across one or more NHS organisations
The Research Passport system and associated procedures have been developed in parallel with the development of the Integrated Research Application System and other arrangements across the UK to streamline the arrangements for obtaining permission for research from NHS organisations.
You can go directly to specific areas of the HR Resource Pack by clicking on the links below. You can also use the
interactive routemap to gain an overview of how the scheme operates for University and NHS Researchers.
The Government's review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) and criminal records regime published
In its programme for government, the coalition committed to reviewing the VBS to scale it back to common sense levels. The review has now been published and the government has announced provisions to revise its vetting and barring arrangements, to ensure fair and proportionate regulation of those who want to work with vulnerable groups. The provisions are set out in the Protection of Freedoms Bill which was presented to Parliament on 11 February 2011. The key provisions are:
- to maintain a barring function
- to abolish registration and monitoring requirements
- to redefine the requirements of 'regulated activities'
- to abolish 'controlled activities'
In parallel with the review of the VBS, a separate but aligned review of the broader criminal records regime was undertaken. The recommendations from that review include that criminal records checks should be portable (transferable) between jobs and activities and that an online system is introduced to allow employers to check if updated information is held on an applicant.
When will the changes be implemented?
The report on the review of the VBS sets out the timetable for implementation. Subject to Parliament, the Protection of Freedoms Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent in November 2011. Commencement of provisions would begin in 2012.
What does this mean for researchers and their employers and those currently using the HR Good Practice Guidance?
Safeguarding regulations introduced in October 2009 continue to apply. Until further notice, researchers and their employers should continue to follow the guidance in the interim update below.
Research passport algorithm of research activity and pre-engagement checks
This update reflects NHS Employers' interim guidance pending further announcements on the remodelling of the Scheme. Please note, the HR Good Practice Resource Pack was developed in line with the expectation that applications for Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) registration could be submitted from the 26 July 2010, therefore certain aspects of HR Good Practice Resource Pack that relate to ISA registration, are not applicable at this time.
The NIHR Comprehensive Local Research Networks (CLRNs) are supporting the implementation of this guidance across HEIs and the NHS in England. If you have any questions, in the first instance, please contact the Lead RM&G Manager of your local CLRN. Further information is also available from Jacqueline Mathews, NIHR Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre at jacqueline.n.mathews@nihr.ac.uk.
HR Good Practice
The Research Passport
Frequently asked questions
Example documents
Background information
Links