1. Quality Assurance Framework
Tower Hamlets
Quality Assurance Framework
for Community Research
4th July 2018

2. Quality Assurance Framework
The main objectives of the quality assurance framework are:
To underpin community research/insights activities carried out by LBTH CRs and assure that the process and product is robust
To establish minimum requirements and standards with commissioners when drawing up project delivery plans. This can also inform specifications when commissioning community insights/ research projects.
To have wider application and to be shared as best practice with other stakeholders in the Borough who are commissioning/undertaking community research/ insights activities
Development of a Standards Framework for Community Insights Research Team
A set of guidelines for research commissioners to ensure community research is a genuinely participative process

3. Work Carried Out Brief literature review Interviews with commissioners
A Community Researchers Workshop
A Community Organisations Workshop
A Co-Design Workshop for all parties
Analysis

4. What was needed? A Statement of Commitment towards Community Research
A commitment to Co-Production and Partnership for Community Research
A Pre-research and Process Checklist
A Series of Guidance
E.g. An Ethics Checklist & Guidance for Methods for Research
Evaluation Framework for Community Research

5. Brief literature review initial findings
No Quality Assurance Frameworks for community research or community researchers were found
One standard for community engagement was found which may benefit the evaluation
The evidence is generally of low quality (observational studies, reports, expert opinion, anecdotal evidence, etc)
There may be enough detail to create an ethical checklist for community researchers and commissioners
Only some very limited evidence was found on problems relating to sampling, representativeness and generalisability in community research. This may allow us to make general statements on how to deal with these issues within any QAF
No evidence relating to validity was found. If it is necessary, this may need a further search
A few documents discussed what is good research or what is involved in community research
There was nothing on indicators or assessments of good community research practice
Eight organisations using community researchers were found

6. Need for a Statement of Commitment towards Community Research
A celebration and recognition of the history of community research
A belief that community research give the community a stronger voice in influencing strategy, policy, commissioning and service design for beneficial and impactful change
A belief that community research add value above other types of research in its ability to access and speak with the community
A commitment to creating and refining the processes and mechanisms needed to include the community voice to influence strategy, policy and commissioning
A commitment to involving all parts of the community in the community research process and in identifying and mitigating barriers that may prevent certain members of the community from being involved
A commitment to adequately training and supporting community researchers, commissioners of community research, and other relevant staff and volunteers, in all aspects of the community research process
A commitment to using co-production to work in partnership with all sections of the TH's community
A commitment to feedback to the community affected by the community research
A commitment to be clear about expectations around any piece of community research
A commitment to building a community insights network

7. Guidance
Methods Guidance: Recommendations for what methods to use in what circumstances
Ethics Checklist
What to include in an introduction or background to the community research for the community
What to include in a Review Meeting
How will research be conveyed to wider audience? Report structure and style recommendations
GDPR: clear instruction on the obligations
Referrals: Onward referral for people in community who need support
Evaluation Process

8. Pre-Research & Process Checklist
Category
Example
Preliminary Information
Has a background or introduction to the research been created?
Are expectations for this research clear and clearly explained?
Time Line
What are the review meeting dates? - what will be included in each review meeting?
Checking the Repository
Has check been made in CIN Repository that research hasn't already been done? Method(s) of interview
Target Community
What is the Target Population?
What is the sample size required?
Risks and Ethics
Has the Ethics Checklist been used?
Process
Is a literature review required?
Who will do the analysis?
Training
Is training needed for community researchers?
Reporting
What is the Report Structure and Style that will be used?
Feedback and Validation
Feedback –when will it take place; to whom; by what method?
Evaluation
Who will carry out the evaluation?