Research User Group newsletter 2019 RUG newsletter FINAL version 30.10.19 | Page 8

8 NATIONAL STANDARDS
You said: That this CTU guide was
really good for more experienced
members but might over face newer
members who had no previous
experience and had only been
recruited for their ‘expertise by
experience’ so their experience of
living with the condition being
researched.
We did: We also produced a shorter
version – one side of an A4 for
newer members
You said: Some members who are
co-applicants found it hard to be
involved in conversations around
budgeting for PPIE within a new
project
We did: We produced a short simple
guide to budgeting for new co-
applicants and a guide to the role of
co-applicants
for
principle
investigators and chief investigators
alongside a CTU Guide for the co-
applicant role and a shorter version
for newer members
Robert Taylor
Standard 3. SUPPORT AND LEARNING
You said: Many members were confused over payments
for their time and expenses due to changes in the
university processes and changes in the benefits system.
We did: We worked with the National NIHR
INVOLVE payments group to update our ‘Rewards and
Recognition policy’ including inks to updated
information on the NIHR INVOLVE and Gov.UK
websites
We said: That PPIE team members felt that they and
RUG members needed more support managing their
emotional needs when working with groups involved in
projects such as mental health projects on suicide and
self-harm for example.
We did: We liaised with the Mental Health Research
Group lead and members of her team and the team from
the South Staffs Mental Health trust to discuss this. The
Mental Health research team said that they were happy
to provide support and have a debrief with anyone that
needed it after a meeting. We also approached the Keele
Student Counsellors who put together a presentation of
slides on ‘Mental health and the Research User
experience: Psychological perspective’ From all of the
information provided at these meetings we put together
a short list of ‘Practical tips for the PPIE team in being
aware of their own self-care and anticipating and
supporting RUG member’s emotional needs.
You said: It was really hard for new members coming
into projects for the first time and as you were aware
that the increasing number of project meetings could
not be covered by just the PPIE team anymore – could
we not use members of the Rug Steering Group as RUG
Buddies
We did: We worked with the steering group members to
create a RUG buddy role description alongside a set of
training slides on health and safety, diversity and
inclusion data collection, and confidentiality in
meetings for members undertaking this role.
There has been a mind switch around how we need everyone on board in an
organisation. That PPIE standards should not just be led by the PPIE team. It
should instead be a change in culture so that everyone reaches those standards
and the researchers actively get involved - Taken from the RUG Steering Group minutes