NCF Research Partnerships
Our vision – research with the sector, for the sector, by the sector
The NCF wants the care sector to be more at the centre of social care research, shaping research priorities around the needs of people using services, their families and staff – research with the sector by the sector for the sector
To do this we need to explore more creative and mutually beneficial relationships between the care sector and the research community.
This will strengthen the evidence base and enhance its translation into best practice and innovation.
We must ensure recognition and funding is built in to recognise and enable the active participation of care providers, their workforce and the people receiving care and support and their relatives.
The NCF values excellent research which provides high quality evidence to support development and innovation in social care. We welcome opportunities to work with the research community in mutually beneficial partnerships.
How we can help
- by helping to shape research priorities around the rights and needs of service users, relatives and staff
- by co-creating funding applications with researchers from the outset
- by discussing and exploring the issues the care sector believes are the most pressing and will create the best impact
- by exploring more creative and mutually beneficial partnerships to strengthen the evidence base and methods for its translation into best practice and innovation.
To do this, we can help foster a better understanding of the context of care settings, greater respect for and valuing of care staff expertise, and a real desire to work in partnership with care homes to enhance the quality of life for those living, dying, visiting and working in them.
Current research projects
Want to know more about NCF?
Read our blog Learning the lessons from COVID-19 to enrich research relationships with care homes
To add:
- key messages on why people should work with us
- quotes from orgs/ members we’ve worked with etc.
Our principles for working with the research community
We want to work in full, meaningful partnership to explore and shape research questions which will have impact on people and quality of care.
This means:
- Shaping research priorities for the social care sector
- Early input into the design of research projects or programmes
- Co-creating funding applications with researchers from the outset
- Realistic costings for NCF time and expertise
- Ongoing input into the analysis of emerging findings, including testing with NCF members in open dialogue
- A clear role in the interpretation of the final findings and key messaging
- Active dissemination across the wider care sector and other key strategic stakeholders to create impact.
Underpinning our approach to research is a firm belief that there needs to be a better understanding of the context of care settings, greater respect for and valuing of care staff expertise, and a real desire to work in partnership with the care sector homes to enhance the quality of life for everybody.
Work with us
Please get in touch with us if you are:
- A researcher interested in partnering with us;
- A funder of research interested in talking with us;
- An NCF member with are research idea or wanting get involved with an ongoing NCF project;
- A sector organisation looking to publish research and interested in collaborating with us.
; 
