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Calls and Competitions: policy research programme

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INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE RCGP PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER ACCREDITATION SCHEME

The Department of Health’s Policy Research Programme invites applications to undertake an evaluation of the RCGP Primary Medical Care Provider Accreditation Scheme

Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review has stated the Government’s support for provider accreditation schemes such as the PMCPA scheme being developed by the Royal College of GPs with funding from the Department of Health. A team at the National Primary Care R&D Centre, University of Manchester, is undertaking an internal evaluation for the RCGP at pilot sites within four PCTs. The DH is now seeking to commission an independent evaluation to inform decisions regarding roll-out of provider accreditation schemes at a national level.

The evaluation will assess the experience of preparing for and undergoing the PMCPA scheme in the pilot sites and the impact on clinical practice, organisation, human and financial resources, and stakeholder relationships. Overall, the DH is looking for evidence regarding the extent to which an accreditation scheme of this kind can have sustainable benefits for participants and stakeholders. This will need to be an intensive piece of work, completed within a six-month period.

To see a copy of the research specification, please follow this link

EVALUATION OF TB FIND AND TREAT PROGRAMME

The Department of Health’s Policy Research Programme invites applications to undertake an evaluation of the TB Find and Treat programme.

The evaluation should cover:

• estimation of the public health impact of the programme



• cost effectiveness



• assessment of the direct impact of the pilot on services

Further details are given in the research specification.

Please ensure that if you downloaded a draft version of the research specification from this site (prior to the official launch of this tender on 8th August 2008) that you refer to the final research specification (link below) when making your application.

A Registration of Interest (ROI) is required by 5.00pm on Friday 19 September 2008. As soon as an ROI is received, you will automatically be able to download application forms and submit a full proposal. The deadline for receipt of full applications is 5.00pm on Thursday 2 October 2008.

To see a copy of the research specification, please follow this link

To see a copy of annex 1 to the research specification, please follow this Link

RESEARCH ON ABUSE, NEGLECT AND LOSS OF DIGNITY IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE OF OLDER PEOPLE

The Department of Health’s Policy Research Programme in collaboration with Comic Relief invites full proposals for research into the abuse, neglect and loss of dignity of older people in institutional care.

A number of specific areas where research is required are listed in the research brief, and include the following:

• to increase our knowledge of the prevalence of abuse and neglect of older people in institutional care;



• to improve our understanding of the context, causes and impact of abuse, neglect and/or loss of dignity in institutional settings, from the perspectives of all centrally involved;



• to provide the evidence to help develop effective ways of preventing, identifying and responding to abusive, neglectful or disrespectful relationships between residents and staff in institutional settings.

An online Registration of Interest (ROI) is required by 12 noon Monday 23 June 2008. Applicants will be notified of the outcome in the week commencing Monday 7 July 2008 and successful applicants will be asked to download application forms and submit a full proposal. The deadline for receipt of full applications is 5.00pm Wednesday 27 August 2008.

For further information please follow this link link

A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL TO EVALUATE THE FAMILY NURSE PARTNERSHIP IN ENGLAND

The Department of Health wishes to invite full proposals to undertake a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) in England.

The FNP is a joint Department of Health/Department for Children, Schools and Families programme. It is testing a model of intensive nurse-led home visiting developed in the USA for vulnerable first time young parents. Specially trained Family Nurses visit parents from early pregnancy until the child is two years old. They build therapeutic relationships with pregnant women and, where possible, involve their families and partners in order to improve pregnancy outcomes, child health and development and parents’ economic self-sufficiency.

In March 2007, local testing started in 10 sites in England delivering FNP. The government has recently provided funds to support expansion and evaluation of the FNP. A Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) is now needed to assess the effectiveness of the FNP in England compared with existing universal services provided during pregnancy and in the first years of life.

Funds in the order of £4 million (including VAT) are available to support this evaluation, which is expected to start in late summer 2008 and to be completed by December 2012.

Applications must be submitted through the NIHR-CCF website no later than 17.00 on Friday 06 June 2008.

For further information please follow this link