Once you've received a favourable opinion from our Research Ethics Panel, make sure you've:
- completed any unfulfilled conditions, such as acting on Information Governance’s response and ensuring your team’s health and safety assessment has been updated
- checked all staff have completed the required training and checks, for example safeguarding and Prevent training, lone working policy and or a DBS check
- put in place the mitigation found in the final agreed plan, for example the safety protocols, debriefing and the mechanisms to monitor the project and researcher conduct
- prepared the ways to collect information from public involvement collaborators, participants and project staff about their experience of taking part
- fully briefed the research and evaluation staff in the safety protocols and reporting of safeguarding issues, the materials, and how to deliver the project according to the reviewed and agreed plan. For example, how to obtain permission from participants, the questions you will ask and how you will seek feedback
Once all conditions are complete, you may start your participant recruitment and data collection.
The lead advisor will also contact you to find out your views on the support you have received from the Essex County Council Research Ethics Panel. Your feedback helps us improve the guidance, training and support available.
Tell us about significant changes or challenges
While you will have plans in place, unexpected issues can arise.
If you need to make changes or want advice, email research@essex.gov.uk and your lead advisor.
Incidents or complaints
If there are any incidents or complaints, let us know what happened and how you responded. Your feedback helps us improve and make sure projects are delivered responsibly.
If serious concerns are raised about staff conduct during a project, our Research Ethics Panel may ask the project lead or project sponsor to explain what happened. The project might need to pause while this is reviewed. If the panel finds the project is being run unethically, such as putting participants or researchers at risk, it can withdraw its favourable outcome, and the project must stop or be suspended.
Appeal the decision
You can appeal this decision, but make sure that you agree this with the project sponsor before doing so.
To appeal, send an email Subject: APPEAL [project title] [Our project reference number] to: research@essex.gov.uk, outlining the reasons why your project should be reconsidered.