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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2023-2026

Background

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) support applied health and care research that responds to, and meets, the needs of local populations and local health and care systems. ARCs also undertake implementation research to increase the rate at which research findings are implemented into practice.

There is a growing understanding of the inequitable distribution of the benefits and risks of health research, systematically impacting on particular communities and resulting in poor health outcomes.[1] This interacts with wider structural forces and exacerbates health inequalities.[2]  There is a role for ARCs to integrate principles of equity, diversity and inclusion within their function in order to generate high quality, impactful, relevant and insightful research outputs that are applicable to their local populations and beyond, and direct efforts towards and provide solutions to address systemic inequalities.

Inequalities are deeply embedded in many organisations and our society, impeding progress and achievement of excellence. Stigma, prejudice and discrimination are contributing factors, with structural racism, sexism, ableism and heteronormativity being widespread. Addressing these inequalities requires recognition, acknowledgement and action at multiple levels.

People from diverse backgrounds have historically been under-represented in the health and social care research talent pipeline. In addition to research participants, the NIHR has identified that the delivery of its Research Inclusion strategy will involve contribution and leadership relating to its professional services, research, and advisory workforce, and public contributors.[3] Similarly, ARCs impact upon these stakeholders internally and interface with and influence their partners externally, including NHS providers, universities, charities, local authorities, Health Innovation Networks and other organisations. As such, the ARC West Midlands Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy must encompass both its diverse functions and broad reach.

This document sets out the strategy for EDI for the NIHR ARC WM, to be executed now until the end of the current ARC WM (March 2026) and in preparation a subsequent bid beyond 2026.

This strategy was formulated using the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research (SPHR) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy as a basis; and complements the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands (ARC WM) Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) and Training and Capacity Development Plan. As we are funded by the NIHR, we have identified areas within their strategy that aligns with our own.

The ARC WM forms part of a wider research infrastructure, including the NIHR Birmingham BRC, SPHR, the NIHR School for Primary Care Research, the universities of Warwick, Birmingham and Keele, in addition to its partner institutions, including within the NHS. Each of these structures have their own EDI initiatives. With this strategy, we seek to complement and capitalise on existing and evolving EDI activities. We recognise that the ARC WM EDI remit will be defined by these external actors and will need continual evaluation and re-alignment.

Develop an EDI strategy that will facilitate:

  1. Generation of high quality, impactful and insightful research that is relevant to and serves the West Midlands population and beyond.
  2. Integration of EDI principles that addresses under-representation of people from diverse backgrounds in the ARC WM infrastructure.

Key terms used in this Strategy are provided in the Figure below.

Five boxes: 1. Diversity - respecting and valuing all forms of difference in individuals. (Definition adapted from Calvert et al.[4]) 2. Equity and equality - acknowledging and allowing for case-specific resource allocation for different individuals to reach the same outcomes. (Definition adapted from Calvert et al.[4]) 3. Inclusion - positively striving to meet different people's needs, deliberately creating respectful environments where everyone feels able to reach their potential. (Definition adapted from Calvert et al.[4]) 4. Underserved group - a group of individuals whose inclusion within research falls lower than expected from population estimates, their high healthcare burden is not matched by the volume of research designed for them, or their response or engagement with healthcare interventions is neglected compared to other groups. (Definition adapted from Morris et al.[5]) 5. Representative - Subgroups of people in included in research that contain all the elements of interest from a target population. (Definition adapted from Enticott et al.[6])

Definitions adapted from *Calvert et al.(4); **Morris et al.(5); ***Enticott et al.(6)

The Committee will develop the draft Strategy in consultation with the groups represented, for approval by the ARC WM Programme Management Group and Executive Steering Committee. The Committee will provide oversight of the Strategy and its delivery, highlight areas of success and identify where efforts are further required, making recommendations for action where appropriate.

The ARC WM EDI Committee endeavours to create a culture where barriers to participation can be raised freely. Reflection periods will be built in for the Committee to identify areas for discussion and update, address any concerns raised and develop mitigating structures and processes to ensure adherence to EDI principles irrespective of any personal characteristics.

The committee will meet once quarterly. Task and finish groups will be established where necessary to complete key points from the action plan. This will be deliberated within the Committee and actions will be allocated to Committee members with their agreement. Where funds are required, this will be decided in consultation with the ARC WM Programme Manager and Director.

Each year a report will be produced of key data and updates to report to the Programme Management Group and Executive Steering Committee.

The ARC WM forms part of a wider research infrastructure, including the NIHR Birmingham BRC, SPHR, the NIHR School for Primary Care Research, the universities of Warwick, Birmingham and Keele, in addition to its partner institutions, including within the NHS. Each of these structures have their own EDI initiatives. With this strategy, we seek to complement and capitalise on existing and evolving EDI activities. We recognise that the ARC WM EDI remit will be defined by these external actors and will need continual evaluation and re-alignment.

The ARC WM EDI Committee is chaired by the EDI Lead. Committee members are representatives from each Research Theme, PPIE, Training Capacity & Development, public contributors, the ARC WM Director, Programme Manager, and Head of Programme Delivery.

The ARC WM PPIE Lead and Engagement Manager will provide steer regarding alignment with ARC WM PPIE activity and strategy. Two members of the ARC WM Public Advisory Committee will join the Committee and will be recompensated in accordance with ARC WM PPIE payment policy.

The ARC WM EDI Strategy covers six areas relevant to ARC WM activities, namely Research Community, Research Projects, Research Participants, PPIE, External Stakeholder Engagement, and Monitoring and Reporting. A set of underlying principles and corresponding actions have been developed for each of the six areas.

The ARC WM forms part of a wider research infrastructure, including the NIHR Birmingham BRC, SPHR, the NIHR School for Primary Care Research, the universities of Warwick, Birmingham and Keele, in addition to its partner institutions, including within the NHS. Each of these structures have their own EDI initiatives. With this strategy, we seek to complement and capitalise on existing and evolving EDI activities. We recognise that the ARC WM EDI remit will be defined by these external actors and will need continual evaluation and re-alignment.

Principles:

  • The ARC WM research community should reflect the diversity of the local population.
  • There should be equitable access to join and be supported within the ARC WM research community.

 

Actions:

  • Assess ARC WM recruitment practices to expand reach and promote access to a diverse pool of candidates.
  • Broker access to local infrastructures (e.g. inclusive staff networks) to support ARC WM staff.
  • Support the delivery of the Training and Capacity Development plan.

Principles:

  • Ask research questions that are representative of public interests, prioritising the research interests those underserved by research.
  • Employ broader consultation processes that involve a degree of outreach, prior to seeking funding and throughout the research process.
  • Adopt inclusive research design.
  • Assess and respond to training needs.

 

Actions:

  • Support inclusive PPIE, working with the ARC WM PPIE Lead.
  • Use of ARC WM EDI website page to host methodological/research design resources that uphold EDI principles.
  • Undertake audit of ARC WM-funded research projects annually to assess integration of EDI principles.
  • Consult on research training needs via the Committee, working with the ARC WM Training and Capacity Development lead.

Principles:

  • Prioritise inclusion of diverse populations.
  • Consider research generalisability, quality, and equity.

 

Actions:

  • Use of ARC WM EDI website page to host methodological/research design resources that uphold EDI principles
  • Undertake audit of ARC WM-funded research projects annually to assess integration of EDI principles.
  • Consult on research training needs via the Committee, working with the ARC WM Training and Capacity Development lead.
  • Co-develop EDI data reporting strategy.

Principles:

  • Support inclusive PPIE
  • The cultural competence and/or representativeness of contributors of target populations should be considered.
  • Involvement and engagement should be inclusive, with an emphasis on outreach and those under-served by research.
  • Dissemination of ARC WM activities and research outputs should be accessible and inclusive of those underserved by research.

 

Actions:

  • Work closely with ARC WM PPIE activities.
  • Support involvement and engagement activities with emphasis on underserved communities.
  • Support formulation of accessible communications plan (including generation of plain language summaries, supporting alternative communication methods).

Principles:

  • ARC WM will demonstrate its leadership through its commitment to EDI.
  • ARC WM will contribute to and encourage the embedding of EDI principles in the local infrastructure and through its engagement with its partners.

 

Actions:

  • Include ARC WM EDI activities in communications with stakeholders.
  • Engage in relevant EDI activities within local research infrastructure.

Principles:

  • Examples of excellence in EDI in ARC WM should be celebrated.
  • Where possible, ARC WM EDI reporting will align with NIHR EDI reporting requirements.
  • EDI-related monitoring should be undertaken consultation with ARC WM colleagues.

 

Actions:

  • Undertake audit of ARC WM-funded research projects annually to assess integration of EDI principles.
  • Co-develop EDI data reporting strategy.
  • Explore implementation of EDI sections in proposals, protocols, and reporting.
  1. Coleman CH. Equitably Sharing the Benefits and Burdens of Research: Covid-19 Raises the Stakes. Ethics Hum Res. 2020; 42(5): 38-40.
  2. Davey F, McGowan V, Birch J, et al. Levelling up health: A practical, evidence-based framework for reducing health inequalities. Public Health Pract. 2022; 4: 100322.
  3. NIHR. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2027. NIHR; 2022.
  4. Calvert MJ, Cruz Rivera S, et al. Patient reported outcome assessment must be inclusive and equitable. Nat Med. 2022; 28(6): 1120-4.
  5. Morris L, Dumville J, Treweek S, et al. Evaluating a tool to improve engagement and recruitment of underserved groups in trials. Trials. 2022; 23: 867.
  6. Enticott JC, Shawyer F, Vasi S, et al. A systematic review of studies with a representative sample of refugees and asylum seekers living in the community for participation in mental health research. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2017; 17(1): 37.
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