Giving a voice to survivors of domestic abuse
This session will showcase our research with survivors of domestic abuse and how we worked closely with local partners to engage with diverse cohorts. It will also demonstrate the importance of providing choice to participants in terms of ways to share their views. We will also consider the importance of researcher wellbeing, and the value of being part of a community of practice group with peers in other local authorities.
Poppy Reece, Senior Researcher & Maura O’Malley, Researcher, Essex County Council

Changing the culture: exploring research capacity in local government
Local government is ideally placed for addressing health inequalities and influencing the health of individuals and communities in England. Yet, there are very limited research systems that exist within local government to support their ability to create and synthesis the evidence needed for preventative and public health interventions. This session will share the findings of two research studies conducted in neighbouring local authorities in the north of England. Both studies used an Embedded Research approach to data collection. This approach has been used in other work as a mechanism to facilitate understanding of the cultures of local government
Delegates will learn a range of short, medium and long term actions that could support them to developing a sustainable research system within their local authority. Thus, having the potential to impact on the health of residents and reducing health inequalities. The session will highlight implications for local government and how to reconfigure the relationship between research, evidence and decision-making in public health.
The session will also share a summary of the embedded research approach and its potential to provide a boundary spanning role between local government and academic institutions.
Dr Catherine Homer, Senior Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University & Dr Susan Hampshaw, Head of Service (Public Health Delivery), Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council