Purpose

To date the two research and evaluation officers have had considerable impact. Within the HDRC we invested in an approach to knowledge management using the Open Science Zenodo platform to ensure our outputs are discoverable and preserved long term. Outputs from their work is already within Zenodo. Within the HDRC, we also find that project work seeds other projects and supports our ability to apply for further funding. Again, the postholders have supported grant capture. These posts are a considerable asset to the team helping to support evidence informed practice and policy (including contributing to the knowledge base by publishing) and developing evaluative capacity across the team.

Decision

Health Determinants Research Collaboration HDRC Doncaster houses (recruitment, academic supervision, pastoral support) two PH Research and Evaluation Officers funded via earmarked reserves from the PH grant. These posts are fixed term until March 2027, and the post holders are line managed within specific PH themes. Their work is allocated in negotiation with theme lead and via our HDRC Help system. We intend to extend these posts to the end of March 2029 (cost £186,235.67 from the PH grant)to ensure evaluative capacity across the whole Public Health team. Additional funding to support the development of the post holders will come from the HDRC grant.

Alternative options considered

Ending the fixed term contract as an alternative option was rejected as there is a need within the PH team to undertake and evaluative research and there has been considerable investment to nurture these early career researchers.