Charter for Public Involvement and Engagement

To outline our co-developed principles for Public Involvement & Engagement (PI&E) in the NIHR SPHR Public Mental Health Programme (PMH). We want to ensure the public’s perspectives are integral to the research, decision-making processes, and programme outcomes. These principles will be embedded consistently into PMH projects.

PI refers to actively involving individuals with lived experience of mental health issues, their families, carers, and the wider public as partners and valued team members in shaping the design, delivery, and dissemination of the NIHR SPHR PMH Programme.

PE can be defined as using a range of activities to communicate and share information about research with the public. This can include one-off discussions, raising awareness via the media and sharing research findings.

The NIHR has excellent guidance on PI&E standards:

• Inclusive Opportunities: Offer public involvement opportunities that are accessible and that reach people and groups according to research needs.
• Working Together: In a way that values all contributions, that builds and sustains mutually respectful and productive relationships.
• Support And Learning: Offer, promote and support learning opportunities that build confidence and skills for public involvement in research, particularly with vulnerable populations.
• Communications: Use plain language for well-timed and relevant impact.
• Impact: Seek improvement by identifying and sharing the difference that public involvement makes to research.
• Governance: Involve the public in research management, regulation, leadership and decision making

The NIHR also advises on co-production. We will be guided by these principles and features.

• Respect: All individuals treated with dignity, respect, and equality, irrespective of their background or circumstances.
• Collaboration: PI&E will be based on collaborative partnerships fostering mutual learning and shared decision-making.
• Transparency: Information on PMH’s activities, decision-making and outcomes communicated clearly to all research partners.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Research plans shaped by individuals from diverse backgrounds. Teams should attempt to recruit the broadest demographic possible.

6.1 Researchers and Practitioners

✓ Recognise the value of PI&E and actively seek public input at all stages.
✓ Provide clear information about the program’s objectives, activities, expected outcomes.
✓ Collaborate with the public to develop research questions, methodologies, and study designs and employ the public in renumerated roles.
✓ Feedback to public partners about how their input has been prioritised.
✓ If not possible to take a particular idea forward, offer clear explanations why, allowing for healthy discussion.
✓ Ensure research findings are disseminated in an accessible way.

6.2 Public Partners

✓ Engage in the programme’s activities – meetings, workshops, design discussions – based on interest and availability.
✓ Share experiences, insights, perspectives to shape the research agenda, implementation strategies, and evaluation processes.
✓ Provide feedback on research findings, dissemination plans, and recommendations for improving public mental health.
✓ Let researchers know if they no longer wish to take part. There is no obligation to provide a reason.

1. That everyone learns and benefits from the process
2. We work together carefully and safely
3. We create opportunities for power sharing
4. We expand the number of people who are working across the whole programme, ensuring a diversity of perspectives

Support for public partners within the PMH programme: The NIHR SPHR PMH will provide training and support to public contributors to enhance their understanding of research. Those working with vulnerable populations should set clear safe-guarding practices. Issues will be reported immediately to PMH safeguarding lead.

Support for researchers within the PMH programme:

• researchers who need help contact the PMH PI&E coordinator
• researchers to voluntarily attend reflective practice groups

The programme will allocate necessary resources to facilitate public involvement activities. Please note, not all public partners will be willing to accept payment and that this acceptable. Payments for PI&E will be clarified at the start of an involvement opportunity, administered using this guidance.

Please note, there is no nationally recommended rate of payment for PI activities. However, we aim to achieve consistency within the PMH programme, so suggest the NIHR reimbursement rate of £27.50 per hour.

Research teams will actively work towards finding ways to include people with diverse needs or restrictions on receiving payment for their input.

Communicate to researchers/public partners clear pathways to discuss challenges within the project team. 

An Impact Log has been co-created for all PMH research projects. It should be completed by the academic lead/host (or delegated other) after each piece of PI&E work or decision-making meeting. This should be collated and reviewed by the academics and public partners involved every six months. Results will improve practice across the programme, and individual projects.

Feedback mechanisms will be established to capture the experiences and suggestions of public partners, and academics, ensuring continuous learning and adaptation.

This charter will be reviewed and revised annually to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in promoting meaningful public involvement in the NIHR SPHR PMH.