Research governance and ethics for adult social care research: procedures, practices and challenges

The introduction of the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care by the Department of Health in 2001 extended the reach of research governance from the NHS, where reviewing arrangements were already well established, into universities and local authorities, who were requested in the guidance to introduce arrangements to ensure appropriate levels of ethical and methodological review. This paper describes the different structures and processes used by the NHS, universities and local authorities to meet the expectations of the Department of Health, and offers a critical analysis of some of the consequences – both problems and opportunities – that have resulted.