Collaborate with us
We want our research to be useful for as wide a range of people as possible. Meaningful public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE) and co-production are important approaches for our research team.
Our Community Advisory Panel provides opportunities for patients, service users and members of the publie to work with our research team, including the design, planning and delivery of this research programme.
We want to expand community representation on our research team, by working with more members of the public and people who have been diagnosed with STIs - please see our blog for more details.
To help reduce inequalities in experiences of sexual healthcare services and outcomes, we are committed to:
- Involving a wide range of people, and considering various experiences when we design, conduct and share findings about our research
- Improving our knowledge and understanding about what people need from an eSexual health clinic
- Increasing public awareness of sexual health service changes
- Sharing our research findings to a broad audience
- Encouraging conversation about our research areas and important topics
Collaborate with us
Our inclusive approach to SEQUENCE Digital means that we are growing a network of community members, including individual members of the public, representatives from community-based organisations and sexual health organisations.
Together, we hope to develop best practice for PPIE and co-production and to set a high standard for collaborative, inclusive sexual health research.
If you are interested in working with our team, please complete the form below and we will contact you to discuss opportunities to get involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s in it for me?
We hope that the opportunity to help improve sexual healthcare and reduce inequalities will be a reason to get involved. There is also a great opportunity to be involved in research which can have a real impact on services available to the public.
We value the input of our public contributors and we have co-developed a payment and recognition policy, in line with national guidelines to support people in being able to get involved in research.
Is there support available for community-based organisations to get involved?
We are committed to working with our sexual health sector stakeholders, and we value input from decision-makers & organisations that support the all round sexual health and wellbeing of people diagnosed with STIs and the people they have sexual contact with.
We offer support to community-based organisations who collaborate with us, as we want to help ensure that any co-production is mutually beneficial, that involvement does not take away from important community work and that the research experience is a positive one, for all.
What are the opportunities to be involved?
There are many opportunities to get involved in SEQUENCE Digital, here are a few:
- Attending workshops with our research team to co-develop research materials
- Co-producing programme outputs including explainer videos
- Providing feedback on documents
- Working with our research team to develop recruitment materials and strategies
For more information, please contact us.
How will you make sure this research is inclusive?
Our inclusive approach is overseen by Melvina Woode Owusu who leads on patient and public involvement and engagement. Melvina oversees all aspects of the programme including how we work with communities. She supports the research team to make sure that a diverse network of community members are represented at key points within the programme.
We have set up structural ways of working that will make sure that our approach is inclusive. These include:
- A community panel/network. This network brings together individuals and representatives from community based organisations with an interest in research and who work closely with community members at a grassroots level and/or who have a strategic insight into how digital technologies impact their communities.
- A public representative on our research team. Caroline co-creates and/or advises on research protocols, delivery methods and dissemination strategies, from a public perspective.
- A public representative on our Programme Board. David offers constructive challenge to our research team, supports us and shares his view about the research programme, from a public perspective and in consideration of public interests.
Together with our community network and public representatives, we look for opportunities throughout our research programme for involvement and engagement.
Why is inclusive working important to the SEQUENCE Digital research team?
The SEQUENCE Digital research team are focusing on Improving sexual health for all, in a digital NHS.
One of the risks when developing any new technology is that it may not be accessible and effective for a wide range of people. The gap between those who feel comfortable and able to use online healthcare services and those who do not, is known as a digital divide.
Involving lots of different types of people with varying experiences is essential to us being able to make a positive impact on the sexual health experiences and outcomes among a broad group of people.