Changes to the Local Clinical Research Network (LCRN) Contractual Requirements

There have been some recent changes to the contractual requirements that must be in place by October 2018 to enable the LCRN to provide funding or resource to organisations to directly support the delivery of National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) portfolio research.

The Performance Operating Framework 2018/19, which exists between the West Midlands CRN Host organisation (Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust) and the NIHR Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre (CRNCC) (and therein the Department of Health and Social Care), confirms the requirement to implement a sub-contract arrangement with any providers of health and social care services that receive an allocation of LCRN funding.

In order to comply with the host contract, we will be issuing a DHSC approved contract, described as a "Partner B" or "Partner C" contract. The contract to be used is dependent on the level of CRN funding to be received at each site. We are currently customising the contracts for each site and will be issuing these shortly via a member of the CRN team, who will liaise with you to get these signed ASAP to ensure that funds can continue to be released. This will more than likely be the Research Facilitators or Research Nurses with whom you regularly communicate, however we appreciate that some organisations receive funding without CRN support and these organisations will also need to have contracts in place to enable them to receive payment. We appreciate that these are legal contracts, however please note the contracts cannot be amended or altered in any way.

If you require further information, please contact your locality Research Manager:

Sue Elwell – sue.elwell@nihr.ac.uk

Louise Jones – louise.jones@nihr.ac.uk

Jenny Stevens – jenny.stevens@nihr.ac.uk