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Policy Engagement Week
In June 2022 we held a Policy Engagement Week across the Emerging Minds Network.
The week began with a workshop day for our early career researchers taking part in the GROW researcher development programme, and culminated in an Open Lab focused on responding to the UK Government’s call for evidence for their new 10-year mental health plan, facilitated by Professor Cathy Creswell.
During the week we also ran a campaign on Twitter including:
- Guest tweet threads from a range of perspectives (including policy maker, third sector, researcher) on how best to engage with policy
- Advice from our Open Lab event around breaking down barriers to engaging with the government call for evidence
- Conversation starters inviting people to share their experiences, frustrations, best practice, and barriers to engaging with policy
You can catch up with all the content from the week over @EmergingMindsUK on Twitter or by searching for the hashtag #PolicyEngagementWeek.
And we’ve pulled together some of the best advice from the week below – do take a look.
The Policy Sector Perspective
Top tips from Claire Robson, a public health specialist
On Monday our GROW programme ECRs heard from Claire Robson, who works at the interface of policy making, research, and practice in public health. We’re thrilled she’s agreed to share some of her advice more widely for #PolicyEngagementWeek 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/XaJNwUugMo
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
➡️Consider the world view or disciplinary perspective of the policy makers you are seeking to engage with⬅️
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
E.g.: public health orgs often use a complex systems approach (https://t.co/nhyYgtVQUE) so you need to locate your research/intervention into the wider architecture. [2/6]
➡️Policy makers are interested in the fullest evidence base possible⬅️
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
Think triangle: review the literature and data out there, AND link to current practice and experiences of commissioners in the system, AND back it up with the current views of CYP. [3/6]
➡️Stand in the shoes of policy makers and practitioners – what do they need?⬅️
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
Build a forum with representation from policy, practice, and research – check in, listen to different approaches, and be open to challenge. [4/6]
➡️Take time to understand the language used by the policy makers you are trying to influence⬅️
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
Often policy makers and researchers are talking about the same thing but using different language – you need to connect your vision to *their* organising principles. [5/6]
➡️Check in with the “six policy tests”⬅️
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
1) Why does this matter? 2) What are you really trying to achieve? 3) Will it actually work? 4) Have you been imaginative enough? 5) What do the people who matter think? 6) What does the evidence say? [6/6]
The Third Sector Perspective
Top tips from Kadra Abdinasir, Associate Director for Children and Young People’s Mental Health, Centre for Mental Health
Today's #PolicyEngagementWeek perspective comes from @Kadra_A_, who leads the policy and research work on CYP @CentreforMH. She'll be sharing some top tips on how to use your research to influence policy. Over to Kadra! 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/LCfrxMjYjm
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 15, 2022
Right, you’ve completed your study – now what?
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 15, 2022
➡️Take some time to reflect on your findings and distil the key messages for policy audiences as succinctly as possible.⬅️
This may include changes needed in the short to long term, or change at the national or local level. 2/6
Building relationships with key policymakers is vital to provide you opportunities to proactively shape policy.
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 15, 2022
➡️Map out and get to know those most relevant to your work early on.⬅️
This could include civil servants, MPs, local Cllrs, and other key orgs within the sector. 3/6
There is a growing and much welcome focus on the role of lived experience in policy-making.
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 15, 2022
➡️Where possible, consider ways to involve people with lived experience in translating the findings and identifying policy solutions.⬅️
You can do this via a workshop, for example. 4/6
➡️Look into the future and horizon scan. Keep up with emerging trends and developments as they can help us prepare for future changes.⬅️
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 15, 2022
For example, we know we’ll live with the effects of the pandemic for some time; which areas of policy are emerging studies pointing to? 5/6
➡️How you communicate your findings is important. Consider producing a policy briefing or blog that provides a clear summary of your research and conclusions.⬅️
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 15, 2022
Take this a step further by producing engaging social media content to attract a wider audience and build support. 6/6
The Research Sector Perspective
Top tips from Professor Cathy Creswell, University of Oxford
Our #PolicyEngagementWeek researcher perspective comes from @Cathy_Creswell, Professor of Developmental Clinical Psychology @topic_group @UniofOxford. Here are her Top Tips for engaging with policy as a researcher 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/Btn3JYNcZY
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
1. Think about policy implications from the start; when you are designing the project consider who will need to be on board in order to make use of this research.
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
2. Get the key people/organisations involved throughout; this may be as collaborators or if they don't have capacity can they join a study steering/advisory group?
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
3. Make use of support within your institution; for an example see https://t.co/8FTPvsnxSj @UniofOxford
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
Open Lab Advice
Breaking down barriers to engaging with the UK Government call for evidence from the Emerging Minds team
We've just had a great #PolicyEngagementWeek #OpenLab focused on responding to the @DHSCgovuk call for evidence for the new UK 10-year MH plan.
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
You might feel there are a lot of barriers to getting involved, but we’re hoping we can dispel that feeling – tips below 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/AUuJ4vvu8c
The questions aren’t applicable to me:
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
There’s a really broad range of qs from promoting positive mental wellbeing to supporting people in crisis. You don’t have to answer them all – pick the ones that feel closest to your passions, experience and expertise. [2/8] pic.twitter.com/nNDgDBNkhD
I don’t work in the NHS:
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
A lot of the questions ask “how can *we all…*” – the new MH plan is not limited to the NHS. Think local authorities, education providers, employers, voluntary sector, community groups, family… we can all play a role in improving mh across the UK. [3/8]
I’m new to my field/haven’t published:
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
Have confidence in your own experience – so many people will be contributing from such a wide area, don’t feel you need to cover everything or find every paper. What you do know, and what you are passionate about, is meaningful. [4/8]
I’m not sure how to write my answer:
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
Keep your answers accessible, you don’t need to write in academic style – informal, punchy, bullet points are all fine. Assert your point, and then offer concise evidence (description or direct links) to back it up if you can. [5/8]
I don’t have any research to back up my thoughts:
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
Think of "evidence" in the broadest sense – papers are great, but so is lived experience, clinical experience, news articles, things you’ve heard, links to current guidelines in your field and pointing out the gaps… [6/8]
I don’t have enough time:
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
It’s better to submit something than nothing. Even half an hour sharing a few bullet points adds to the collective jigsaw puzzle of evidence and priorities. How about you block out space in your diary right now? “Perfection is the enemy of done!” [7/8]
Remember you can contribute to the @DHSCgovuk call for evidence until July 7th – have your say on the future of MH in the UK. Our collective body of evidence could make a real difference.
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
You can find links to all the govt guidance on our website: https://t.co/f6zYymjbvD [8/8]
Conversation Starters
Questions to get you thinking about your experiences engaging with policy - you can join in the conversation over on Twitter by clicking the tweet.
Let’s get #PolicyEngagementWeek going with our first conversation starter – do share your thoughts!
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 13, 2022
????How can we best engage policy makers with #MentalHealth research????? pic.twitter.com/FR8pCHNcXT
Here’s our next #PolicyEngagementWeek conversation starter – we'd love you to share your thoughts to help inspire others.
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 15, 2022
????What great examples of engaging policy makers with research have you seen or been part of????? pic.twitter.com/hQsgUvbb1G
Here’s our last conversation starter for #PolicyEngagementWeek:
— Emerging Minds Network (@EmergingMindsUK) June 17, 2022
What is the *one thing* you want the @DHSCgovuk to include in their new 10-year mental health plan for the UK? pic.twitter.com/g36VaJHXBX