Research Programme for Social Care (RPSC) Open Research
Research Programme for Social Care (RPSC) Open Research
About this Gateway
The NIHR's Research Programme for Social Care (RPSC), established in September 2023, funds research to improve social care service effectiveness, resource allocation, and outcomes for service users and caregivers across the UK. The Programme runs two researcher-led and one highlight notice funding calls annually. Please refer to the RPSC Logic Model for its aims and objectives.
The RPSC Open Research Gateway will operate as part of NIHR’s Open Research Platform, serving as a centralised repository for outputs from both the current RPSC and the former Research for Social Care (RfSC) funded projects. This Gateway facilitates the publication of both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed materials, all of which undergo internal review and quality assurance procedures. Materials subjected to external peer review include research articles, methodological articles, study protocols, and reviews. Materials undergoing internal review only may encompass project completion summaries, logic models, and case studies.
All RPSC funded projects are required to publish a 300-word project summary upon completion. This summary must be published within six months of the project’s final report's approval. All RfSC funded completed and active projects are encouraged to publish a project summary.
RPSC expects all projects to disseminate their primary research findings through publication in high-impact, discipline-relevant academic journals. The RPSC Gateway offers an additional platform for publishing peer-reviewed articles. In the event that the main findings remain unpublished two years following project completion, the RPSC Gateway reserves the prerogative to publish the research output. The RPSC Programme team will collaborate with the Principal Investigator to facilitate this process.
RPSC Gateway follows the NIHR Open Research Platform guidelines for material submission, publications, and data protection. We advise you to familiarise yourself with NIHR Open Research and ‘How To Publish’ section. The RPSC Programme team will support the researchers throughout the process.
Here are some frequently asked questions that researchers may ask about the RPSC Open Research Gateway:
Scope and Access
2. Is there any contractual obligation to publish in the Gateway?
All RPSC grantholders are contractually bound to publish a Plain English Summary (PES) of their projects within the 6 months of their final report approval.
3. What is the format of the Plain English Summary (PES)?
While there is no prescribed format or temp to follow for production of the Plain English Summary, it should cover the key aims, outcomes and potential impact (for people, commissioners/policy makers and practice as appropriate) of the programme, together with how patient and public involvement shaped and influenced this.
The PES should be a maximum of 500 words and follow the same principles and procedures for writing the plain English summary that accompanied your funding submission. For further guidance please see the NIHR Plain English Summaries resource.
The PES will not be peer-reviewed on the platform, and will not be indexed like standard articles. However, all summaries will get a DOI and viewing/downloading metrics. For more information on the summary publication process within NIHR Open Research please check the website.
4. How can researchers access the data, publications, and resources within the Gateway?
The Gateway is placed within NIHR Open Research, an open access platform, where all submissions including the summaries are openly and freely available.
5. What can the Gateway publish?
The Gateway can publish all kinds of standard output from research including academic articles, logic models, protocol papers, posters, and summaries. A list of the article types we publish can be found here. NIHR Open Research operates a post-publication open peer review model, you can find more information about how the model works here. Please note that NIHR Open Research has an open data policy, more information about this can be found here.
6. How can a researcher submit their own work or data to be included in the Open Research Gateway?
Researchers can submit their work in two ways. The compulsory summary submission will take place via the RPSC Programme Team. The Programme team will contact individual grant holders to work closely for the summary submission. These summaries are NIHR internal reviewed only.
Researchers can also submit academic articles via the RPSC Gateway, you can submit here. Please read the details for submission. Articles submitted to the Gateway undergo full peer review and are indexed in major databases like PubMed and Scopus if they pass peer review.
7. Can the Gateway publish final reports?
If the primary findings of any RPSC research remain unpublished and a minimum of two years has elapsed since the completion of the project, the findings stated in the final report can be published. This will be a case by case decision, and the RPSC Programme Team will communicate accordingly.
8. How long does it take to publish in the Gateway?
The Gateway is committed to publishing materials in the best possible time after completing the due diligence and where appropriate peer reviewing. Currently the Gateway is working to publish the first batch of summaries in April-May 2026.
9. What are the quality and ethical approval standards for submitted research?
The RPSC programme team and the NIHR Open Research Gateway work closely with the researchers to ascertain all the quality protocols including plagiarism and ownership is agreed on. A list of the prepublication checks NIHR Open Research carries out, including ethical compliance, can be found here.
10. Who should I contact for more information?
If you already hold an RPSC grant, your grant manager should be the first point of contact for any question regarding the Gateway. You can also write to the info@openresearch.nihr.ac.uk for any general queries.
11. Where can I get more information about the RPSC Programme?
You can access all information about the Programme and its opportunities in the NIHR RPSC website.
The RPSC Open Research Gateway will operate as part of NIHR’s Open Research Platform, serving as a centralised repository for outputs from both the current RPSC and the former Research for Social Care (RfSC) funded projects. This Gateway facilitates the publication of both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed materials, all of which undergo internal review and quality assurance procedures. Materials subjected to external peer review include research articles, methodological articles, study protocols, and reviews. Materials undergoing internal review only may encompass project completion summaries, logic models, and case studies.
All RPSC funded projects are required to publish a 300-word project summary upon completion. This summary must be published within six months of the project’s final report's approval. All RfSC funded completed and active projects are encouraged to publish a project summary.
RPSC expects all projects to disseminate their primary research findings through publication in high-impact, discipline-relevant academic journals. The RPSC Gateway offers an additional platform for publishing peer-reviewed articles. In the event that the main findings remain unpublished two years following project completion, the RPSC Gateway reserves the prerogative to publish the research output. The RPSC Programme team will collaborate with the Principal Investigator to facilitate this process.
RPSC Gateway follows the NIHR Open Research Platform guidelines for material submission, publications, and data protection. We advise you to familiarise yourself with NIHR Open Research and ‘How To Publish’ section. The RPSC Programme team will support the researchers throughout the process.
Here are some frequently asked questions that researchers may ask about the RPSC Open Research Gateway:
Scope and Access
- What is the overall focus of the RPSC Open Research Gateway?
2. Is there any contractual obligation to publish in the Gateway?
All RPSC grantholders are contractually bound to publish a Plain English Summary (PES) of their projects within the 6 months of their final report approval.
3. What is the format of the Plain English Summary (PES)?
While there is no prescribed format or temp to follow for production of the Plain English Summary, it should cover the key aims, outcomes and potential impact (for people, commissioners/policy makers and practice as appropriate) of the programme, together with how patient and public involvement shaped and influenced this.
The PES should be a maximum of 500 words and follow the same principles and procedures for writing the plain English summary that accompanied your funding submission. For further guidance please see the NIHR Plain English Summaries resource.
The PES will not be peer-reviewed on the platform, and will not be indexed like standard articles. However, all summaries will get a DOI and viewing/downloading metrics. For more information on the summary publication process within NIHR Open Research please check the website.
4. How can researchers access the data, publications, and resources within the Gateway?
The Gateway is placed within NIHR Open Research, an open access platform, where all submissions including the summaries are openly and freely available.
5. What can the Gateway publish?
The Gateway can publish all kinds of standard output from research including academic articles, logic models, protocol papers, posters, and summaries. A list of the article types we publish can be found here. NIHR Open Research operates a post-publication open peer review model, you can find more information about how the model works here. Please note that NIHR Open Research has an open data policy, more information about this can be found here.
6. How can a researcher submit their own work or data to be included in the Open Research Gateway?
Researchers can submit their work in two ways. The compulsory summary submission will take place via the RPSC Programme Team. The Programme team will contact individual grant holders to work closely for the summary submission. These summaries are NIHR internal reviewed only.
Researchers can also submit academic articles via the RPSC Gateway, you can submit here. Please read the details for submission. Articles submitted to the Gateway undergo full peer review and are indexed in major databases like PubMed and Scopus if they pass peer review.
7. Can the Gateway publish final reports?
If the primary findings of any RPSC research remain unpublished and a minimum of two years has elapsed since the completion of the project, the findings stated in the final report can be published. This will be a case by case decision, and the RPSC Programme Team will communicate accordingly.
8. How long does it take to publish in the Gateway?
The Gateway is committed to publishing materials in the best possible time after completing the due diligence and where appropriate peer reviewing. Currently the Gateway is working to publish the first batch of summaries in April-May 2026.
9. What are the quality and ethical approval standards for submitted research?
The RPSC programme team and the NIHR Open Research Gateway work closely with the researchers to ascertain all the quality protocols including plagiarism and ownership is agreed on. A list of the prepublication checks NIHR Open Research carries out, including ethical compliance, can be found here.
10. Who should I contact for more information?
If you already hold an RPSC grant, your grant manager should be the first point of contact for any question regarding the Gateway. You can also write to the info@openresearch.nihr.ac.uk for any general queries.
11. Where can I get more information about the RPSC Programme?
You can access all information about the Programme and its opportunities in the NIHR RPSC website.
Gateway Areas
Research focused on improving care and support for individuals living with dementia and their families, including studies on prevention, living well with dementia within communities, and end-of-life dementia care.
Research focusing on support services for adults (typically 18+) with care needs, including studies on independent living, quality of care, commissioning models, and service user outcomes.
Research dedicated to services that support children and young people, particularly those who are vulnerable or at risk, covering child protection, family support, looked after children, mental health, and early intervention strategies.
Research investigating ways to enhance the lives, living, and social inclusion of people with learning disabilities, including studies on support networks, educational access, and employment opportunities.
Research examining the processes, challenges, and best practices involved when young people with care needs move from children’s services to adult services, focusing on continuity of support and preparation for adulthood.
Research on the people who deliver social care, covering topics such as recruitment, retention, training, well-being, professional development, and the impact of workforce issues on the quality and sustainability of care.
A broad category covering research on the provision, delivery, and evaluation of formal and informal care services across all age groups and settings, including home care, residential care, and community-based support.