Participant Information Sheet
UK Fire Sector National Wellbeing Survey
Before you take part in this research, please could you spend a few minutes reading through this information so that you understand what is being asked of you and what the research is for.
This research forms part of a programme of research at Nottingham Trent University to inform the development of a health and wellbeing strategy for the National Fire Chiefs Council. The work is being led by Dr Rowena Hill, Associate Professor of Disaster and Emergencies. She has been researching with the UK Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) for the last twenty years.
What is the purpose of the study?
This research explores the current wellbeing status of the fire community. That is, how your role in the sector impacts on you in both positive and negative ways. The topics included in this questionnaire include the support you feel you have, the consequences of any impacts you feel your job brings and how you feel about your health, wellbeing and life in general.
Am I eligible to take part in this study?
You can only take part in this research if you are employed by a fire and rescue service in the UK.
What do I have to do?
Once you have read through this information to the end of the page, you will be asked to click on the ‘consent’ button which will take you through to a set of questions to answer. The questions will take approximately 20 minutes for you to complete, and can be completed on your mobile or computer. Please just answer each question as you see fit, there are no right or wrong answers. If you wish to stop participating in the research at any point then please just navigate away from the page. This will mean that your data will be lost and it will not be submitted or recorded.
How will the research team ensure confidentiality and protect my anonymity?
Your answers will only come through to our secure data store once you have pressed ‘submit’. All the details you provide to us and the answers you give to the questions will remain confidential at all times. The electronic storage of your data will be password protected in purpose built, secure software. At no point in this study will you be asked for your name, that way your confidentiality and anonymity can be protected at all times. I will however ask you to enter a unique identifier (such as the name of your first pet, a word you like, or your street name for example) so that if you change your mind after you press the ‘submit’ button I can identify the data which belongs to you in order to permanently delete it.
How do I withdraw from the study if I no longer want my responses to be included in this research?
In order to withdraw your data, just email me using the contact details below (you will see these again at the end of the questions) before the date of 25th of July and say you want to remove your data from the study and provide me with your unique identifier. I will then email you back once I have removed and permanently deleted your data to tell you that I have done so. Doing this will not cause a problem if you do so before the date provided. If you wish your data to be removed after the 25th of July then we will have completed our analysis and started to write up our work. That means that your data will still be included in our report back on general patterns and trends to the National Fire Chiefs Council, but I will remove it for any other research dissemination after that.
What happens with the results?
We will never use your data on its own in isolation, nor will we identify your service for any negative reasons. Instead your data will be analysed alongside the data of all other respondents and only general trends and patterns will be reported. These general patterns to explore geographic differences in wellbeing profiles will only ever be reported at regional level at the lowest aggregate. We will never disclose or identify you or your personal information, we will protect your confidentiality and anonymity at all times. We may identify your service if you tell us that it does something well, so that we and others can learn from good practice.
The analysis of general trends and patterns of the data will be used to inform the health and wellbeing strategy of the National Fire Chiefs Council. It may also be written up for publication in a peer reviewed journal or presented at conference, however this will be an analysis of all data collected and not those of any individual. The general trends and patterns may also be presented to interested parties such as The Fire Fighters Charity, the Home Office and other academics.
Contacting support:
There are no foreseen negative consequences of taking part in this research, however if you feel any adverse effects after you have completed the research then please ring the ‘access support’ line of The Firefighters Charity on: 0800 3898820. The phone line is open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, where you can speak to a member of their team. Or you can complete an online form here: https://www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/enquire-about-our-services/
If you feel distressed, please feel free to contact Shout which is free and open 24/7, dedicated support service to help emergency services staff by texting BLUELIGHT to 85258 to talk by text with one of their trained volunteers.
Alternatively, you can make an appointment to visit your GP to discuss any adverse effects of the research if they arise. Or you can access your services employee/occupational health support through your staff signposting.
Researcher contact details:
If you have any comments or complaints about the way in which the research has been carried out then please contact the researcher:
Rowena Hill (Associate Professor of Disasters and Emergencies)
School of Social Sciences
Nottingham Trent University
Tel: 0115 848 5532
Email: rowena.hill@ntu.ac.uk |
Executive Dean of the School of Social Sciences
Professor Sara Owen
School of Social Sciences
Nottingham Trent University
Tel: 0115 848 2033
Email: sara.owen@ntu.ac.uk |