Una Rennard

I have a background of working in the voluntary sector and involving communities in the issues that matter to them.  I have worked with older people, volunteers, parent carers and people with long term conditions.

Since 2003 I have been developing my knowledge and experience of public involvement, engagement and participation in health and social care as a public contributor in health and social care research. 

I have worked as a public contributor within NIHR in a number of roles including at a local and national level, on funding committees and in strategic and advisory capacities including as a member of the INVOLVE advisory group and the Public Partnerships Programme Board (the group providing the strategic lead for public partnerships – involvement, engagement and participation - in NIHR).

I have also been involved in research projects focused on autism and PPI in research.  I have been an advisor, a co-researcher and a co-applicant. I am currently involved with the NIHR funded study: Clinical and cost-effectiveness of adapted online parent-led treatment compared to treatment as usual for autistic children with anxiety problems in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: A randomised controlled trial.

My key areas of PPI interest are around continual improvement, strategic direction and development of public involvement.  I have been closely involved with the development of the UK Standards for Public Involvement and continue to be a part of the group supporting governance of the standards.

As Public Involvement Manager for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Thames Valley I am the first point of contact for Patient and Public Involvement within the ARC.  I support Researchers to embed PPI in their work and ensure Public Contributors involved with the ARC and its research are supported.