Background to RCT HDRC Project:
In 2023 the Council was awarded £5m from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to establish the 5-year Rhondda Cynon Taf Health Determinants Research Collaboration (RCT HDRC) programme. This is a formal collaboration between RCT Council, Cardiff University, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board and Interlink RCT to change the culture within the Council to become more research active and to embed evidence-based decision making at all levels.
The HDRC is about:
Changing the culture of the Council to employ evidence-based decision making at all levels of the organisation to improve the life chances of residents and break the cycle of poverty in RCT.
The work of the RCT HDRC includes:
Involving and engaging with the public to ensure that the lived and living experience of residents is routinely used to inform decisions made by the Council to address health inequalities and improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
Providing training on evidence-related topics for staff.