Meet our new Head of Public Partnerships – Vicki Harris

Vicki Harris – Head of Public Partnerships, Newcastle Health Research Partnership

Vicki – could you tell us about your previous roles and experience?

For the last 7 years I worked in the VCSE at Connected Voice, initially as the Haref Coordinator (Health and Race Equality Forum) and then as their Health Equity and Involvement Manager. In these roles, I’ve had significant experience with public involvement in health research. I’ve been the lead officer on health research projects, acted as the public involvement lead on health research projects in partnership with the University, and delivered training to health researchers to improve their confidence and skillset to engage with marginalised communities.

At Action Foundation, I managed the setting up and running of their hosting scheme for destitute asylum seekers.

I have over 20-years’ experience working at Newcastle City Council as Community Safety Officer for hate crime and community tensions for 10 years, as an Asylum Seeker Support Officer and as a Housing Officer working across the city.

How will your experience assist with your new role?

My working life has always been focused on tackling inequality, challenging discrimination and ensuring vulnerable groups have a voice in order to make a difference to the lives of their community.  The projects I delivered in Connected Voice, Action Foundation and at Newcastle City Council have involved and empowered people to be part of service design. Whether this is in health services, community projects or in strategic responses to hate and tensions.

Through my research involvement I have seen where the gaps are for researchers, the VCSE and the public to get involved. We have many researchers wanting and looking to improve involvement, which is great; however we need to build capacity and funding in the VCSE sector and for community organisations to ensure they are part of this agenda.

Why are you looking forward to being part of Newcastle Health Research Partnership?

I’m really excited to have this opportunity to support the partnership and our communities with effective health research. I’m passionate about ensuring that public and patients can share their experiences and insights in health research. Ensuring this is supported through the collaboration of our partner organisations and researchers.

We know health inequalities are getting worse. We are facing a health crisis in this country, with the North East having some of the worst indicators for child poverty and health outcomes in the country. We know some people find it much harder to have a good health outcome because of where they live, who they are, their life experiences and their access to services. I believe we need to address this with targeted health interventions for population health, which are evidence based in order to improve clinical care and outcomes.

But to do health research well, we need to put public involvement at the heart of it, which will ensure everyone benefits from it. Public involvement needs to be an integral part of the health research cycle.

Our work is all about improving the health of our communities, how health services are delivered, and ultimately generating economic growth.