Maternity
& Family Research
I work with researchers, businesses and organisations to involve parents and families in maternity, women’s health and family research.
I am passionate about facilitating conversations, creating spaces for people to share their experiences and perspectives and to offer valuable feedback and ideas for research projects.
Since 2012, I have worked as an involvement and engagement co-ordinator and facilitator, connecting parents with maternity research projects. Building on my background as an antenatal and postnatal practitioner, I have shaped this role to support parents and researchers to enable effective involvement.
Trusted by researchers, universities and NHS Trusts
My research roles include Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Lead and community engagement co-ordinator, with training and research communication with NIHR, NHRP and a range of universities and NHS healthcare trusts.
- 14+ years connecting parents and researchers
- PPIE Lead on national maternity & family research projects
- PPIE Lead on North East focused maternity & family research projects
- leading a community engagement project for NIHR Research Support Service
- PPIE involvement and guidance for research project development and funding applications
- extensive experience working with NIHR-funded studies
- experienced facilitator of research discussion sessions
- strong community engagement networks
- specialist expertise in engaging parents and families
I provide expert guidance on effective public involvement in health and care research. I design tailored strategies, support effective engagement with families, and help embed involvement throughout projects and campaigns.
With a distinctive blend of qualifications in journalism, antenatal education, postnatal groupwork and public innovation and co-production in research, I bring a broad range of core skills to research.
“Janine is always knowledgeable, flexible and friendly; accommodating the needs of researchers and the women attending the research sessions. These discussion sessions simply would not happen without Janine’s ongoing support and we are extremely grateful to be able to work with her.“
Dr Allison Farnworth
Associate Professor of Maternal and Family Health
Northumbria University
Working with me
After connecting parents to research for several years, I am committed to engaging with a diverse range of women, families and communities, ensuring their experiences and perspectives can help to shape projects and campaigns.
With a personalised conversation‑led approach, informed by my experience as an antenatal and postnatal practitioner, I focus on building connections with parents and creating opportunities for them to be involved, feel valued, and have their voices heard.
I can support your project in a number of ways:
- PPIE Strategy: developing involvement and engagement plans, including evaluation and impact
- Community Engagement: connecting researchers with parents, families and community groups
- Facilitation: designing and leading workshops, discussion and co-design sessions
- Training: supporting researchers, practitioners and project teams to improve PPIE practice
- Research Communication & Dissemination: bringing studies to life with resources, content and case studies
If you need help developing an involvement strategy, recruiting parent contributors or facilitating engagement activities, I’d be happy to discuss your project.
“Janine creates inclusive and supportive environments in which diverse people, communities and researchers can work together to shape research. She brings a mix of skilled facilitation, community connections, and a passion for involving the public in research that matters to them. We have really valued working in partnership with her.”
Dr Bronia Arnott
PPIE methodologist
Newcastle University
Who I work with
“I have had the pleasure of working with Janine for around ten years across a wide range of research projects relating to pregnancy, maternity and the experiences of women and families.
I continue to work with Janine because she brings a rare combination of professional expertise, genuine community connection and a deep understanding of the realities of pregnancy and early parenthood. Her experience as an antenatal and postnatal practitioner, alongside her extensive relationships with parents and families, means that she is able to bring authentic and diverse perspectives into our research.
She is now also contributing as a public co-applicant to the NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium, reflecting the level of expertise, trust and leadership she brings to research. Janine’s involvement consistently strengthens the relevance, quality and impact of our work, and I regard her as a highly valued research partner and colleague.”
Dr Nicola Heslehurst
Professor of Maternal & Child Nutrition
Newcastle University
Join the research community
Would you like to help shape maternity and family research?
- share your experiences
- influence future studies
- help improve services
- participate when and how you choose