Associate Professor in Co-production in Mental Health Research

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Department: Institute for Social Justice
Location: York
Salary: £57,696 to £68,857 per annum
Closing Date: Wednesday 24 April 2024 at midnight
Interview Date: Monday 13 May 2024
Reference: 028-24

Full time permanent 

Location: York

Salary: £57,696 to £68,857 per annum

About the Institute for Social Justice and York St John 

York St John is an ambitious, modern university at the heart of historic York and there has never been a more exciting time to join us. The Institute for Social Justice was launched in 2020 to underpin York St John University’s mission to stand up for social justice. We do so through developing collaborative research and practice that seeks to identify, expose and address some of the inequalities, injustices and challenges facing society today. At its core the Institute seeks to work with people, with partners and with communities in a manner that sees participation, implementation and change as vital parts of its mission. 

This post is part of the Converge project, which provides courses for adults who use mental health services. It provides a model with which to address issues of social justice and equality of access within education and mental health services. 

The Role 

We are seeking a reflexive and innovative Associate Professor to lead in the development of co-productive research in collaboration with Converge. Converge is a longitudinal practice-research project which uses action research, peer research, creative methods and reflective practice to explore the impact of offering educational opportunities to adults who experience mental ill health within a university context. It also hosts the Converge Evaluation and Research Team (CERT) , a group of researchers with lived experience of mental health difficulties. 

Converge has been a successful REF impact case study for the University in 2021 and 2016. We are looking to consolidate this track-record, but also develop and innovate new activity that sits within both Converge’s and the ISJ’s core principles. 

To this end, the role will model interdisciplinary approaches of participatory, inclusive and community research in the context of mental health. It will actively seek external research funding to deliver high-quality and impactful projects and activity; foster research links that facilitate the engagement and impact of co-productive research in mental health; supervise and provide training for PGRs and community researchers and provide leadership to the Converge Evaluation and Research Team. The role will also provide leadership support within the Institute for Social Justice and through this contribute to the strategic direction of research within the University as a whole. 

Key Requirements 

Candidates will have a strong record of working in co-productive, participatory, inclusive and/or community research practices, evidenced through projects, publication (including non-traditional publications), and successful funding applications. The successful candidate will be somebody who grasps the challenges and opportunities of participatory research and addresses these with both compassion and imagination. 

We are looking for somebody for whom identification with a set of methodological and ethical principles is at the forefront of their research practice, which might be located in a range disciplines, including the arts, humanities, education and social sciences. 

Crucially the candidate will have a record of working across disciplinary boundaries and an outward facing academic practice which communicates clear to a diversity of audiences. 

It is essential that candidates hold a doctoral level qualification. 

Further Information

For informal enquiries please Professor Matthew Reason, Director of the Institute for Social Justice [email protected]  

This role is eligible for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship.  For further information regarding this visa route please visit Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk ).

We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive policies and facilities to support staff from different backgrounds. As part of our commitment to providing an inclusive working environment, consideration is given to all requests for job share or flexible working arrangements.

Application process support

Before starting your application please refer to the attached 'candidate guidance document' which provides advice about completing the application process.

If you require a reasonable adjustment in order to apply for this position please contact [email protected].  Within the application form there is an opportunity for you to request a reasonable adjustment at the interview stage of the process, however if you wish to discuss this in further detail at any point  in the process please do not hesitate to contact us. The following resource may help you adapt the device you are using to apply to suit your needs My Computer My Way (abilitynet.org.uk)

Please note that CVs are not accepted in place of the application form.  Within the application process you will be asked to answer a selection of work-related questions. Our aim is to get to know you, and understand your individual skills and experience, and how you would apply these within the role.  We are aware that ChatGPT can assist you with this, but we would prefer you to share your answers in your own words.

Our benefits package

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including - 

- Excellent annual leave entitlement, including five discretionary university closure days over the Christmas period

- Disability leave (applies to staff who have disclosed a disability and is also available to staff with disabled dependants)

- Pension scheme

- Health Cash Plan after six months service

- Employee Assistance Programme

- Paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists

- On-campus courses, one-to-one tutorials, and online resources to help you develop your digital skills and work with new software

- Relocation expenses package for certain roles

- Reimbursement of Skilled Worker Visa application fees and Visa loan scheme for additional costs

Further information about life at YSJ

Read more about our culture, inclusive community, working arrangements and benefits for York St John employees here.  

The latest news, views and stories from our staff and students can be found here.  

We are committed to managing and reducing our environmental impact and to promoting sustainable development wherever we can, read more here.

Closing Date - Wednesday 24 April 2024 at midnight

Provisional Interview Date - Monday 13 May 2024