Research Assistant, CASCADE

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Research Assistant, CASCADE

Cardiff University School of Social Sciences is seeking to recruit a Research Assistant to work within the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE). The successful candidate will be working on a study to determine the feasibility of evaluating the impact of police in schools on youth offending. This research study is a mixed-methods collaborative project between King’s College London and Cardiff University, funded by the Youth Endowment Fund.

The successful candidate will support the research team at Cardiff with survey distribution and response management, and assist with the collection of policy documents and coordination of interviews and focus groups.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), is fixed term from the 1st June 2024 to 30th November 2024 and is immediately available.

Salary: £32,332 - £34,980 per annum (Grade 5), with 3 annual increments up to £34,980 per annum (final salary at top of grade).

Responsible to Dr Verity Bennett

For an informal discussion about the role please contact  Dr Bennett [email protected]

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (including bank holidays), blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

As the biggest university in Wales – and a major employer, with more than 7,000 staff – we are an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with great benefits and opportunities for progression.

Date advert posted: Thursday, 4 April 2024

Closing Date: Thursday, 18 April 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:  Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To undertake research, e.g. by planning, preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of surveys, interviews, focus groups and document reviews
• Actively participate within the research group, communicating and presenting research at meetings, through publications and other recognised avenues as appropriate, ensuring information is communicated to internal and external partners
• To contribute and support research publications and presentations as required
• To contribute and support research funding bids as required
• To analyse and communicate complex ideas, concepts and data using appropriate methods and packages
• To resolve issues and support colleagues in devising procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• To generate research output and contribute to the development of  independent  and original ideas as appropriate
• To provide support in research activities for undergraduate courses and research programmes and provide guidance to other members of staff within the research team
• To maintain and update area of specialist knowledge, researching and critically appraising relevant literature within the area.

Other

• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• To abide by the University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

A degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience

Knowledge of research methods and techniques within specialist field

Proven ability to analyse complex information and summarise appropriately

Ability to demonstrate the capability and drive to succeed in securing research funding

Proven communication skills, including presentation to various audiences

Excellent organisational and team-working skills

Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and teamworking within work

Desirable Criteria

Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience

Evidence of collaborations with industry.

Proven ability to work without close supervision

Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

 It is Cardiff University's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for shortlisting. Therefore, candidates must evidence they meet ALL the essential criteria and, where relevant, the desirable.

As part of the application process, you are asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined in the person specification. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide for each criterion.

 When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure you name it with the vacancy reference number: XXXXBR.

Your application will be at risk of not being progressed if you do not evidence you have met all essential criteria. The school welcomes the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.

Please note that these are also the criteria shortlisted applicants will be assessed against at interview and/or by other means (e.g. a skills test).

Additional Information

Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre

CASCADE is the leading centre for evaluative research in children’s social care in the UK and a leading centre of excellence in social sciences and education research. It is the only centre of its kind in Wales, promoting evidence and improving outcomes for children and families. It is concerned with all aspects of community responses to social need in children and families, including family support services, children in need services, child protection, looked after children and adoption. It aims first and foremost to improve the well-being and safety of children and their families by:

• Generating primary research evidence of an internationally recognised high quality.
• Making the results of this research, and research produced elsewhere, available in an accessible form for children and families who receive social care services, professionals and policy-makers.
• Developing social care research capacity in Wales by providing opportunities for researchers from undergraduate through to senior career stages.
• Engaging a range of collaborators in research, including children and young people, parents and carers, practitioners, policy-makers and social care providers from the public, private and third sectors.

CASCADE supports and develops people throughout their careers, including guiding the next generation of research leaders. Involving those with experience of receiving services across our work in consequential ways and engage the sector in sustained and meaningful efforts to understand and use research knowledge. This is done not only through our research work, but also practically by providing dissemination, Training & public engagement through our projects ‘ExChange’ & the Public involvement team, ‘CASCADE Voices.’

CASCADE is based within Cardiff University School of Social Sciences. The School is an inter-disciplinary centre of teaching and research. With strong links with industry and medicine, it seeks to lead on public and policy debates at international, national, and local levels and is renowned for its innovative scholarship across the social sciences and beyond. Further details of the School's activities may be found on our home page: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi .

Job Category

Academic - Research