Research Fellow

The Centre for Care is a flagship multi-disciplinary centre (2021-2026) funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) with support from National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and set within an extensive UK and international research network. It is administered by University of Sheffield and led with investigators in five universities, three major charities and the Office for National Statistics, in close partnership with a large network of partners. Its overarching objective is to codesign impactful research to improve understandings and redress inequalities in care experiences and systems in the UK and internationally.

The School of Social Policy and Society at the University of Birmingham is recognised as one of the main centres of excellence for social care and health research in the UK. The post holder will be among the primary researchers on one of the research groups of the Centre for Care: Care Data Infrastructure. They will undertake research under the supervision and guidance of the research group lead, Professor Matt Bennett, and will work closely with colleagues across the consortium, particularly those located at the lead institution (University of Sheffield).

The overarching objective of the Care Data Infrastructure team is to apply cutting-edge data analytics to novel data sources to improve understandings of inequalities and inform evidence-based practice within the care system. The team takes an intersectional, collaborative, interdisciplinary and policy-focused approach to investigate the diversity of experiences of care, coproducing its work and embedding the lived experience of people who draw on support.

The post holder will be working on the final part of a pilot project, evaluating and analysing survey data and producing final reports. The role of the researcher will be to: 1) analyse data; 2) prepare data for wider publication; and 3) project reporting and evaluation. Other tasks will involve convening codesign panels with policy makers and charities, and reporting on and evaluating sampling models, including sample composition, response/completion quality, operational costs and scalability.

Main Duties:
- Working on a day-to-day basis with the line manager
- Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
- Contribute to writing bids for research funding
- Analyse, link and interpret quantitative data, including administrative and panel datasets using advanced methods
- Apply knowledge from quantitative analyses that develops new intellectual understanding
- Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars, and stakeholders
- Contribute to developing new quantitative models, techniques and methods, including data visualisation
- Undertake management and administration arising from research
- Contribute to impact and public engagement activities, including stakeholders and the public
- Collect research data through a variety of research methods, such as literature reviews and research interviews
- Present research outputs and draft academic publications at seminars and conferences
- Provide guidance, as required, to support staff who may be assisting with the research
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
- Promote equality and value diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification:
- A degree and normally a higher degree in economics or health economics, politics, statistics, social policy, sociology, gerontology or a related discipline, with demonstrable evidence of training in advanced quantitative methods
- High level of advanced quantitative analytical ability, including large-scale panel data
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly
- Fluency in relevant advanced quantitative models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones (including visualising findings)
- Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
- Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management and administration processes
- Ability to contribute to the planning and organising of the research project
- Ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly