Research Fellow

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263 with potential progression once in post to £46,974. Grade: 7

Hours: Part Time (22.5 working hours per week)

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to December 2025

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking evidence review and qualitative research within the programme to understand strengths-based practice within adult social care.

Strengths (also known as asset) based working within adult social care and health care seeks to transform practice and policy to put people and communities at the heart of decision making and service development. The Adult Social Care Cluster at the University of Birmingham is at the forefront of research and practice development to understand the realities of strengths-based approaches and how they can be better embedded within health and social care and local contexts. This research project will explore what strengths-based means within the diverse communities of Birmingham and how local assets support them in their well-being.

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research methodologies to achieve objectives of the research with support of the principal investigator
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as literature reviews, research interviews and focus groups
• Collaborate with practice partners within the voluntary and community sector, local authorities and health service
• Analyse and interpret data which will be relevant to a practice audience as well as in academic formats
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars and with practice audiences
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods 
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to practice events and/or public engagement activities relevant to this project

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications
• High level analytical capability in relation to qualitative data
• Understanding of the principles of strengths (also known as asset) based practice within health and social care
• Ability to positively engage with diverse communities and to undertake inclusive research
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to collaborate with voluntary sector partners and to translate research insights to a practitioner audience
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively 
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• 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 in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquiries to Professor Robin Miller: r.s.miller@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the above 'Apply' button:

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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