Research Associate

Department: Social Work and Social Policy (www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/socialworksocialpolicy)

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (www.strath.ac.uk/humanities)

Reports to: Head of Department/Institute, through PI

Contract type: Fixed term (Until 30/04/2028)

FTE: 0.8 (28 hours/week) Negotiable

Working Arrangements

Hybrid. The standard requirement across the University is that at least three days per week (based on 1FTE) will be spent working on-site (with flexibility as appropriate).

On Site Facilities: Car parking, sports centre, catering.

Holidays: 31 days + 11 statutory days - Option to purchase additional holidays.

Pensions

Contributory pension scheme available to all staff including generous employer contribution.

Training

Professional Development with Organisational and Staff Development Unit (OSDU) plus external training if required.

Family Friendly Benefits

Generous parental leave provision, on-campus nursery and options for flexible working.

Health and Wellbeing

University Sport centre, Occupational Health service, access to health and wellbeing events, cycle to work scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, agile working and established carers support network and carer friendly policies.

Job

We are seeking to appoint a researcher to work in Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde as part of a new, multi-institution programme of research examining the intersection of health and justice issues. The role will focus on exploring Scotland’s commitment to ‘public health policing’ and would suit a researcher with strong qualitative research skills and experience of undertaking policy analysis, literature reviewing and interviews (ideally with professionals). The funding is for a 0.8FTE post over three years, from 1^st May 2025. However, we are open to exploring alternative configurations, should applicants prefer (e.g. a full-time post over a shorter period, or a 0.7FTE post over a longer period). The role will primarily be based at the University of Strathclyde but some travel within Scotland will be required to engage with the other programme team members (at Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Glasgow) and to undertake interviews.

This Programme is funded by the Chief Scientist Office in Scotland (CSO) and represents a significant investment in research to identify promising measures for improving the health and wellbeing of some of the most marginalised communities in Scotland, with a view to contributing to wider efforts to reduce health inequalities. The appointed researcher will primarily be supported by, and working with, Professor Kat Smith at the University of Strathclyde (who Co-Directs the Centre for Health Policy and brings public health expertise) and Professor Liz Aston at Edinburgh Napier University (who Directs the Scottish Institute for Policing Research and brings extensive policing research expertise). However, there will also be opportunities to engage with other researchers working on the intersection of health-justice, as well as with relevant policy, practice, civil society and community networks.

The role is based in Social Policy, which is a thriving academic group with particular expertise in intersectional inequalities and qualitative methods, and which is home to the Centre for Health Policy. The role will involve: identifying and analysing existing policy documents and literature discussing public health policing and/or Scotland’s 2012 legislation stating that the main purpose of policing is to improve community safety and well-being; undertaking scoping interviews with relevant stakeholders; exploring the origins of public health policing as a policy idea in Scotland through a ‘witness seminar’; contributing to a literature review of international evidence relating to public health policing; and undertaking a series of interviews and focus groups with people working in Police Scotland and in organisations that Police Scotland refer to (e.g. addiction and housing support organisations). The appointee will also work closely with the research team focusing on community perspectives, led by Professor Beth Weaver, at the University of Strathclyde, and Professor Alistair Fraser at the University of Glasgow, with a view to ensuring that the research on public health policing is informed by research with communities (and vice versa). You will write up research work for publication, independently and in collaboration with colleagues, and disseminate the results via peer reviewed journal publications and conference presentations, with linked blogs, social media summaries/briefings and presentations that aim to ensure the research is accessible to wider community, policy and policing audiences. Although this post is primarily a research post, you will be encouraged to collaborate with colleagues working in criminology, inequalities and social policy, to ensure that the Programme’s research advances inform departmental teaching effort. You will also supervise a small number of relevant student projects, provide advice to students (e.g. via one-off skills or methods sessions) and contribute to teaching as required. This might include, for example, delivering guest lectures and seminars that relate to your research expertise and to your work in the Programme. You will also have opportunities to contribute to Programme and Department/Faculty administrative and management functions (e.g. through involvement in committees and in the Strathclyde Centre for Health Policy). You will be encouraged and supported to engage in continuous professional development throughout this role.

To be considered for the role, you will be educated to a minimum of PhD level in an appropriate discipline or have equivalent professional research experience in addition to a relevant degree. You will have sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in policing research or public health and a developing ability to conduct individual research work, to disseminate results and to lead on knowledge exchange activities with policy stakeholders and local communities. You will have an ability to plan and organise your own workload effectively and an ability to work within a team environment. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen, engage and persuade, and to present complex information in an accessible way to a range of audiences, including policy, practice and community audiences.

Whilst not essential for the role, applications are welcomed from candidates with relevant work experience, membership of relevant Chartered/professional bodies (including the Higher Education Academy), and experience of relevant student supervision and teaching activities.

Further information on the application process and working at Strathclyde can be found on our website (www.strath.ac.uk/hr/workforus).

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Professor Kat Smith, Professor (katherine.smith.100@strath.ac.uk).

Interviews

Formal interviews for this post will be held on Thursday, 5^th December 2024.

Further Particulars