Postdoctoral Researcher - Impact, Evaluation, Information and Policy

Location: The post holder will work across all Childhood Matters Services in Co. Cork and will be predominantly based in Blackpool, Cork City. Remote working arrangement is possible for this role.

Salary: €48,000 per annum - part time/job share/remote working possible for suitable candidate(s)

Childhood Matters was recently awarded a significant contract by a state body to complete a specific piece of research related to our clinical work. We are advertising this position to partly assist with this exciting research opportunity.

Childhood Matters is a voluntary agency based in Cork City providing integrated mental health, social care and residential supports to children and families. Its service delivery models are both clinically and trauma informed, and Childhood Matters is one of the largest non-statutory employers of allied health professionals and social care staff in the region. We are committed to evidence-based practice and to this effect have recently established a dedicated Research and Evaluation function to evaluate services, contribute to the social care, social work and mental health empirical literature base. 

We aim to do this by providing high quality and methodologically robust research and evaluation, and by informing our policy positions for vulnerable children and families across Ireland. The specific aims of the evaluation and research function are outlined in the job description and involve evaluation and research activity including: conducting and overseeing research and evaluation within and outside of Childhood Matters, working in collaboration with others to advance Childhood Matters research agenda. 

The role works in collaboration with other teams, including those working on the development, implementation, use and analysis of data from the Childhood Matters Children’s Services Electronic Record Keeping System. This role will also work to monitor and report on outcomes; develop and track longitudinal data on programme effectiveness; and assist in the translating of evidence into practice across the organisation. 

Job purpose

The purpose of the evaluation and research function in Childhood Matters is to contribute to the achievement of the organisation’s strategic goals through providing leadership with regards to evaluation and research internally and externally; ensuring collection and analysis of data in a timely, effective and efficient way and by providing high quality and methodologically robust evaluations. 

Core Job Requirements 

Evaluation and research:

• Work with internal staff to conduct evaluations in order to better understand the needs and circumstances of vulnerable children and families and to demonstrate the impact of Childhood Matters interventions on participating children and families.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders and agencies to support and advance Childhood Matters evaluation and research agenda, and deliver on research contracts.
• Interrogate primary and secondary research in order to better understand the needs and circumstances of vulnerable or disadvantaged children and families in order to inform service provision and policy positions.
• Provide oversight and leadership with external researchers undertaking evaluation and research within Childhood Matters.
• Work in collaboration with research centres and academic institutions to ensure that Childhood Matters evaluation and research is of the highest standard and research methods conform to best practice.
• Assess and approve research requests from people wishing to conduct research within Childhood Matters.
• Provide evaluation and research consultation service / expertise for the organisation and support and advise local Childhood Matters research initiatives. 

 Database and record keeping systems:

• Support the development and maintenance of Childhood Matters’ Children Services Electronic Record Keeping system.
• Gather and analyse data from services to meet the organisation’s operational, commercial and strategic requirements. 

Supporting Evidence Based Practice:

• Conduct literature reviews.
• Utilise current research to develop best practice papers.
• Enable Childhood Matters to monitor outcomes and track longitudinal data on programme effectiveness through supporting the use, recording and analysis of outcome measurement tools within our services.
• Assist in the translating of evidence into practice across the organisation.
• Support the implementation of Childhood Matters’ trauma informed organisational strategy.
• Support the tracking of outcomes and effectiveness of our services. 

Policy:

• Supporting the Policy function to provide evidence informed information and briefings as required for the CEO and others representing Childhood Matters externally.
• Carry out surveys to inform policy and practice, working in conjunction with the communications department to disseminate the findings in a timely and effective way 

General:

• Collate information and prepare reports suitable for a variety of different audiences.
• Take a leading role in representing Childhood Matters externally in the pursuit of Childhood Matters agreed objectives.
• Participate in budget planning and manage approved budgets for your area of responsibility in line with Childhood Matters financial procedures.
• To pursue funding opportunities to support the work and to prepare and submit funding proposals in consultation with the CEO.
• To ensure that the protection and welfare of children is a primary concern of all staff and that, when child protection issues arise, Childhood Matters policies and procedures are fully adhered to.
• To ensure all staff, students and volunteers receive regular and professional supervision and appraisals.
• To ensure training needs are identified and addressed to ensure learning is promoted within your area of responsibility.
• To manage the recruitment process for staff within your area of responsibility.
• Act as a spokesperson for Childhood Matters where relevant.
• Presentation and reporting into key committees within the organisation. 

Requirements of all Childhood Matters staff

• Commitment to the purpose of Childhood Matters and to work within the values, policies and procedures of the organisation and in the context of current legislation and regulations.
• To participate in regular supervision with your line manager.
• To actively participate in team and staff meetings and service reviews/ evaluations and to contribute to the development of policy and practice with your area of work and within Childhood Matters as a whole.
• To report any area of concern to your line manager in a timely manner.
• To show reasonable flexibility in relation to hours of attendance to meet the needs of the work. Work during unsocial hours may be required. 
• Have a flexible approach to the work in response to organisational change, development and review of best practice. 
• Participate in and engage with a performance appraisal programme. 
• Identify training needs with your line manager and participate in training opportunities appropriate to the role.
• To be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or local Health & Safety Officer. 
• To be vigilant to any concerns regarding the protection and welfare of children and to bring them to the attention of the Childhood Matters Designated Person in a timely manner, in keeping with the Childhood Matters Child Protection policies. 
• To participate in the efficient flow of information within the organisation by sharing and seeking information as appropriate.
• To undertake other duties as may be requested by the line manager from time to time.
• To undertake your work in a manner that is friendly, flexible and informal.

Note: this Job Description will be reviewed and updated in line with the needs of the work.

Person Specification

Qualification

A relevant third level qualification in research, Minimum Level 10 on the QQI. A doctoral or PhD qualification in a discipline such as social science, psychology, nursing or public policy would be an advantage. 

Experience

Essential:

• Experience of conducting evaluation and research, ideally with clinical populations.
• Experience of disseminating evaluation and research to a variety of audiences.
• Experience of working with people at a variety of levels in an organisation.
• Experience of managing multiple projects and related budgets.
• Experience of drafting commissioning or tender documents for evaluation and research.
• Experience of analysing quantitative and qualitative data 

Desirable:

• Experience of working in an organisation which provides services to vulnerable children, young people, and their parents in community settings.
• Experience of integrating evaluation and research into service delivery 

Knowledge

Essential: 

• Knowledge of different types of evaluation and research.
• Detailed knowledge of a range of research methodologies and techniques as they pertain to research with children.
• Knowledge of information management systems.
• Knowledge of SPSS or equivalent for analysing information.
• Knowledge of Data Protection legislation and GDPR.
• Clear understanding of current policies and legislation affecting children (e.g. Childcare Act, Children First, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures). 

Desirable:

• Knowledge of a range of theories and approaches relevant to working with children, young people, and their parents (e.g. attachment, child development theory, developmental trauma, family systems theory, solution focussed approach, group work theory). 

Skills and Abilities

• Strategic thinker with capacity to see big picture.
• Creative, motivated, flexible person with ability to work on own initiative.
• Proficient in managing and undertaking the collection, cleaning, analysis and reporting of data.
• Ability to win confidence within both academic and practitioner groupings to advance Childhood Matters’ strategy.
• Ability to self-motivate and use initiative to develop ideas to fruition.
• Ability to think creatively and innovatively and to be flexible.
• Ability to establish professional credibility.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to celebrate difference and work with a variety of perspectives.
• Ability to listen and value others’ ideas.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Ability to prioritise and manage competing demands in tight timescales.
• Ability to produce clear, succinct written material.
• Ability to communicate clearly and contribute to the sharing of information.
• Positive, solution focused approach.
• Ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Commitment to children’s rights and participation.
• Ability to engage in a clear and sensitive way. 

Application Procedure

Please submit a Cover Letter and CV outlining your suitability for this position via the 'Apply' button above by 9am on 10^th December 2024. Interviews will take place on Wednesday 18^th December.