Research Associate in Policy Studies

The role

The School for Policy Studies is seeking to appoint a Research Associate to work on ‘The forgotten 10%’: private family law applications involving non-parents project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation (Principal Investigator: Dr Linda Cusworth, University of Lancaster). We are looking to appoint a mixed-methods social researcher with an interest in children’s social care and/or family justice. The successful applicant will be employed at the University of Bristol where the project’s two co-investigators, Dr Jessica Roy and Dr Jon Symonds, are based.

A parallel post is also being advertised at Lancaster University:

(https://hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=0103-25).

What will you be doing?

Most private family law applications are between two parents, but around 10% involve one or more adults who are not the child’s parent, such as grandparents, aunts/uncles and siblings. This ‘forgotten 10%’ have been overlooked in research, policy and practice. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Bristol, peer researchers, and practice partners Kinship and Families in Harmony, this project will investigate the circumstances, needs and experiences of children and families involved. Further information on the project is available at https://www.cfj-lancaster.org.uk/projects/forgotten-ten-percent

Working as an integral part of the project team, and alongside another researcher based in Lancaster, you will review literature, design data collection materials, undertake qualitative interviews and focus groups, and collect structured data from court case files. You must be willing to travel within the UK to collect data, and to attend meetings and other events. 

You should apply if

You will have a PhD in a social science discipline or working towards one or equivalent experience.  Ideally you will have a research background in social work, law, social policy, or another relevant field, and experience in mixed-methods research. You will demonstrate excellent organisational and interpersonal skills and preferably have a knowledge of research ethics. You will contribute to outputs from the project, including research reports and summaries, journal articles, and conference/seminar presentations, for a variety of different audiences, including academics, policymakers, legal and social work practitioners. The position will bring opportunities for the role holder to expand and enhance their research skills and knowledge. The role is subject to enhanced DBS checks.

Additional information

Informal enquiries are welcome and can be directed to Dr Jessica Roy.

Please contact by email in the first instance ( Jessica.roy@bristol.ac.uk )

Contract type: Open Ended with Fixed Funding until 02/01/2027

Work pattern: Part time, 28 hours per week

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Wednesday 23rd April 2025.

Interviews anticipated to be held on either Tuesday 6th or Friday 9th May 2025.

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