Postdoctoral Research Associate in Contextual Safeguarding job with DURHAM UNIVERSITY

Department of Sociology

Grade 7: – £34,304 per annum (pro rata)

Fixed Term – Part Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 14
Closing Date: 27-Apr-2022, 6:59:00 AM

Durham University

Durham University is one of the world’s top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people’s lives.

The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

Less than 3 hours north of London, and an hour and a half south of Edinburgh, County Durham is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. The Durham Dales, including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to breathtaking scenery and attractions. Durham offers an excellent choice of city, suburban and rural residential locations. The University provides a range of benefits including pension and childcare benefits and the University’s Relocation Manager can assist with potential schooling requirements.

Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.

The Department

The Department of Sociology was established in 1964 initially as a Department of Social Theory and Institutions. The Department delivers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Sociology, Criminology and Social Work and supports the delivery of a faculty research methods programme as part of the collaborative NINEDTP. The Department’s research strategy is built around four themes: Communities and Social Justice, Health and Social Theory, Higher Education and Social Inequality and Violence and Abuse.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Contextual Safeguarding with a particular experience in researching the implementation of the approach in local social care systems. The PDRA in Contextual Safeguarding will work as part of a research team involved in the Innovate Project (IP). IP is a four-year ESRC funded project exploring social care innovation in response to extra-familial risks and harm. The project is led by Sussex University, with Durham University as a core partner alongside Research in Practice and the Innovation Unit.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake observations of professionals’ meetings, engage young people and families through participatory research methods and undertake interviews/focus groups with practitioners to build case studies of organisations using a Contextual Safeguarding approach. As such the post holder will need to have a strong working knowledge of how to apply Contextual Safeguarding in observatory practices; and know how to analyse and write-up data collected through these approaches through a range of outputs.

Responsibilities:

• To collect data via a range of qualitative research methods on the implementation of Contextual Safeguarding in two case study organisations
• To apply expert knowledge of Contextual Safeguarding to the collection, organisation and analysis of data collected for the research project
• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.

This post is fixed term for 01 May 2022 – 14 March 2023 to cover maternity leave for the current PDRA who will be returning to this substantive role in March 2023. The project itself is also funded for a fixed term and will conclude in November 2023.

The post-holder is employed to work on a research project which that is led by another colleague (Professor Carlene Firmin as Co-Investigator, and Dr Jenny Lloyd as senior researcher). Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by 01 May 2022 or as close to this date as possible.

How to Apply

For informal enquiries please contact Prof Carlene Firmin [ca**************@du****.uk]. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.

We prefer to receive applications online via the Durham University Vacancies Site. https://www.dur.ac.uk/jobs/. As part of the application process, you should provide details of 3 (preferably academic/research) referees and the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University.

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit:

• A CV and covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;
• An example of an output you have produced where Contextual Safeguarding is featured or used.

Next Steps

The assessment for the post will include a presentation and formal interview. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview and assessment in April.

The Requirements

Essential:

Qualifications

• A good first degree 
• A PhD (or be close to submission) in Social work, sociology or or a related subject.

Experience

• Experience in conducting high quality academic research.
• Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.
• Demonstrable ability to present research papers at international conferences and communicate complex information to specialists and within the wider academic community.

Skills

• Ability to apply the Contextual Safeguarding framework when undertaking analysis
• Ability to apply knowledge of the Contextual Safeguarding framework in the delivery of semi-structured interviews
• Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable:

Experience

• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.
• A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career.
• Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics. 

Skills

• Demonstrable ability to plan and manage independent research. 

DBS Requirement: Please note that the succesful applicant will require DBS disclosure.