Research Fellow In Community Wellbeing

ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a highly motivated and compassionate research associate to join our team. The research associate will support the delivery of a project aiming to develop the care system to include arts-based approaches in the support of people who experience homelessness (PEH). Specifically, the post will focus on the delivery of three work packages focusing on 1) developing the integration of arts based activities and organisations within the care system for PEH and evaluation of an online directory of services; 2) support the development of creative initiatives to challenge homelessness stigma and 3) Work with decision makers in the North East North Cumbria to ensure that services work together to prevent and tackle homelessness.  Working as part of multi-disciplinary teams, you will support the Principal Investigators in delivery of research activity on the project titled Making Every Community Asset Count: Improving Health and reducing inequalities for people experiencing homelessness. The role is fixed term for a duration of 36 months ending 31st March 2027. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 therefore the successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. ABOUT THE PROJECT Homelessness, meaning people without a secure and stable place to live (including those in shelters, hostels, and temporary or unsuitable accommodation), is often the result of severe and multiple disadvantage, meaning people with experience of homelessness (PEH) have faced sustained periods of difficulty which are both a cause and a result of poverty, poor health, and inequality (NICE, 2022). To overcome homelessness, we need to make sure people have equal access to housing, healthcare, education, employment, and opportunities to grow, develop skills, and live healthy and fulfilling lives. Many health and social care providers, public services, and community-based organisations are committed to improving health and reducing health inequalities, yet despite their efforts homeless people often find themselves unable to access and engage with services that might be able to help them. Creative health approaches (art, crafting, cooking, gardening, sports, singing, reading, writing and more) recognise people as complex and multifaceted, with spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical needs. However, despite evidence showing the positive impact of creative initiatives, these assets have not typically been meaningfully included in the wider care system.   This project aims to grow the care system, so it includes creative health approaches and learns to support people better. It will be led by people with experience of homelessness, and using participatory methods, will be organised in five work packages to:  Understand the impact of trauma on people’s experiences, their homelessness, and how they have been enabled to access support;  Understand what creative approaches work, how and for whom;   Develop a network of care services, to include creative health approaches, and encourage them and people who have been homeless, to learn from each other;  Use creative approaches to challenge stigma around homelessness;  Work with decision makers in the North East North Cumbria to ensure that services work together to prevent and tackle homelessness. In addition to shaping policy and practice, findings will be shared using creative methods to amplify the voices of those experiencing homelessness and celebrate the strengths of individual and community assets.