Researcher - Health Determinants Research Collaboration (Hdrc)

Researcher - Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)

Permanent, Full Time

Up to £41,311 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 27th May 2024

About Us

We want everyone who lives in Greater Essex to have the same opportunities to succeed in life. We are making progress towards this, but we still have a way to go. For too many communities low levels of education, limited economic opportunities and poor living conditions lead to disparities in mental and physical health and lower life-expectancy. Those who are most vulnerable experience the greatest disadvantages.

There is no easy solution. If we are to secure further progress, public service agencies will need to work together, taking decisions based on meaningful insight and high-quality research.

This is where you come in.

About the role

As a Researcher, join a new team delivering the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Greater Essex – part of the emerging network of research centres that are based in local authorities, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and focused on building research capacity and capability between local government and the academic sector.

The HDRC Greater Essex will be hosted by Essex County Council, but you’ll work hand-in-glove with colleagues in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Councils, and across the University of Essex and Anglia Ruskin University.

We are looking to appoint up to six researchers to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting the HDRC’s four research workstreams - each exploring how we can improve outcomes, with a focus on:

- Economic and labour market factors affecting health;

- Educational factors affecting health;

- Environmental factors affecting health; and

- Vulnerabilities affecting health.

You will deliver a portfolio of primary and secondary research projects, working with academic and local authority colleagues, and to a programme agreed by the HDRC’s multi-partner Leadership Board. You will work as part of a research group with expertise that span qualitative and quantitative methods, and which works with colleagues and partners to disseminate findings in ways that connect with key audiences. You will collaborate to develop applications for research funding and participate in knowledge transfer across Greater Essex.

You will also play a key role in supporting the HDRC’s engagement with partners, managing relationships with stakeholders across specific localities in Greater Essex.

The role is a great opportunity to use your recognised technical abilities to directly influence policymaking within Greater Essex and to champion the use of ‘evidence in shaping local public services.

In return, you can expect excellent rewards, a package of wrap around support and mentorship from senior academics from our partner universities, flexible-working arrangements and long-term career opportunities.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for:

· providing senior decision-makers across Greater Essex with the research and evidence to enable effective leadership, governance, commissioning and policymaking.

· the design and delivery of high quality, ethical research that reflects stakeholder requirements and wider regulatory requirements;

· building strong relationships with partners around specific research workstreams and localities, developing an understanding of their strategic priorities and shaping research to enable it to deliver insights aligned to these priorities;

· shape research outputs to ensure these are impactful and influential, and that they resonate with key audiences across local public services;

· using specialist skills, knowledge and experience to provide expert advice and guidance as required ensuring research and analysis activities meet professional and ethical standards;

· demonstrating intellectual curiosity - proactively exploring the potential to develop new insights;

· developing successful bids for research funding, helping to augment and sustain the work of the HDRC;

· continuously developing new and relevant research approaches and supporting the development of an ‘evidence first’ culture across Greater Essex.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

· Educated to degree level in a relevant subject area, or equivalent by experience.

· Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in a relevant professional area.

· Ability to work effectively and communicate clearly and appropriately, with a range of internal and external stakeholders and engagement partners, and effective presentation of statistical data.

· Practical experience in the design and delivery of social or market research, applying appropriate methods for the collection and analysis of data (quantitative, qualitive or both).

· Experience of presenting research data and findings with in a way that resonates with both professional and non-technical audiences.

· Experience of using research evidence and insight to influence decisions in complex organisations and/or multi-agency programmes, and/or to drive improvement in outcomes or services.

· Experience of developing successful bids for research funding.

· Knowledge of governance and ethical requirements concerning the conduct of research.

For a copy of the HDRC Greater Essex Research Plan or an informal conversation please contact Alastair Gordon, HDRC Director and ECC’s Head of Profession for Research, at alastair.gordon@essex.gov.uk

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the link.

Within this project there are four different research workstreams. These are:

- Economic and labour market factors affecting health;

- Educational factors affecting health;

- Environmental factors affecting health; and

- Vulnerabilities affecting health.

In your application, please indicate the HDRC’s Research Workstream with which your experience aligns most closely:

Note that we are recruiting up to six roles and interviews will be scheduled between 17 th and 28 th June.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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