School of Health and Life Sciences

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow: Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice

Lanarkshire Campus

REQ001164

Grade AC2:  £36,914 - £44,045

Full-time: 35 Hours per week, Fixed Term 36 months

University of the West of Scotland is one of Scotland’s largest modern universities. It aims to have a transformational influence on the economic, social and cultural development of the West of Scotland, and beyond, by providing relevant, high quality, inclusive higher education and innovative and useful research. The University aims to make the communities it serves more successful; and create opportunities for all to participate.

This post will be based within the School of Health and Life Sciences, specifically within the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice. (ASCPP). The Centre was established in 2013 by Prof Debbie Tolson and is a partnership between UWS and Alzheimer Scotland. The Centre staff deliver postgraduate programmes, CPD and undertake national and international dementia research and education projects. https://www.uws.ac.uk/research/research-areas/health/alzheimer-scotland-centre-for-policy-and-practice/

This post is created as part of the Alzheimer’s Society funded project ‘Co-produced career guidance intervention for people living with dementia’ led by Dr Louise Ritchie. The aim of the study is to co-produce and field-test an innovative career guidance and development approach to supporting people living with dementia post-diagnosis. The study design uses a mix of qualitative methods combining evidence review, service mapping, interviews and multi-disciplinary workshops. We are recruiting a full-time fixed term (36 months) Postdoctoral Research Fellow (AC2) for the duration of the study. The successful applicant will be a key member of a research team that includes academics from the School of Health and Life Sciences and the School of Education and Social Science in UWS and Northumbria and Edinburgh Napier Universities. The PDRF will work under the supervision of Dr Ritchie. The post holder will be based at UWS Lanarkshire campus and will work remotely from home as required.

Key Duties include

• Establishing and maintaining good effective relationships with the research team, key stakeholders and test sites.
• Evidence review and service mapping
• Recruiting participants and conducting interviews with stakeholders from relevant health, social care and career development services, people living with dementia and family members.
• Working closely with the Scottish Dementia Working Group and other organisations to facilitate meaningful involvement of members living with dementia throughout the research process.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings to develop the intervention
• Recruit test sites and facilitate testing of intervention
• Entering data into NVivo, code and analyse qualitative data, write up reports.

Other elements of the role include organising and participating in team meetings and stakeholder events, contributing to report writing, academic papers and other dissemination events. Involvement of people living with dementia is central to the design and delivery of this project, in line with INVOLVE’s guidance on public engagement and co-production. As such, the post holder will require knowledge of ethical considerations of working with people living with dementia, as well as adherence to the Career Development Institute’s code of ethics.

The post will require local travel to test sites. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced postdoctoral researcher with expertise in qualitative research and an interest in promoting equality, human rights and practical interventions to support people living with dementia.

Informal enquiries to louise.ritchie@uws.ac.uk

Further information, including details of how to apply are available at https://jobs.uws.ac.uk/

Closing Date:          21^th June 2021

Interview Date:       14^th July 2021

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.

UWS is a “Disability Confident” employer.

University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520.