Job description

Available for 26 months from the 1st January 2022 to the 29th February 2024 this post is open to applicants with knowledge and experience of ethnographic research (in particular, of collaborative or embedded approaches, and/or the use of co-production methods). The research project is part of the UKRI Healthy Ageing Programme and is entitled, Healthier Working Lives (HWL), and will be based in Edinburgh, working closely with the project team at the University of Edinburgh and Scottish Care, as well as the Project Investigator and Project Manager who are based at KCL.  This is a highly innovative cross-sectoral project offering many opportunities for the post holder to develop research skills and options for working in a range of arenas.  Project partners in HWL include: Creative Venue, who are highly experienced in innovation through co-design; CodeBase, the largest technology incubatorin the UK/EU; Scottish Care, an umbrella organisation for 400 care providers in Scotland; and the Universities of Edinburgh, King’s College and Reading. The project also maintains close working partnerships with the Advanced Care Research Centre (ACRC) at the University of Edinburgh and Legal and General. 

HWL is concerned with the recruitment, retention, and job development of the over 50s working in residential care. The research team are working closely with care workers to co-produce ideas to improve working experiences and employment opportunities. These ideas will be considered for their potential to develop new technological, organisational and morale boosting products or services for workers. Care workers will be encouraged to work with companies and designers to consider how they can become intrapreneurs in our mutual pursuit of job and sector improvements.  The post-holder will be required to conduct ethnographic study of the processes of engagement beween researchers, care workers of different levels of seniority, care management, companies, designers and potential investors, and HWL’s network of advisors. 

The job will be based in Edinburgh, albeit the post holder will be employed by KCL. Fieldwork will be conducted across the Borders, Central Belt, Fife and Dundee. A work location will be available in Edinburgh in the offices of the ACRC (BioQuarter, Little France, Edinburgh) and specifically with the ACRC’s ethnographic and qualitative research team, which is managed by HWL Co-Investigator, Dr Sue Lewis. The postholder will be required to undertake literature reviews, conduct fieldwork and participant engagement activities on-site (when conditions permit) and online, analyse ethnographic and qualitative data using appropriate software, as well as disseminate results verbally and in writing to a range of audiences and stakeholders. It is also important to ensure that good working relationships are promoted and the postholder will work with and support the Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators and Knowledge Network. This will include a collective responsibility for maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with participants over time, and for working with colleagues and participants to co-produce innovative solutions on workforce issues in the residential care sector.  

This post will be offered as a fixed-term contract for 26 months

This is a full-time post

Key responsibilities

• Conduct the ethnographic and qualitative research specified under case for support for the project and as advised and supported by the project team and partners [45%] 
• By working with colleagues and as advised by the project team, contribute to the successful delivery of the research to UKRI and the care sector [15%] 
• Develop and maintain good quality relationships with the study cohort of participants and other stakeholders, including through online resources for communication and engagement (i.e., VOICE) [10%] 
• Conduct reviews of the academic and grey literature, policy documents and other published material relevant to the ethnographic component as required [5%] 
• Engage with the wider Healthy Ageing Programme Community of Practice, and the University of Edinburgh’s Advanced Care Research Centre [5%] 
• Contribute to the dissemination of the outcomes from study, through both oral and written presentation, including social media [2.5%] 
• Take a lead role in the writing up of data for reports and peer reviewed publications (as first author where appropriate), presenting data at relevant meetings and conferences, and preparing feedback for participants. [5%] 
• Support the development and writing of research proposals for submission to national and international funders (e.g. EU, UKRI). [2.5%] 
• Engage with opportunities for personal professional development [10%]
• Comply with the requirements under NHS and/or University Research Ethics standards, and with Research Integrity and Data Management standards [ongoing].

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge  and experience

Essential criteria 

1. A PhD in social science or a related area of research using ethnographic and qualitative methodologies, with a focus on collaborative, embedded or similar approaches.
2. Experience in ethnographic and qualitative data analysis
3. Experience with co-working across sectors and organisations, and a working knowledge of the ethical issues. 
4. Experience with ethnographic and other qualitative data generation and analysis
5. Ability to disseminate results of research to a variety of audiences through written and oral presentations

Desirable criteria 

1. Experience with care or health focused ethnography-based methods  
2. Prior experience of publishing within Co-research, Social Sciences and/or Workforce Planning and Organisational Change.

This post is subject to a Occupational Health Clearance.