Research Associate in Manchester

Manchester Metropolitan University is seeking to appoint an experienced Qualitative Research Associate (0.8 FTE) to contribute to an independent evaluation of Six Degrees, a social enterprise commissioned to deliver NHS Talking Therapies for Salford. The postholder will provide essential qualitative expertise within a mixed-methods evaluation designed to assess the added value of Six Degrees' relational, community-embedded model of mental healthcare. The work will generate policy-relevant evidence to support service continuation and expansion and form the foundations for peer-reviewed outputs and competitive grant applications. The postholder will work closely with the Principal Investigator and a second researcher focusing on quantitative analysis. The qualitative strand will focus on mechanisms, lived experience, and practitioner insight to give the evaluation explanatory depth and potential for national policy impact and high-quality academic publication.

Six Degrees operates an innovative model of NHS Talking Therapies that differs significantly from standard, recovery-metric-driven approaches. The service emphasises:

• Practitioners embedded in GP practices and community venues
• Outreach to underserved populations, including communities experiencing racialised and socially embedded distress (e.g. Polish and Jewish communities)
• Early intervention for people below conventional clinical thresholds

The evaluation will combine routine service data analysis with in-depth qualitative interview work with service users and practitioners. A key analytical opportunity lies in comparing Six Degrees outcomes with national NHS Talking Therapies data, elevating the study to one with national relevance for mental health policy and service design. The project is also designed as the pilot evidence base for parallel grant applications (e.g. NIHR ARC and HSDR), making this role particularly attractive to candidates interested in research development and impact-focused work.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and deliver a programme of qualitative interviews with service users and practitioners
• Conduct rigorous qualitative data analysis (e.g. thematic, realist-informed, or mechanism-focused approaches)
• Integrate qualitative findings with quantitative results within a mixed-methods framework
• Contribute to academic outputs, including peer-reviewed publications in high-quality journals
• Support the development of follow-on grant applications
• Engage constructively with academic and non-academic partners, including community-based services

About You

You will have:

Essential

• A postgraduate qualification (or equivalent research experience) in a relevant discipline (e.g. social science, psychology, public health, health services research)
• Demonstrable experience of conducting in-depth qualitative research
• Strong qualitative analytical skills and experience producing high-quality written outputs
• An interest in community mental health, health inequalities, or service evaluation
• The ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative research team

Desirable

• Familiarity with NHS Talking Therapies, IAPT, or community mental health services
• Experience of mixed-methods research
• Familiarity with NHS or community-based mental health services
• Experience of mechanism-based, realist, or theory-informed qualitative approaches
• Experience contributing to academic publications or funding applications

Why Join Manchester Met?

• Methodological depth
• Clear policy relevance
• Community-engaged research
• A pathway to strong academic outputs and future funding

Manchester Metropolitan University is a values-led institution with a strong commitment to research with social impact. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our research practice.

For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Prof Peter Coventry at p.coventry@mmu.ac.uk, Principal Investigator. Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support. Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups. Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.