Research Associate - School of Social Policy and Society - 107824 - Grade 6 in Birmingham

School of Social Policy and Society
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906
Grade: 6
Part Time, 0.4 FTE (15 hours per week)
Fixed Term contract up to July 2027
Closing date: 27th August 2026

Background
Family members often play a critical role in supporting people with serious mental illness by sustaining hope and offering a sense of belonging and connection. Those outside the family do not always understand the complexities of sustaining family relationships at these times, nor the sometimes unintended harms that families can experience. ‘Carer harm’ takes place when a family carer experiences physical, psychological or sexual violence or abuse by the person for whom they care and the reasons for these harms are often multi-faceted and unintentional. Yet, affected family members face ethical and practical challenges recognising and making sense of the harm they experience, which can in turn affect their ability to seek informal and formal support.

This post is for a research associate to work on a new study Carer harm in the context of families affected by serious mental illness funded by the School for Social Care Research. The study works closely with carer co-researchers and seeks to explore the nature of carer harm in the context of mental illness. It aims to inform future research, improving understanding and outcomes for families and to improve social work/care practice.

This post would be well suited to someone who has experience of applied social and/or health research (including specialist interests around social work, social care and mental health research). Applications are welcomed from people who have experience of supporting or caring for family members, people with mental health needs, and people who have practice experience. The research associate will be offered project-related supervision and support as well as mentorship relating to their ongoing skills and training needs.

This is a part-time post for a fixed period. The research associate will work for 15 hours a week for a nine-month period. There will be flexibility to work remotely or at the University of Birmingham campus for most of the project period, however it is a requirement that the research associate carries out some project-based work in Birmingham.

Applicants are asked to complete a personal statement outlining how they meet the person specification for this role. Applicants are also asked to share their CV (the CV should be no more than two pages long).

Role Summary
Key elements of the research associate’s role will be the collection and analysis of secondary data, working alongside and supporting the carer co-researcher team, and contributing to work to share the study findings (such as writing for publication, presentations, other dissemination activity).

Main Duties

• Collect research data via: Literature review processes, Independent Investigation Reports, Public online carer materials and networks
• Coding and secondary analysis of qualitative data
• Training and support of carer co-researchers, alongside the study lead
• Involvement in writing (for public and specialist audiences) and planning dissemination activities (such as seminar or conference presentations)
• Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research
• Promote equality and value diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture
• Other relevant criteria from our equality and diversity duties document

Person Specification

• Degree or equivalent in relevant subject area
• Practical experience of collecting and analysing qualitative data
• Experience of participatory or collaborative research and/or experience of community engagement or advocacy-related work
• Good inter-personal skills with an ability to work collaboratively, and help others
• Desirable: experience of writing for research publication and/or presenting work (e.g. in meetings, seminars, conferences, via alternative outputs)
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics and duties of the Equality Act 2010 and commitment to ensure its implementation; advancing the university Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)

Informal enquiries to Louise Isham, email: l.j.isham@bham.ac.uk

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.