Research Associate, CASCADE

Cardiff University School of Social Sciences is seeking to recruit a Research Associate to work within the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Research Centre that is located within the School.

In this role you will be working on a research project, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, titled “Evaluation of family group conferencing for children and families: Context, implementation, and effectiveness”  Family group conferences (FGCs) in child welfare bring immediate and wider family members together to decide on the best way to meet a child’s needs. Unlike in professionally-led traditional case conferences, decision-making is shared with family members.

Qualitative and mixed-method research with FGC participants tends to show positive experiences: most participants feel their voices are heard; FGCs facilitate family-driven solutions and closer relationships - within families and with social workers. Although there is an existing literature on FGCs, there is a paucity of robust comparative UK evaluations. Comparative studies internationally have focused on a fairly narrow range of outcomes, not recognised the importance of context on FGC effects, and paid little attention to quality of delivery. Some qualitative studies have considered process and context but there is scant measurement of these.

The aim of this study is to establish how FGCs improve outcomes for families and what factors vary their quality. Given the importance of process and context, an evaluation informed by realist and complex systems approaches is needed.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), fixed term from 1st May 2024 until 30th September 2025.

Salary: £39,347 - £44,263 per annum (Grade 6), with 4 annual increments up to £44,263 per annum (final salary at top of grade).

Responsible to Professor Jonathan Scourfield

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Jonathan, Scourfield@cardiff.ac.uk Tel 029 2087 5402

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (including bank holidays), blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

As the biggest university in Wales – and a major employer, with more than 7,000 staff – we are an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with great benefits and opportunities for progression.

Closing date: Wednesday, 3 April 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

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