Research Associate (Navigating Neurodisability Through The Prison Gates)

Are you an experienced qualitative researcher who enjoys working collaboratively with partners across justice, health and social care? We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our NIHR SSCR–funded project as a Research Associate, supporting a major study examining social care support for people with neurodisability in prison and during their transition into the community.

We are seeking a qualitative researcher with a strong track record in designing, conducting and analysing in-depth qualitative studies, alongside hands-on experience of working with marginalised groups, including those experiencing neurodisability or barriers due to neurodivergence. You will be committed to inclusive, trauma-informed and co-produced approaches, and feel confident building trust and working sensitively with people in prison and as they move back into the community. You may be in the final stages of your PhD, or have recently completed one, and you will be ready to navigate complex justice, health and social care environments, collaborating with partners to ensure that the voices of people with neurodisability are heard and acted upon.

The study, Navigating Neurodisability Through the Prison Gates, is a co-produced, multi-site, longitudinal project delivered in partnership with Access Social Care, Revolving Doors, NHS RECONNECT, prison neurodiversity teams, probation services and local authority social care. You’ll play a central operational role, coordinating fieldwork, supporting co-researchers in prison, and conducting interviews with staff and people leaving custody.

What You Will Do
In this varied and meaningful role, you will:

• Coordinate project logistics across prisons, probation, and community settings.
• Manage complex interview schedules involving multiple partners.
• Support co-researchers in custody through training, reflective sessions and fieldwork preparation.
• Conduct interviews with practitioners and individuals leaving prison.
• Maintain records, risk registers and reporting systems in line with NIHR SSCR requirements.
• Support preparation of HMPPS, HRA and University ethics documentation.
• Coordinate advisory groups, workshops and dissemination activities.
• Assist with toolkit development, webpage updates and partner contributions.
• Ensure data governance, GDPR, HMPPS and ethical protocols are followed.

This role gives you the opportunity to develop advanced skills in multi-site qualitative research, co-production, trauma-informed practice and justice-system engagement.

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