Research Fellow in Applied Care Research (MEND Study)

Faculty of Medicine and Health

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you want to work in a leading centre for social care research? Do you want to be part of an exciting academic and care partnership?

The University of Leeds is undertaking world leading applied health and social care research: we address questions that matter to and benefit people using or delivering care and services. We are a centre of excellence for social care research, hosting an interdisciplinary partnership between care organisations, the university and local authority: Nurturing Innovation in Care Home Excellence in Leeds (NCHE-Leeds).

We have an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Research Fellow to join our team, working on a study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The study will address a national and urgent priority for social care, focusing on potential solutions to address the workforce crisis. The study will develop understanding around how to increase the number and diversity of the male care worker workforce. This topic was raised by the sector, and a wide range of stakeholders were involved in developing the study, including the public, frontline social care staff, care organisation managers, and policy makers. Increasing the number and diversity of male care workers is crucial for ensuring the workforce a) meets the increasing and varied care demands of the population, b) better reflects the mix of adults who require support and care, and c) comprises a mix of talent, skill and experience. The study will utilise mixed methods (evidence review, quantitative and qualitative). 

The study duration is 22 months. The research team includes academic (Dr Reena Devi, Professor Karen Spilsbury, Dr Kirsty Haunch) and social care partners (Skills for Care, National Care Forum, Westward Care, Springfield Healthcare). The MEND study builds on previous NIHR funded research led by the team (including https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR131016; https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/15/144/29), and is part of a portfolio of social care workforce studies being led by the University of Leeds.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – that’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
• Health and Wellbeing: discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team, and self-development courses including languages, Creative Writing, Wellbeing Therapies and more.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more! 

If you are looking to work in a leading centre for social care research, apply today.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Reena Devi (the study Principal Investigator, and Associate Professor in Applied Health and Care Research) via email: R.Devi@Leeds.ac.uk

Further details:

• Candidate Brief

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