Job info	Job info details
Job title	Research Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Public Health
Service	Public Health
Business unit	Public Health
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Consultant in Public Health
Accountable to (line manager)	Consultant in Public Health
Salary grade	I
JE ref	PH24

1. Key purpose of job

• The main purpose of the job is to develop research capability within the Public Health, Adult Social Care and Children’s directorates in the Council and to provide leadership in Public Health research applications, training, and bids, in collaboration with the National Institute for Health Research Peninsula Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN). 

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• The intended outcomes of these activities are:
  • Measurable increase in research skills, capacity and capability across Public Health, Adult Social care and Children’s Directorates. 
  • Improved collaboration between local academic and public sector bodies. 
  • Increase in the number of research applications and successful bids. 
  • Increased participation in National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and associated research across the council. 
  • Increase in the numbers of staff supporting research activity. 
  • Increased use of applied and operational research across the geography. 

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• The main duties and responsibilities of the post will be to:
  • Develop a research function within Public Health and Adults / Children’s Directorates, promoting research and engaging key colleagues in the development and delivery of Clinical Research Network (CRN) portfolio research. 
  • Lead the creation of systems to deliver public health and social care research within the Local Authority. 
  • Lead the development of research skills of staff within Public Health, Social Care and Children’s services. 
  • Develop an appropriate ethics and governance framework, with associated training. 
  • Influence and engage with teams within the Local Authority to promote the research agenda, promoting participation. 
  • Build a culture of research readiness across Public Health, Children’s and Adult Social Care, instilling a value and enthusiasm for research, and an ability to understand the inter-relationship between research and improvements in practice. 
  • Maximise innovation in service delivery through participation in research. 
  • Establish a network of contacts, within and external to the Local Authority, to deliver the research agenda. 
  • Manage and prioritise a portfolio of work projects. 
  • Act as an expert research and academic resource across Public Health, Children’s and Adult Social Care. 
  • Collaborate with local Clinical Research Networks / Local Authorities across the Peninsula and nationally, to share learning, innovation and knowledge. 
  • Identify learning needs in relation to research planning, setup and delivery in the Local Authority. 
  • Lead engagement with potential partner organisations to identify eligible public health or population-based studies for adoption on to the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) portfolio. 
  • Foster early engagement with the Clinical Research Network at the grant development stage. 
  • Adopt ongoing studies and identify new studies to be included in the Clinical Research Network portfolio. 
  • Broker relationships between universities, statutory and voluntary sector organisations to develop new joint research collaborations and programmes. 
  • Lead and support the development and submission of strategically significant research proposals to external funders, such as the National Institute of Health and Care Research, working collaboratively across Local Authorities, the Clinical Research Network, and Higher Education Institutions. 
  • Lead and support the development of local communities of practice bringing together NHS, local authority and academic teams in relation to research and evaluation. 
  • Provide regular updates on outputs and outcomes to the National Institute of Health and Care Research and Clinical Research Network and contribute to wider national evaluations as appropriate. 
  • Lead for the Local Authority on the evaluation of the work. 
  • Present work nationally and regionally or internationally as required. 
• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• Manage the budget of any relevant research bids. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• No direct line management responsibilities.  Influence across departments and teams. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Hybrid working including travelling to meetings, training and conferences. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demands. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Laptop and phone. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

• External:
  • LCRN Local Clinical Research Network, 
  • NIHR National Institute of Health and Care Research, 
  • Local Authorities within the South West and nationally, 
  • Devon Integrated Care System and constituent partners, 
  • NHS, 
  • Higher Education Institutions, 
  • Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations, 
  • Local communities, 
  • Commercial partners, business and hospitality. 
• Internal: 
  • Public Health team, 
  • Adult Social Care team, 
  • Children’s Services team, 
  • Other teams within the Council including Place directorates and Corporate functions. 

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job. 

Other Information

• All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children's Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council. 
• The post is eligible for both hybrid working.
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Research Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Public Health
Service	Public Health
Business unit	Public Health

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Strong research skills. 
• Analysis and interpretation of complex health and care data & information. 
• Research skills including developing a research project, evidence review, quantitative and qualitative research delivery and writing for publication. 
• Bid writing skills including ideas generation, collaboration with partners, drafting, analysis, development of outcomes, and evaluation plans. 
• Strong communication skills including the ability to present complex issues clearly and engagingly to a range of target audiences, professional and public. 
• Effective negotiating and facilitation skills including dealing with conflicting opinions and opposition. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with a range of different people using different methods in a tactful and diplomatic way. 
• Able to work across organisational and professional boundaries to achieve results. 
• Ability to convene stakeholders to develop a successful project. 
• Able to plan and manage projects within a changing environment. 
• Organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise workloads within timescales and meet deadlines, to operate effectively across complex work cultures and environments. 
• Flexible approach to a range of work. 
• Proficiency in the use of desktop applications (Microsoft Office) MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint. 
• Ability to work simultaneously on a number of projects. 
• Ability to inspire, engage and persuade others. 
• Excellent organisational skills, prioritisation and time management. 
• Ability to work well independently and also as an effective and enthusiastic member of a team. 
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Application of evidence based public health. 
• Project / programme management. 
• Social marketing and framing. 
• Public engagement. 

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Strong knowledge and understanding of research. 
• Understanding of the UK health research landscape. 
• Understanding of the public health agenda, epidemiology and the wider determinants of health. 
• Understanding of the principles and practice of social marketing, community development and engagement. 
• Understanding of the complexities of working with a wide range of commissioners and service providers. 
• Good understanding of the regional research institutions and how to engage effectively with them: National Institute of Health Research, Peninsula Clinical Research Network, Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration, South West Academic Health Sciences Network. 
• Understanding of the principles of population health management and linked data. 

Desirable knowledge

• Understanding of local authority processes and systems. 
• Knowledge of the local area. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Experience of undertaking research and academic work. 
• Experience of creating and working in partnerships across a range of sectors and seniority levels. 
• Experience of partnership working with a wide range of agencies, organisations, third sector, statutory and commercial sectors. 
• Experience of working with the NIHR and/or NIHR CRN. 
• Experience of leading and delivering teaching and training programmes. 
• Experience in the use and application of complex linked datasets. 
• Experience in delivering clear and concise reports and presentations. 
• Experience of problem solving, being innovative and creative in terms of designing and implementing solutions. 
• Positive track record of motivating, persuading and influencing colleagues and other stakeholders. 
• Experience in public health research. 
• Experience of successfully managing own workload and taking responsibility for projects. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience of evaluating public health initiatives and programmes. 
• Project management. 
• Experience of dealing and engaging with a wide range of people including communities, in particular with marginalised members of the community and vulnerable groups and individuals. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Masters level degree or equivalent. 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

N/A

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. 
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties. 
• Ability to accommodate hybrid working.