Job Description
College of Social Sciences
Location: 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 (22.5 hours per week)
Fixed Term contract up to May 2028
Interviews to take place 31st March 2026
Closing date: 17th March 2026
Background
To assist in research (by carrying out data collection and analyses) within an NIHR funded research project – Improving Communication of Adults with Learning Disabilities (ICALD). The post is situated in the Intellectual Disabilities Research Institute (IDRIS) in the School of Social Policy and Society.
IDRIS is an applied cross‑University research institute established in October 2024 with the appointment of Professor Richard Hastings as 125th Anniversary Chair and Professor of Psychology Health and Social Care. It also includes, in Social Policy and Society, three other professorial staff, an associate professor, two senior research fellows, a full‑time administrator, and a number of research fellows, research assistants, and PhD students.
Most staff are employed on/funded through external research grants, especially from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Other members of IDRIS are based in Schools and Departments across the Colleges of the University. IDRIS works in close co‑productive relationships with people with intellectual disabilities, family carers, and with disability advocacy and professional organisations.
IDRIS’s research and policy/practice impact is across the lifespan and across sectors (education, health, social care). Staff are engaged mainly in research on the development and evaluation of interventions and services to support individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
The ICALD project addresses two questions: What are the challenges to consistent delivery of communication‑focused support for people with learning disabilities and severe communication challenges? Can a co‑produced workforce development package designed to address these challenges deliver consistent, high‑quality communication‑based support? The project aims to identify challenges in consistent delivery of communication‑focused support in residential care settings for adults with learning disabilities and to co‑produce and evaluate a workforce development package that reduces barriers to delivering high‑quality communication‑focused support practices.
The post holder will be responsible for evaluating the project’s co‑produced intervention in social care settings by assessing how it is being delivered by social care staff. The post holder will use advanced knowledge of practice leadership to carry out a process evaluation of a co‑produced education workforce development programme around supporting good communication for people with learning disabilities.
Role Summary
* Work within specified research grant – ICALD
* Operate within area of specialism
* Contribute to publications
Main Duties
* Collect research data with people with learning disabilities and their family and paid carers; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews.
* Analyse research data as directed, using extensive knowledge and experience of practice leadership.
* Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters.
* Develop or adapt techniques, models and methods.
* Provide guidance as required to support staff and any students who may be assisting with research.
* Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
* 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.
Person Specification
* Degree or equivalent in relevant subject area.
* Practical experience of applying the relevant skills and techniques to improve the quality of support in adult social care services supporting people with learning disabilities.
* Extensive experience of evaluating the implementation of relevant models, techniques or methods (including practice leadership and staff training) in adult social care services supporting people with learning disabilities.
* Ability to analyse information and communicate effectively, particularly with people with learning disabilities, their paid and family carers.
* Ability to access and organise resources successfully.
* Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and how to actively ensure in day‑to‑day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
Informal enquiries to Jill Bradshaw, email: j.bradshaw.2@bham.ac.uk
Important
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.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr