Part 1: JOB DESCRIPTION s4

Part 1: JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Researcher

DEPARTMENT: External Affairs

TEAM: Research and Evaluation team

LOCATION: Ewell, Surrey

1.  POSITION IN ORGANISATION

·  Reports into Research Manager

·  Line Manages: No staff

·  Liaises with teams across the organisation, academics and other key stakeholders

·  Works within a team of five

2.  MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

To deliver a new research project for Samaritans, managing all aspects of the study, from developing the design, to working with key stakeholders, undertaking the research, analysing the findings and writing the report.

The research will involve working with a new partner organisation to design and deliver a mixed methods research study in order to:

·  identify if there are any common characteristics of individuals in contact with the partner who have died by suicide

·  identify possible interventions that could have made a difference.

3.  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To design the research study

·  To design and plan a mixed methods study that meets the aims of the research, taking into account the need for ethical approval and stakeholder engagement. The research will include, but may not be limited to:

o  A review of existing literature

o  Analysis of existing quantitative data

o  Mixed methods research with bereaved families

To ensure the research is carried out in line with ethical guidelines

·  To write the application for ethical approval to relevant Ethics Committees

·  To correspond with the Committees as needed to obtain approval

·  To ensure the research is undertaken as approved within ethical guidelines

To manage and deliver the research

·  To manage the different components of the research, enabling the strands to be delivered in a coherent, timely fashion

·  To review the existing literature relevant to suicide and the area of business of the partner organisation

·  To obtain and collect data for each component

·  To complete the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data

To report on the research findings

·  To write up findings from each research component

·  To ensure findings and literature from this research are understood within the context of our existing knowledge about suicide and suicidal behaviour

·  To write a final report with recommendations for policy, practice and services for use by Samaritans and the partner organisation

·  To prepare and agree a dissemination strategy for the research, including writing articles for publication as appropriate

Stakeholder engagement

·  To liaise with the partner organisation, providing updates as necessary and ensuring smooth day to day running of the research

·  To agree processes for managing research participant recruitment and contact with the partner organisation

·  To engage with experts in this area of research to help inform the research

General Duties of a Samaritans’ Staff Member

·  Contribute to the effective and efficient running of the Central Office as appropriate.

·  Participate, as appropriate, in staff forums and meetings.

·  Adhere to Samaritans’ policies and procedures.

·  Represent the Central Office appropriately across the organisation and Samaritans to the wider community as appropriate.

·  Treat all colleagues, volunteers and members of the public with dignity and work within and adhere to Samaritans’ equal opportunities statement and policies.

·  Carry out reasonable requests made that are within the broad remit of the role

Part 2: PERSON SPECIFICATION

4.  SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

·  Excellent qualitative and quantitative research skills

·  Significant experience of scoping, planning and undertaking research using a variety of methodologies.

·  Proven ability to analyse and critically assess a variety of evidence of a variety of kinds, including academic research, grey literature, health and social policy, expert opinion, qualitative and quantitative data.

·  Experience of working productively with a range of internal teams and external stakeholders.

·  Proven ability to extract key points, implications and recommendations from evidence

·  Excellent communications skills with proven ability to write clearly and succinctly for a variety of audiences.

·  Ability to translate complex information into accessible language suitable for non-academic audiences (e.g. internal teams, policy makers, the media, general public).

·  Demonstrable experience of qualitative and quantitative data analysis software packages (NVIVO, SPSS, Excel).

·  Significant experience of undertaking research in a related field (e.g. suicide prevention, mental health, social or health policy.)

Desirable

·  Experience of undertaking research with vulnerable people

·  Experience of working within the third sector or a service delivery environment

·  Knowledge of research on suicide and suicide prevention

·  Experience in writing to a publishable standard

5.  QUALIFICATIONS

Postgraduate degree in relevant social science, policy or health related discipline, including research methods component

6.  PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

·  Highly organised and systematic

·  High degree of accuracy and attention to detail

·  A positive, problem solving approach to obstacles

·  Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and persuade others

·  Commitment to team-working, and respect and consideration for the skills of others

·  Self-motivated, pro-active, innovative, and able to use initiative where appropriate

·  Hardworking and able to structure and prioritise work

·  Excellent time management, with the ability to manage a range of urgent and important tasks.

·  Emotionally resilient to sensitive information.

·  Empathises with Samaritans’ values.

·  Customer-focused.

·  Is willing and able to travel and attend occasional weekend meetings and participate in some out of hours work

Signed by employee:______Date: ______

LAST UPDATED: May 2017

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.