Policy/Research Jobs
Purpose of project
The work should build on the previous State of The Sector report which was produced in 2020 and can be found here. This will be used to inform decision-making and new ways of working between the public sector and the VCFSE (voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise) sector.
Background
In 2020, there were over 2,700 charities registered with the Charity Commission as active in Somerset. While the majority are based within the county with a local remit, many others have a broader sphere of activity spreading beyond the county’s boundary. There are also hundreds of additional formal and informal or unregistered voluntary groups across the county.
Together, these make up the local VCFSE sector, performing an essential role in strengthening their communities and enriching individual lives. It is vitally important for the well-being of Somerset’s communities and residents, that the ‘health’ of the sector is monitored and understood. Throughout the Covid pandemic, and the cost of living crisis, these groups provided a lifeline of support and services to individuals within their communities, and they continue to do so. However, these organisations have been hard hit in recent times due to increasing demand and challenges around sustainability and capacity. It is more important than ever to understand the state of the sector and what it needs to grow, develop and thrive in Somerset.
Scope of work
Spark Somerset is committed to innovative and creative approaches to support our communities. We invite interested researchers to design and deliver a mixed-methods approach to the research which will likely include:
- Scoping: conduct an in-depth review of national and regional research; evaluate findings; compare, contrast & report on findings
- Survey: design, develop and administer an online survey which gathers evidence from a range of organisations across the sector (e.g. size, type, purpose); analyse, collate and report findings
- Interviews: recruit and conduct telephone/video/in-person interviews with a cross-representative sample of stakeholders
- Focus groups: recruit and conduct focus groups with a cross-representative sample of stakeholders
Deliverables
The researcher will be expected to:
- Produce a comprehensive report detailing results of the research, including recommendations (see the previous State of The Sector report, published in 2020)
- Produce an executive summary of the report along with an illustrative infographic
- Present the results of the research to the steering group
For further information about this opportunity and how to apply, please visit our website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Trust is delighted to be recruiting for a HR Manager to join our passionate enthusiastic Team. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations the post holder will be responsible for all HR related matters and ensure that Managers can develop to their full potential by upskilling, coaching and providing advice.
The HR Manager is a newly created position reflecting the growth in Trust activities over recent years and the need for a dedicated resource to ensure Trust needs are met as we continue to grow and evolve. This is a great opportunity to be involved in shaping and embedding HR Strategies across all Teams of the Trust.
The successful candidate will be qualified to CIPD level 5 and have proven experience in HR policy and practice. Charity experience would be advantageous however this is not essential.
As an employee of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust you will have access to a huge range of benefits and support, including but not limited to:
· Employer pension contribution up to 7.5%
· Group risk insurance – death in service and income protection
· 27 days annual leave increasing to 30 days in your fifth year of service plus public holidays (pro-rata)
· Staff discount at Dragonfly Cafe
· Free tea and coffee
· Head office in town centre with parking
· Cycle to Work Scheme
· Training and development opportunities
· Confidential Employee Assistance Programme (available 24/7, 365 days a year)
· Two staff wellbeing days per annum
Closing Date: 9am on Monday 15th April 2024 with interviews held on Friday 19th April 2024
(Please note we are only able to accept applications via our application form and when completing the form please ensure you use the ‘supporting statement’ section to evidence how you believe you meet the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the Job Description. This information will be used in our short-listing process).
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Healthwatch Croydon is the local champion for Health and Social Care, commissioned by Croydon Council to hear the views of patients and service users. The Healthwatch Croydon Research and Engagement Officer will work closely with the Engagement Lead and Communications Lead to take forward the work of Healthwatch Croydon on resident engagement and research. This is a core strategic focus for the organisation and builds on a substantial track record. The key responsibility will be to support engagement including outreach, events and research such as data entry and analysis. The role will help deliver against measured outcomes, and maximise the impact of our work.
We are looking for an individual who has a strong interest in health and social care, is comfortable communicating with the public and colleagues at all levels. The role requires someone who enjoys a varied role, working as part of a small, friendly and cohesive team. Someone who enjoys creating content, who equally enjoys working with data as well as people, and is methodical with an eye for detail. A candidate who is keen to learn and grow will have the opportunity to gain various experiences in the role.
About Public Voice
Public Voice is a Community Interest Company (CIC) with a mission to improve neighbourhoods, the lives of the people who live in them and the public services they use.
Through our work, we ensure people in the community are heard – bringing together diverse voices and including those who find themselves marginalised or are rarely reached by service providers. We take a usercentred, co-production approach to understanding individuals’ and communities’ needs, and translate that into meaningful insights for service providers in government, public health, and housing. The results are better outcomes for residents and service users, more effective and efficient services for providers, and stronger and healthier neighbourhoods.
To apply, please submit a copy of your CV and a personal statement of no more than two sides of A4 detailing your suitability for the role.
We translate the insights and needs of people into actions to improve public services, leading to reduced inequalities and improved outcomes.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Description
Job Title: PLAY Research Analyst
Reporting to: Global Programme Manager
Hours: 37.5 Hours per week
Location: Multiple locations in Bombali, Karene, Koinadugu and Falaba
Time Frame: 18-month contract (February 2024 – July 2025)
Our Organisation:
Street Child believes that every child deserves the chance to go to school and learn. Our projects focus on a combination of education, child protection and livelihood support to address the social, economic and structural issues that underpin today’s education crisis. We partner with local organisations and communities to deliver our locally rooted programmes, using evidence to drive learning and the refinement and scale up of programmes to create maximum impact for the most children at the lowest cost. We pride ourselves on being willing to go to the world’s toughest places where others won’t, including remote, hard-to-reach areas and fragile, disaster-affected states across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Since 2008 we have helped over 1,000,000 children to go to school and learn.
The programme:
Playful Learning Across the Years 2.0: Quality Tool Testing, Learning and Pathways to Program Improvement and Systemic Uptake (PLAY 2.0) is a multi-country level programme leaded by the Education Development Centre and Street Child in partnership with the LEGO Foundation. PLAY 2.0 aims to conduct research measurement of the quality of child-centred pedagogies and their contribution to holistic outcomes for children in 450 classrooms in centres and schools across Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. PLAY 2.0 proposes to administer the PLAY 2.0 tools to educators and children to improve the tools’ use across countries and cultures, with a particular focus on crisis-affected contexts; to verify the contribution of child-centred pedagogies to holistic outcomes for children; and understand the tools’ potential to inform program improvement. PLAY 2.0 offers an outstanding opportunity to focus on the aspects of child-centred approaches that are closest to children, including agency, self-sustaining engagement, self-led exploration, and other essential elements of meaningful learning. The project provides a platform to test and adapt these tools across the three countries - and in turn, contributes to integrate and improve on the implementation of integrated pedagogies, influence their adoption, and support children at critical junctures.
The role:
Street Child is seeking a driven, detail-oriented Research Analyst to lead and effectively deliver on the PLAY 2.0 research project in Sierra Leone. The Research Analyst is responsible for the overall management of data in the research study, including codification, standardisation and strategic coherence of our data collection, collation, managing analytical approaches, documentation, translation, transcription, and ensuring the data requirements of the programme are met and well communicated to the partners. This is an outstanding opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research at a significant scale, and to enable research-informed interventions through strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.
Key Responsibilities:
Data Collection and analysis (60%)
- Establish and embed rigorous, robust data collection, collation and cleaning protocols and databases for rapid data processing to assure the availability of data for analysis;
- Facilitate qualitative interviews including designing questionnaires, conduct interviews, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to gather relevant information from target customers, industry experts, and stakeholders.
- Explore and embed innovative approaches, including digital approaches, and inclusive approaches adapted for abilities, age, gender, geographies, etc to expand and enhance data quality;
- Liaising with implementing partners and local teams, managing data enumerators and ensuring that work is delivered to time and quality expectations;
- Ensure external and internal project reports are provided in a timely manner, summarizing data and presenting the implications of the results in written reports
- Assist and assure adherence to appropriate data storage policies and procedures, to protect the confidentially, integrity, and privacy of participants and participant information, including appropriate ethical protocols and safeguarding policies and procedures;
- Transcription, translation, and review of interview information: Convert qualitative data, such as audio recordings, into written documents, ensuring accuracy and quality. Accurately review information obtained from interviews and FGDs.
- Ensure completeness of forms, including checking collected data for accuracy and consistency to ensure all necessary information is captured.
- Follow data quality and sampling protocols: According to specific guidelines and tools for data collection to ensure proper sampling and data quality.
- Review and edit collected data, checking for errors, both intentional and unintentional and make necessary corrections.
- Keep key personnel informed about progress and issues in the field and seek guidance when needed.
- Ensure data quality by engaging in quality control exercises to identify missing or erroneous data.
Research Coordination [25%]
- Provide coordination and surge support for external/internal consultants to assure integrity and quality of research and evidence;
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to gather feedback, validate findings, and ensure research alignment with client expectations.
- Choose appropriate venues for interviews and ensure consent from all participants in collaboration with implementing partners
- Collaborate with team members and communicate effectively with country programme team, partners and global team during fieldwork.
Evidence Dissemination [10%]
- Prepare detailed reports, presentations, and summaries of research findings. Present research outcomes to internal teams and clients, highlighting key insights and recommendations.
- Ensure excellent presentation of evaluations and evidence of impact to funders, partners, and programme participants, using a range of verbal and visual tools to communicate impact, including digital tools;
- Contribute to Organisational Priorities [5%]
- Provide capacity strengthening and surge support for internal researchers and evaluators to assure integrity and quality of research results and evidence;
- Provide ad-hoc basis support to the research team, local partners, present findings with the wider group including sectors
- Represent the organization professionally: Present Street Child in a professional and accurate manner while interacting with target stakeholders and beneficiaries.
- Carry out any other related duties that are within his/her skills and abilities in agreement with line manager.
Person Specification / Education / Essential / Desirable
- Educated to degree level or higher in related field (Monitoring and evaluation, analysis etc)
- Accreditation or certification in specific areas relevant to role
Experience / Essential / Desirable
- Substantial experience (minimum 3 years) in mixed methods and qualitative and quantitative methodologies and methods, including instrumentation tools
- Experience and knowledge of data collection through mobile apps (Kobo Collect, ODK, ONA, DDG, etc.)
- Prior experience in interviewing and facilitating KII, FGDs, and in-depth interviews or beneficiary selection.
- Experience of using statistical software [NVIVO, SPSS, STATA, etc]
- Experience and interest in the education sector
- Previous experience of working in the Northern province.
- Experience in [quasi-] experimental research
- Previous experience of working with NGOs, civil society, UN or relevant government departments
- Experience using and working with CommCare
Capabilities and competencies / Essential / Desirable:
- Comprehensive understanding of inclusive approaches
- Good project management skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and Krio
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently in a high-stress environment;
- Excellent listening, interpersonal and public presentation skills
- Excellent computer literacy in MS Office programs (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook);
- Ability to positively influence others and successfully reconcile differences.
- Comprehensive understanding of sectoral standards including CHS on Quality and Accountability
- Experience in education and research programmes
- Local language skills – Temne, Fula, Susu, Loko (Southwestern Mande), Kuranko, Mandinka
Other:
- Commitment to our vision, mission and values
- Commitment to protecting the rights of children in all circumstances
- Commitment to localisation and local action
- Credibility in advice and assistance provision, with a high degree of responsiveness and reliability
- Reflective, responsive and respectful towards communities and colleagues Resilient in challenging circumstances
Street Child’s commitment to Safeguarding:
Street Child is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the communities we serve, our partners, our volunteers, and our staff. As part of this commitment to safeguarding, all offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks, including a Criminal Records check. Street Child also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
To apply:
Street Child welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Please submit your CV and a covering note explaining why you think you could make an extraordinary impact in this role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and so interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.