About this role
Job summary
This role sits within the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway and is critical to the delivery of robust, ethical and impactful research. It will support a growing programme of research into the experiences, risks, transitions and outcomes of individuals exhibiting personality difficulties and complex needs across custodial and community settings. The postholder will have responsibility for the successful delivery of specific projects and activities. They will work in close partnership with NHS, HMPPS, and academic collaborators and ensure that the research informs trauma-informed, psychologically informed and evidence-based practice across the OPD pathway.
This role is based in Resettle (Intensive Intervention & Risk Management Services) in Liverpool but will involve travel to other OPD sites and they will closely liaise with members of the OPD research team who are based elsewhere.
Resettle is a warm and welcoming community team with staff from the NHS, HMPPS and police working together to manage the risks and psychological needs of individuals on release from prison, to effect change.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will have responsibility for the successful delivery of specific projects and activities. They will contribute to mixed-methods evaluations, longitudinal studies, and feasibility research, with a focus on participant recruitment, fieldwork, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement. They will work in close partnership with NHS, HMPPS, and academic collaborators and ensure that the research informs trauma-informed, psychologically informed and evidence-based practice across the OPD pathway.
The postholder will successfully monitor the delivery of project management tools, techniques and experience. They will ensure programmes/ projects/ activities adapt to changing requirements and that plans are adjusted accordingly so that the deliverables are on time and to specified quality. They will initiate, support and manage the on-going and new development of programmes/ projects/ activities supported by a robust governance structure in order to enhance quality and compliance across the OPD Pathway, the Trust, HMPPS and academic collaborators.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job description Job responsibilities
In collaboration with the Research & Data Lead, to oversee implementation and delivery of the rolling programme of research and innovation activities in line with OPD requirements.To support the Research & Data Lead with grant applications, evaluation tenders and business planning.To apply ethical, trauma-informed, and inclusive approaches to research and evaluation within custodial and community settings.To support all aspects of research delivery, including study setup, ethics and governance compliance, and ongoing project coordination and management.To develop, pilot, and administer qualitative and mixed-methods tools such as interview schedules, surveys, and observation protocols.To plan, initiate and project manage the delivery of programmes/projects to time, budget and quality requirements via the application of agreed PMO tools, techniques, and expertise. This will be in collaboration with OPD staff and external partners, to ensure high quality, innovative work, which is compatible with the aims and objectives of the OPD pathway research agenda linked to the Trusts Operational Plan.To promote a research-positive culture by acting as an ambassador for the OPD pathway.To support wider organisational initiatives relating to equity, lived experience, or quality improvement through evidence-informed approaches.To develop robust links with key stakeholders, including those within and external to the Trust and OPD Pathway and relevant university and academic collaborators.
To plan all aspects of programmes/ projects with key stakeholders, documenting, monitoring and evaluating plans.To communicate and engage effectively and establish good working relations with a wide range of people, from all levels and groups including the OPD research team, managers, clinicians, commissioners, HMPPS and NHS OPD central team and academic collaborators.To communicate sensitive information and unwelcome news associated with programmes and projects.To co-ordinate team member responsibilities and allocate tasks to ensure timely delivery of projects and adherence to policy and procedures, ensuring they are equipped to fulfil their project role including identification and provision of training needs.To supervise the Band 4 OPD research assistant and other junior staff, interns, or peer researchers as needed.To monitor customer satisfaction and implement process improvement.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Postgraduate degree (e.g. psychology, Public Health, Applied Social Sciences, Criminology)
Desirable
Research methods training or accreditation in applied social research
Experience Essential
Experience in applied research or evaluation roles Expertise within research, underpinned by theory and practical experience Experience using data analysis software (e.g. SPSS, R, NVivio) Experience supporting service-user or lived experience involvement in research Experience conducting and reporting on qualitative and/or quantitative research Demonstratable experience in applied research or evaluation
Desirable
Experience of research in forensic or mental health settings
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of research in practice, acquired through academic training, plus further management knowledge. Knowledge of research ethics, governance processes, and information security in health or justice settings Knowledge of research ethics and governance frameworks (e.g. HRA)
Desirable
Knowledge of NHD ethics application process Knowledge of the criminal justice system, the Mental health system and the Mental Health Act Awareness or knowledge of Government strategy as it relates to personality disordered offenders
Skills Essential
Excellent interpersonal communication skills, able to engage with all levels of hierarchy, both internal to the Trust and across external stakeholder organisations Ability to negotiate, persuade and manage conflict. Competence in interviewing people with mental health/personality related difficulties
Desirable
Good verbal and written communication skills including report writing, presentations and system specifications Ability to work on own or in a group with minimal direct supervision. A flexible and methodical approach to work to meet the needs of the role, adapts to ensure achievement of objectives within changing environment Excellent IT skills, able to use a wide range of software packages including NVivo, SPSS, R, Microsoft Project, PowerPoint, Excel and produce spreadsheets/ formulas with a good working knowledge of information systems and their role in supporting good project management Ability to work within a multi -professional team 29/04/202 6 and build rapport with all staff Self-motivated and able to work autonomously Ability to project plan and report on performance Ability to keep accurate and complete records consistent with best practice policies and procedures Ability to extract and analyse complex data from multiple sources with strong analytical and investigative skills Occasional travel across sites for fieldwork, stakeholder engagement or in person data collection. Need to be flexible and willing to travel Ability to work within emotionally impactful settings with individuals who may struggle to manage their emotional difficulties
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address Resettle
Unit 1, 3 De Havilland Drive, Speke,
Liverpool
L24 8RN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)