Role Profile Form
Job Title:Research Associate/Fellow (Title will be ‘Research Associate’ where an appointment is made before PhD is completed)
School/Department: School of Health Sciences
Salary:£25,513 - £37,394per annum pro rata, depending on skillsand experience (minimum £28,695 (pro rata) with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance
Job Family and Level:Research Level 4
(Appointment will be Level 4 Career training grade where an appointment is made before PhD has been completed)
Contract Status:This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for a period of 26 months from the 1st October 2015 until the 30th November 2017.
Hours of Work: 0.8 FTE
Location: School of Health Sciences, Division of Midwifery Floor 12,
Tower Block Park Campus, Nottingham University
Reporting to: Dr Denis Walsh
Purpose of the role
To work in a multi-disciplinary team on an HSDR funded project ‘Factors influencing the
utilisation of free-standing and alongside midwifery units in England: A Mixed Methods
Research Study’
1. / Update literature review
2. / Prepare research ethics and governance submissions
3. / Map configuration, organisation and operation of Midwifery Units (MUs) in England
Conduct telephone interviews of Heads of Midwifery (HoMs) and Consultant Midwives in relation to above
4. / Conduct telephone interviews of HoMs where MUs have closed in past 8 years
5. / Contribute to media analysis of local media coverage in places where MUs have closed in past 8 years
6. / Assist with data collection in 6 case study sites (NB this will involve working at case study sites around England for several days at any one time on several occasions to support data collection) and analysis
7. / Recruitment of research participants
8. / Undertake quantitative data collection and analysis using SPSS
9. / Attend and contribute to research team meetings and prepare meeting papers as required
10. / Produce written reports as required and contribute to developing papers for publication
11. / Attend and present research findings at relevant research group meetings and conferences
12. / Follow the approved School safety procedures for lone working
13. / Perform any duties appropriate to a Research Fellow within the School of health Sciences
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience
Essential / DesirableQualifications/ Education / PhD or equivalent in relevant subject area or the equivalent in professional qualifications and experience in research area.
OR near to completion of a PhD
Skills/Training / Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with clarity on complex information.
Ability to apply relevant research approaches, models, techniques and methods.
Ability to build relationships and collaborate with others, both internally and externally.
Experience / Possess high levels of initiative, commitment to deadlines and team interaction
Flexible & able to travel for fieldwork and to be based at case study sites for several days on several occasions
Demonstrate a commitment to continuing personal/ professional development
Experience of both quantitative and qualitative research approaches
Co-operate with the University of Nottingham in ensuring as far as is necessary that Statutory requirements, Codes of Practice, Research Governance requirements, University Policies and School/ Departmental health and safety arrangements are complied with / Experience of undertaking research in a maternity care setting
Familiarity with the policy context and developments in contemporary midwifery services
Statutory/Legal
Informal enquires may be addressed to Dr Denis Walsh, tel: +44 (0) 115 82300987 or Email: or Professor Helen Spiby, tel: 0115 823 0820 or email: Please note that applications sent directly to this Email address will not be accepted.
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