Vacancy: Project Leader, Scottish Social Care Research Governance Framework

30th July 2018

NRS are looking to appoint a Project Leader, who will be based within the Central Management Team, to lead the development of a Research Governance Framework (RGF) to meet the needs of Scotland’s Social Care Services employers, staff, and service users and their families.

Half-time one year fixed term £30-£40k
(Secondments will be considered)

Closing date: Friday 24 August 2018

The precise span of the new framework will need to be defined through a process of engagement. This will require consultation with a broad number of interests not covered by the RGF, including adult and children’s social care services, housing, community justice and others.

A short life working group has been established to oversee this development and to assist and enable the Project Leader to successfully deliver the desired outcome.

Background and context

In 2017 the UK introduced a Research Governance Framework (RGF) for “Health and Social Care” which replaced UK country specific frameworks. However, with respect to social care, the RGF differs in its applicability within each home nation.

The UK Framework’s scope excludes children’s social care research in England and Scotland (except where the project also involves health research) and both adult and children’s social care research in Northern Ireland and Wales. This is to accommodate differences between the definition and nature of research in those different health and social care contexts and also because of differences between each nation’s approach to, and legislative arrangements for, social work and social care provision.

In Scotland, the RGF, therefore, applies to all health and adult social care related research conducted within the NHS or using NHS data or tissue. It does not apply to children’s social care research or to adult social care research outside the NHS (for example, research undertaken by a local authority or in relation to criminal justice social work). This represents no change from the previous Scotland-only research governance framework. However, during the consultation, the matter of excluding social care research in Scotland was raised and Ministers agreed a complementary framework should be developed to meet the needs of those parts of social work and social care not covered by the RGF.

The person

You will be a qualified senior professional who is or has recent experience of working closely with, or within, Scotland’s Social Care Services, with practical experience of conducting research within the sector; as well as possessing an excellent understanding of the wider research environment within both social care services and NHS Scotland.

Scope and range of skills and knowledge

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate:

Experience of close working and excellent understanding of the social care sector, possibly in a senior organisational or management role
Professional organisational and project management skills – knowledge and experience of planning, setting goals and milestones, doing so collaboratively, engaging widely, and communicating on progress and issues
Relationship building, negotiation and influencing skills – working effectively with groups of people to develop and articulate a consensus
Research experience – experience of conducting research in a social care setting
Resilience – capacity to proactively seek solutions in the face of difficulties or resistance and overcome challenges
Confidence – the ability to represent and present the project at all levels and settings.

The post

The Project Leader post is considered to be broadly equal to NHS Band 7 (approximately £31k-£41k) and is offered as a half-time commitment for a fixed term of one year.

The NHS Research Scotland Central Management Team (CMT), is funded by a grant from the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government and is based within Scottish Health Innovations Limited (SHIL), an independent company owned by NHS Tayside, the NHS National Waiting Times Centre Board and the Scottish Ministers.

Although the Central Management Team is physically located within the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank, this is a national role and the post holder will travel extensively within Scotland so daily attendance will not be necessary.

Secondments from an existing post will be considered, subject to approval from the existing employer.

If you would like to apply for the role, please send a Covering Letter and CV to Lyndsey Wilson, Office Manager.

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