Do you think it is important that children and young people have the chance to fulfil their potential – and that services for them should be effective in helping them achieve the best outcomes they can?

Could you support staff working directly with vulnerable and marginalised children and young people to evaluate their work and to develop an outcome focus across all their practice?

The Children’s Society is committed to learning from our successful programmes and to finding out how we can improve all our services.

We are in an exciting phase of our long-term plan to build a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach. As part of this we will be putting children and young people themselves at the heart of evaluation – by applying the expertise we gained around measuring well-being from our national research programme.

We are seeking a dedicated researcher who can engage staff in this vision. If you have strong evaluation skills, and understand the day-to-day pressures of direct practice, this would be a good opportunity to join an established Research Unit where there will be opportunities to contribute to a varied and interesting portfolio of work.

This post may be available as a secondment. Please indicate on your application if you wish to be considered for secondment from your current employer. In the first instance, the post is available until 31st March 2011, pending funding decisions.

As well as a strong commitment to your development, we offer a generous holiday entitlement, a contributory stakeholder pension, childcare vouchers and flexible working.

Assessment and interviews: 15th or 16th September 2010.

Job Description

Title:

Evaluation Researcher

Location:

Edward Rudolf House, Margery Street, London, WC1X 0JL.

Reward Band:

SFN: £26,309 - £29,969 (plus London weighting, £3,277)

CRB Level Required:

Enhanced

Reporting to:

Senior Researcher

Job Purpose:

• To contribute to the development of evaluation research undertaken by the Research Unit.
• To work closely with Children and Young People’s division operational staff to develop evaluation and an outcomes focus for practice.
• To take a lead role in supporting a portfolio of projects with evaluation.

Key Activities:

• To contribute effectively to the development and piloting of evaluation methods and instruments.
• To build positive relationships with programme teams and managers in the CYP Division to promote and consolidate evaluation within projects.
• To deliver training to project teams around evaluation.
• To negotiate effectively with young people, parents, carers, project staff and managers, and external professionals in order to carry out evaluation studies.
• To undertake evaluation research fieldwork and data collection from young people, parents, carers, project staff and external professionals.
• To collate, input and process evaluation research data and associated information.
• To undertake data analysis and prepare internal reports on the outcomes of this analysis.
• To conduct literature reviews.
• To represent the Research Unit in organisational meetings and working groups as appropriate.
• To contribute to dissemination activities related to evaluation.
• To work with children and your people to enable them to have a voice and influence in our work.
• In addition, the Evaluation Researcher will be expected to take a lead role in coordinating evaluation work with a portfolio of TCS projects, and in relation to these projects:
  • to develop and implement an evaluation plan in collaboration with the project team including paying close attention to ethical issues
  • to be responsible for negotiations with external agencies
  • to be responsible for monitoring and managing the efficient and effective use of allocated resources
  • to write reports as necessary or appropriate
    

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have:

Education

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.

Experience/Knowledge

• Substantial experience of direct practice with children and young people.
• Experience of undertaking evaluation.
• Understanding of evaluation research methodologies (and preferably training or qualifications around evaluation).
• Understanding of the ethical issues involved in undertaking research with young people into sensitive topic areas.

Skills

• Strong skills in engaging and negotiating with a wide range of people.
• Skills in data analysis.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Relevant IT skills (Microsoft Office).

Core Competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to:

• Work with only general supervision.
• Determine goals for self and others and take initiative to solve problems.
• Confidently make use of knowledge and skills to generate practical solutions to problems which arise.
• Positively promote The Children’s Society’s image and values.
• Build effective networks with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Lead small departmental meetings.
• Deliver concise written and verbal communications that are readily understood, simple to interpret and avoid jargon.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of high standards of research practice, seeking and utilising feedback from key stakeholders.
• Provide leadership on small evaluation projects; setting an example for, and giving direction and support to, others.
• Contribute to the development of quality assurance and control processes and ensure that they are implemented.
• Manage allocated resources for specific evaluation projects efficiently and effectively.

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Regular travel within England
• Some anti-social hours and overnight stays

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions)

 
Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you personally can succeed in this role and The Society you will need:

• An understanding and commitment to the mission, vision and values of the organisation.
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to The Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.
• A commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice.
• To be an effective team worker.