Research Officer

Role overview

This position is part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway and plays an important role in delivering ethical, rigorous and useful research. The postholder will help advance a developing research programme focused on the lived experience, risk factors, transitions and outcomes of people with personality difficulties and complex needs in both custodial and community environments.

The role is based in Resettle (Intensive Intervention & Risk Management Services) in Liverpool, with travel required to other OPD locations. The postholder will also work closely with colleagues on the wider OPD research team based elsewhere.

Resettle is a supportive community service bringing together NHS, HMPPS and police staff to work with people leaving prison, with the aim of managing risk and supporting psychological needs in order to drive meaningful change.

What the role involves

You will take ownership of the successful delivery of defined research projects and related activities. The work will include mixed-methods evaluations, longitudinal studies and feasibility studies, with particular emphasis on recruiting participants, carrying out fieldwork, analysing data and engaging stakeholders.

You will collaborate closely with NHS, HMPPS and academic partners, helping ensure that findings are translated into trauma-informed, psychologically informed and evidence-based practice across the OPD pathway.

You will also use project management methods and tools to monitor progress, keep plans aligned to changing needs, and make sure deliverables are completed on time and to the required standard. In addition, you will help develop and maintain programmes and projects within a strong governance framework that supports quality and compliance across the OPD Pathway, the Trust, HMPPS and academic collaborators.

About Mersey Care

Mersey Care is one of the largest providers of physical and mental health services in the North West, supporting over 1.4 million people across the region and delivering commissioned services across the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

The Trust provides specialist inpatient and community services across physical health, mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury care. It is also one of only three trusts in the UK offering high secure mental health facilities.

Everything the organisation does is guided by its commitment to perfect care: care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. The Trust encourages staff to do their best work and collaborates with service users, families and carers to co-design future services. It is also undergoing organisational and service transformation to improve quality while reducing cost safely.

Additional information

Flexible working requests will be considered for this role.

For an informal discussion, contact Dr Sue Ryan, Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist, by email at [email protected] or by phone on 0151 832 3340.