Research Fellow

**About the role**

This role is about developing better knowledge of how changes to community mental health services may have impacted people who live in coastal and rural communities. You will be a 'researcher-in-residence', embedded in two local mental health teams in Cornwall, using qualitative research skills, and working ethnographically to understand how that area is meeting the needs of people from coastal and rural communities. You will work alongside a Community Researcher, who will be researching how local communities are responding to service changes, and as a pair, you will be responsible for developing patient, public and involvement participation in the project (with support from a Research Assistant) as well as data collection (non-participant observation, realist interviews and focus groups, document review) and analysis (realist evaluation). You will also be part of a wider national team and will contribute towards the national Community of Practice for the study.

This is an ideal opportunity for an ambitious research fellow keen to work in a supportive context that will enable you to achieve change for mental health care services and people with lived experience and take the next step in your career.

You will become part of the Community and Primary Care Research Group (CPCRG), in the Faculty of Health at the University of Plymouth. CPCRG is a welcoming and growing research group concerned with improving care through applied health and care research on issues which matter to community and primary care services. CPCRG has strong links across the University, as well as with University of Exeter colleagues through PenARC, and with NHS Trusts and other health and social care organisations, including the third sector and the Health Innovation Network.

You will hold a PhD or equivalent international qualification or commensurate level of recognition/international profile/experience in a relevant discipline. You will also have knowledge of the issues to do with mental health for people living and providing services in coastal and or rural areas. You will have knowledge of co-production and community engagement approaches in the context of mental health service improvement and/or research, and knowledge of realist methodology and methods, researcher-in-residence and ethnographic methodologies of inquiry

This post is a part-time position working 22.2 hours per week, on a fixed-term basis for 21 months from the start date. The days of the week these hours can be worked can be discussed at interview or on notification to the successful applicant.

For this role, you will need to be on site 1 day a week. Although we can accommodate working from home for this role, flexibility to be on-site will be expected due to business needs.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.

**About us**

The Faculty of Health holds four Silver Athena Swan awards, which recognise our commitment to supporting gender equality within higher education.

The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our three strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute, the Sustainable Earth Institute, and the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research. As a member of our academic community, you¼ be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today global challenges.

**Application Process**

Interviews are likely to take place online during the week commencing the 9th June 2025, you will be notified if you have been shortlisted or not.

**Our Offer**

When joining us, you will receive:

- **Generous annual leave**: 35* Days Annual Leave (pro rata if part-time) **plus** Bank Holidays* & Closure Days*
- Generous pension scheme
- Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Development opportunities
- Enhanced family leave
- Flexible working
- Retailer discounts
- On-site nursery
- _Pro rata if part-time_

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here.

**Additional Information**

The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter, please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.

We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented communities at the University of Plymouth, such as people with disabilities, ethnically diverse and LGBT+