Evaluation Researcher

Job summary

Within the Health Innovation South West, we have a dedicated team of Evaluation and Learning specialists who undertake a range of bespoke evaluation and learning projects. The evaluation work we undertake varies in size, scope and complexity, with a range of local, regional and national projects.

We are seeking two mixed-method Evaluation Researchers to work with us, giving you the opportunity to work in a fast-paced and applied context where you can test and understand innovative approaches in real-world settings. You will get to work alongside cutting-edge innovators in health and care systems, to understand impact. This provides the exciting challenge of developing evaluation approaches to suit the context and to see the impact of your work being used to inform and improve delivery.

These roles are offered working in a hybrid environment, with an expectation of 1-2 days a week in the office.

Please note there will be a requirement for an enhanced DBS check, which we will arrange for the successful candidates.

Main duties of the job

Within the Health Innovation South West, we have adedicated team of Evaluation and Learning specialists who undertake a range ofbespoke evaluation and learning projects .The evaluation work we undertake varies in size, scope and complexity,with a range of local, regional and national projects.

Working as a mixed-method Evaluation Researcherwithin our organisation, you will have the opportunity to work in a fast-pacedand applied context where you can test and understand innovative approaches inreal-world settings. You will get towork alongside cutting-edge innovators in health and care systems, tounderstand impact.

You will work across a range of projects committedto developing, testing and evaluating new innovations, interventions or approachesusing quantitative and qualitative approaches.This provides the exciting challenge of developing evaluation approachesto suit the context and to see the impact of your work being used to inform andimprove delivery. Often the findings ofour evaluations are used to understand and advise on the potential for scalingand rolling out promising new solutions and approaches more widely.

About us

Working in collaboration with regional partners

and Health Innovation Networks across England,

our work transforms lives through innovation.

All our work is grounded in the context of our region

supporting our partners to identify and spread

innovation that tackles the shared challenges

we face improving health across a complex

mix of rural, coastal and urban communities.

The challenges facing the NHS will not be addressed

by doing more of the same. They will only be met

by widespread adoption of innovation including

digital and diagnostic technology, and data to

transform clinical pathways and empower patients.

In this, our tenth year of operation, we are

launching ambitious plans to address the key

problems facing people across our peninsula.

This coincides with the relicensing of Health

Innovation Networks for a further five years by

NHS England. Never has it been a more important

time for innovation in health and care.

We believe that we have a unique offer for someone

who is passionate about driving the uptake of

health innovation and economic growth, enabling

patients to benefit from earlier diagnosis, more

effective treatments, and faster recovery.

We have an ambitious board, a chief executive

with a clear vision, and a team that is highly

committed to putting the South West on the

map in rural and coastal health. And we are

based in a really great place to live and work.

If you would like to join our impact-led,

improvement-focused and collaborative

organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities:

The main purpose of the role is to provide resource and expertise in evaluation design, fieldwork, analysis and reporting. Supervised by an Evaluation Lead, this role will be working as part of matrix-based teams, supporting a wide range of projects across different areas of our organisation. The main duties for the role will include, but are not limited to:

Supporting evaluation project planning and design,

Carrying out desk research and literature reviews,

Undertaking evaluation fieldwork, including:

Undertaking secondary data analysis, Developing and running surveys/questionnaires, Facilitating rapid evaluation methods such as online data collection, Undertaking depth interviews, Facilitating focus group sessions, Collating, analysing and reporting on health economics data.

Carrying out qualitative and quantitative data analysis. This could involve:

Undertaking qualitative data analysis organising, coding and theming the data as relevant. Organising, cleaning, data matching and running statistical analyses as appropriate to the dataset under investigation. Undertaking analysis and reporting on health economic data. Analysing benefits realisation and outcomes data. Use of data visualisation tools such as Power BI, Tableau etc.

Undertaking dissemination activities which include activities such as writing evaluation reports, learning pieces, and delivering presentations for clients, stakeholders and for the Health Innovation South West.

Helping our partners to understand complex problems, utilise relevant data and insights to define opportunities for innovation and improvement aligned to defined regional priorities.

Working with partners from across the health and care system, academic, commercial and VCSE sectors to test and evaluate innovation in the real world.

Supporting the organisation and partners to plan and deliver evaluation projects across the region.

Finding and using opportunities to share learning inside and outside of the Health Innovation South West.

Assisting with bids and tender processes for evaluation projects to support income generation.

Other appropriate responsibilities as, from time to time, instructed by the line manager.

Able to demonstrate the values of the organisation in all your work as impact led, improvement focused and collaborative.

What youll need to succeed:

Experience we are looking for:

Excellent knowledge and understanding of evaluation methodologies. Experience of planning and delivering evaluation projects within an applied/real world context. Excellent mixed method research skills. Qualitative research skills: developing topic guides, undertaking semi-structured interviews, coding interviews using approaches such as thematic analysis and inductive/deductive techniques, knowledge of qualitative research theory including realist evaluation, grounded theory and thematic analysis.

Quantitative research skills: broad knowledge of basic statistical techniques - parametric statistics such as t-test, ANOVA, chi-squared, regression, and possibly more advanced statistical techniques that will be useful in real-world evaluation.

Experience of contributing to the design of evaluation projects drawing on the above qualitative and quantitative techniques, to combine and triangulate analysis from a range of techniques, deliver evaluations using this analysis, write clear and compelling evaluation reports and communicate these to commissioners.

Experience of working with stakeholders to develop a logic model and/or theory of change.

Experience or a willingness to develop skills in the areas of health economics ( cost benefit analysis, cost effectiveness, budget impact models)

Experience and capabilities you will develop in the role:

An interest in innovative approaches to health and social care.

Application of evaluation methods in the health and care sector with a particular focus on innovation.

Experience of designing and delivering evaluation projects within an organisation with strong social purpose, combined with a consultancy/commercial focus.

An understanding and/or interest in approaches to help innovators generate the evidence required to be adopted, where appropriate, into the NHS and social care system.

Good understanding of the health and social care sector and current policy direction.

Excellent project management skills and experience.

Abilities and attributes

Comfortable working in a dynamic and changing environment. Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with the ability to build mutually beneficial relationships. Excellent skills across all Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, MS Teams, Office 365) Experience of using software such as SPSS, Power BI, NVivo, Smart Survey/MS Forms or similar. Able to deliver consistent and high quality standards. Ability to work independently but also as part of a team. Ability and willingness to travel (across the South West).

Responsible to: Evaluation Lead

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Excellent knowledge and understanding of evaluation methodologies. Experience of planning and delivering evaluation projects within an applied/real world context. Excellent mixed method research skills. Qualitative research skills: developing topic guides, undertaking semi-structured interviews, coding interviews using approaches such as thematic analysis and inductive/deductive techniques, knowledge of qualitative research theory including realist evaluation, grounded theory and thematic analysis. Quantitative research skills: broad knowledge of basic statistical techniques - parametric statistics such as t-test, ANOVA, chi-squared, regression, and possibly more advanced statistical techniques that will be useful in real-world evaluation. Experience of contributing to the design of evaluation projects drawing on the above qualitative and quantitative techniques, to combine and triangulate analysis from a range of techniques, deliver evaluations using this analysis, write clear and compelling evaluation reports and communicate these to commissioners. Experience of working with stakeholders to develop a logic model and/or theory of change. Experience or a willingness to develop skills in the areas of health economics ( cost benefit analysis, cost effectiveness, budget impact models)

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