Ministry of Justice

Job title: Research Officer

Directorate: Strategy, Analysis & Change

Workstream: Strategy and User Insight

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. 

We’re looking for a resourceful, creative and adaptable research analyst who is committed to public service, and keen to make a difference to users of the justice system. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

About the team

The Insight Team, part of the HMCTS Strategy and User Insight Division, ensures that user characteristics, behaviours and needs are analysed and shared in inspiring ways to inform decision making throughout HMCTS. This an exciting opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team, setting the direction for the use of research to create insight across digital services, customer services, and operational delivery teams.

About the role

As a Research Officer, you will be working on a wide variety of research projects relating to court processes in the civil, family and tribunal jurisdictions. You will work as part of the team on both large and small-scale research and evaluation projects, drawing on your knowledge of and skills in key quantitative and qualitative methods.

You will also be implementing much of the research we do: this is a ‘hands on’ role where you are likely to be out in the courts and carrying out fieldwork (e.g. qualitative and observational research, preparatory court visits to help with questionnaire design).

Your role will encompass the following key tasks (but not limited to):

• Designing research and evaluation projects with the support of senior analysts. 
• Delivering quantitative and qualitative projects that enable HMCTS to make timely, evidence-based decisions.
• Conducting secondary analysis of data.
• Undertaking primary research to generate staff and public user insights.
• Analysing and synthesising a range of evidence to present compelling summaries and narratives of knowledge.
• Communicating the results of analysis and managing relationships effectively with operational colleagues, senior stakeholders and external organisations to ensure maximum impact of analytical work.
• Providing advice, with the support of senior analysts, on the outcomes of research and analysis.

You will also be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this role.

The civil, family and tribunals team’s work over the next year is likely to include qualitative and quantitative work on improving access to justice in civil, family and tribunal services, as well as improving the operational performance of services through the analysis of a wide evidence base including management information data, user experience data and primary research with users including citizens, court staff, judiciary and the third sector.

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)

We’re looking for a highly motivated person who can demonstrate the following essential criteria and eligibility requirements:

Essential

• An understanding of insight application in the public and/or private sector.
• Experience of conducting social research, including quantitative and qualitative research from the development of research materials (survey questionnaires, qualitative topic guides, and data collection instruments), surveys, fieldwork (including qualitative interviews), and analysis of data.
• Have experience of, and appreciate the strengths / weaknesses of, a wide range of research methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, evaluation) to apply a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to develop relationships with a range of stakeholders, and work collaboratively with them.
• Ability to manage work flexibly and adapt as priorities change.

Desirable

• An understanding of public policy and services, particularly in the justice sector.
• Experience of working closely with designers and developers to turn research and insight into actionable product/service requirements that feed into prototype development, and influence product direction.
• Experience of conducting in-house research to develop an understanding of the organisation’s customers.
• Familiar with statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS or R.
• Experience of conducting user research.

Eligibility

You will either be a member of, or expected to join, the Government Social Research (GSR) profession. See GSR Eligibility requirements below:

GSR Eligibility

There are two routes to meet the professional GSR requirements, via qualification or experience.

Relevant Qualification route: Hold an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2. The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course) including quantitative research methods and at least three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.

Professional Experience route: Hold an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GSR through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.

Application Stage

Please submit:

• An anonymised CV
• Statement of suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 500 words). Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge & experience needed to undertake the role)
• Technical question in relation to your GSR Eligibility. Please confirm whether you are an existing member of the GSR profession or whether you are eligible to join the profession, as per the qualification or experience route, outlined above. If you are not an existing member and are eligible to join the profession, please confirm whether you have passed the GSR knowledge test within the last 12 months. (up to 250 words)  

We aim to sift all assessment criteria as advertised at application stage. However, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift may be conducted on the technical question only. Candidates who pass the initial sift, will either:

• progress to a full sift where the Statement of Suitability and, if needed, the CV will be assessed or
• progress straight to interview/further assessments.

Pre-Interview GSR Knowledge Test

Candidates successful at sift stage who are not an existing member of the GSR profession will be invited to a knowledge test in line with GSR requirements, prior to being offered an interview. However, if you have passed a knowledge test in the last 12 months, you will not be required to take another test and will be progressed straight to interview.

Candidates who are not existing members of the GSR progression and who have passed their knowledge test more than 12 months ago will be required to retake the test.

This assessment will be delivered via our external testing provider, Tazio. A link to the test will be sent by email and candidates will have 7 days from receipt to complete it.

Further instructions and guidance on accessing and completing the test will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance.

Please note: Candidates who are confirmed members of the GSR profession are exempt from completing the knowledge test. We will verify GSR membership by checking the GSR database prior to the tests being issued.

Interview Stage

Non GSR members who have passed the knowledge test and existing GSR members will be invited to a formal interview and will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework and the Government Social Research Technical Framework.

Guidance for the frameworks can be found below: 

• Success Profiles - GOV.UK
• The Government Social Research Technical Framework - GOV.UK

The interview will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams. You will be assessed against the following:

Two Success Profiles Behaviour Questions (Grade HEO)

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

GSR Technical Framework

• Technical Skills
• Using & Promoting Social Research

You will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation followed by questions from the panel. The presentation brief will be shared with you in advance of your interview. The presentation and follow up questions will focus on both aspects of the GSR Technical Framework, including Technical Skills and Using & Promoting Social Research.

In addition, you will be asked one separate interview question based on the GSR Technical Framework.

Further details

Allowance

This role qualifies for a GSR based salary supplement which is applied after successfully taking up the post, at HEO level this supplement is dependent on your base location. 

Travel Requirements

You will be expected to travel to HMCTS sites on an ad-hoc basis in line with business needs. This will include regular (monthly) travel to London, if nationally based.

Working pattern

This is a full-time position only due to the nature of the role.

About our benefits

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family

friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans.