Nuffield Family Justice Observatory is an organisation that seeks to improve the lives of children and families by bringing data and evidence to the people who work in and around the family courts – judges, lawyers, social workers, Cafcass guardians, policy makers and more.  We find and fill the gaps in our understanding of the family justice system, highlight the areas where change will have the biggest impact on children and families, and foster collaboration to make that change happen.  

In our first three years we have established a reputation for publishing accessible data analysis and research that is informing changes in practice across England and Wales. 

The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory is being funded and incubated by the Nuffield Foundation during its pilot phase which runs from 2019 to 2026. 

The role 

As a Researcher, you will support the work of Nuffield FJO by carrying out relevant data analysis and research on a range of topics relating to family justice (including social care, public and private law and the family courts). You will analyse nationally available administrative data, synthesise existing research findings, draft reports, develop infographics, present findings to a wide range of audiences and help build and develop Nuffield FJO’s reach and influence.  Your work will support all aspects of the Nuffield FJO’s strategy available here. 

This is a part time role ideally working 4 days (28 hours) per week, but we could consider 3 day per week arrangements.

About you 

You will have experience of a range of social research techniques and excellent writing and presentation skills. This will be supported by a relevant degree (ideally a Masters), and some experience of working on issues related to families and children would be advantageous. You will have experience of coordinating and managing research projects. You will also have experience of quantitative data analysis of large datasets, using R, Stata, Markdown, Python or similar. Knowledge of data visualisation techniques is also highly desirable. 

For further information about the role, please click here to download the full job description. 

How to apply 

The closing date for applications is 09:30am (BST) on Monday 10th October 2022, with interviews taking place the w/c (DATE).   

You will be required to complete some questions as part of this application process, and you are also required to upload an up-to-date copy of your CV. The Applied platform lets you save an application and resume it ahead of submitting before the application deadline. 

We strongly encourage applicants from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the research and policy worlds (for example those who have lived experienced of the family justice system or come from a marginalised community). We are committed to tackling societal injustice and inequality through our work and believe that all kinds of experiences and backgrounds can contribute to this mission.