HM Inspectorate of Prisons (ALB of MoJ) - Research Assistant (Ref: 22343)

About HM Inspectorate of Prisons

We are an independent inspectorate led by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. We scrutinise the conditions and treatment of prisoners and other detainees and report on our findings. We help to make sure that detention is humane, safe, respectful and helps to prepare people for release ahead of their return to the community. We do that by carrying out independent inspections of prisons, young offender institutions, secure training centres and courts in England and Wales and places of immigration detention across the UK.

Find out about our expectations for different types of detention.

We publish reports to let people know about our findings and hold the government, and those running places of detention, to account. We also identify and share examples of good practice to support leaders in learning from other, comparable institutions. Our role is to shine a light on what needs to change, but we cannot enforce it. It is up to prison leaders to consider the best way to respond to our concerns and use their resources and expertise to find solutions. HM Prison and Probation Service or the Home Office should work with the establishment to support this progress.

Find out more about our mandate.

About the role

This post offers a unique opportunity to develop practical social research skills as part of a close-knit team working in a fast-paced environment. Much of the day-to-day work of the 12-strong Research, Data & Thematics (RDT) team involves conducting surveys in places of detention and analysing the results for use by inspectors. Reporting to one of our Research Officers, the post holder will also help to maintain HMI Prisons databases, provide analysis for thematic and other reports, and act as an ambassador for the Inspectorate while on inspections. The job involves regular travel and time away from home carrying out surveys in places of detention - on average one or two nights per fortnight.

Responsibilities:

• Organising and attending visits to custodial establishments on a regular basis to conduct detainee surveys
• Processing and analysing survey data
• Checking survey findings for publication in inspection reports
• Collating and presenting data to inform inspections and other projects
• Updating and maintaining HMI Prisons databases and providing analysis for governance meetings and annual report.

Candidates

The successful candidate must meet the following essential criteria and physical requirements of the role:

Essential criteria:

• An Honours degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant social or statistical science (e.g. Sociology, Statistics, Psychology, Criminology or similar) with a substantial social research methods component.
• Analytical skills across both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
• Ability to deliver at pace and as part of a team.
• Ability to tailor research outputs to meet customer need and have impact.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of using IBM SPSS or other statistical analysis package.
• Experience of using MS Office applications, specifically Word, Excel, OneNote and Outlook.
• Interest in the criminal justice system.
• Commitment to the values of HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Physical requirements of the role: The role of a Research Assistant at HMI Prisons can be physically demanding. While undertaking detainee surveys researchers are required to spend a lot of time on their feet, which will include ascending and descending multiple sets of stairs, crouching down to post questionnaires under doors if required, and carrying upwards of 70 paper questionnaires. Research Assistants also need to be able to respond quickly, if necessary, for example exiting a wing if there is an emergency.

Technical skills

Can you confirm if you hold one of the following: An Honours degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant social or statistical science (e.g. Sociology, Statistics, Psychology, Criminology or similar) with a substantial social research methods component.