Applications are invited for a Post Doctoral Research Assistant to work on Project Bluestone. Project Bluestone (NOTE – the operational name for this project is Operation Soteria) was created as a way of using administrative police data to identify challenges, good practice, and areas for improvement in the way that Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) investigations are currently being conducted. The aim from this research is to produce iterative good practice, data led products, as well as ways of working using evidence informed practice, the project’s findings will be shared with all police forces in England and Wales with the aspiration to improve the policing of RASSO across the board.
The post holder will be responsible for assisting with work in three major areas:
Data collection – the post holder will be able to contribute to the data collection and analysis in one or more of the following areas: quantitative policing data, case study review data, document review, and interviews and data from transcripts.
Liaising with forces – the post holder will also be able to liaise with relevant police partners in order to source relevant data and to appropriate interpret the findings.
Producing outputs – finally, the post holder will be required to assist in the production of outputs, which may include presenting findings to other academics and to practitioner partners.
In particular, the role will involve leading a small team of researchers who will be responsible for conducting an evaluation of how recommendations made to Avon and Somerset Constabulary have been implemented over the past six months. This will involve being the single point of contact for Avon and Somerset Constabulary for the duration of the project.
The successful candidate will need to be passionate about improving the policing response to RASSO. The candidate will also need to be committed to working sensitively and be able to demonstrate creative problem-solving abilities. They will also need a good understanding of safeguarding, ethics, and quality assurance. Some travel for the role may be required (subject to further discussion), and candidates must be eligible for police vetting with relevant police forces in England and Wales.
All applicants must have a PhD (or be close to completing a PhD) in a relevant discipline. Experience of conducting previous research and or / professional experience of working with the police or other criminal justice agency is highly desirable. We are willing to consider applications from applicants with a Masters degree and substantial professional experience in the area. While the candidate is not expected to have expertise in all of the methodologies outlined above, experience in one of these areas is essential, and experience in more than one of these areas.
These positions are available on a fixed-term basis until 5 September 2022.
Please address any enquiries regarding the post to Dr Kari Davies at kadavies@bournemouth.ac.uk.