NHS Ayrshire & Arran
Social Researcher
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This post is a Fixed Term/Secondment position until 31 March 2028. As per the Fixed Term Contacts Policy - Where individuals with continuous service within the NHS apply for fixed-term contract roles, NSS reserves the right to refuse any such appointment.
About The Organisation
Public Health Scotland launched 1st April 2020 as a national health board, employing around 1200 people, and with an annual budget of around £101 million. Public Health Scotland wants to see a Scotland where everybody thrives, a Scotland where life expectancy improves and the difference in life expectancy between our poorest and wealthiest areas gets smaller.
Public Health Scotland is Scotland’s lead national agency for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of all of Scotland’s people. Our vision is of a Scotland where everybody thrives. Our focus is on increasing healthy life expectancy and reducing premature mortality. To do this, we use data, intelligence and a place-based approach to lead and deliver Scotland’s public health priorities.
The Post
This post is within Clinical and Protecting Health Directorate, which protects the people of Scotland from infectious and environmental hazards; enables high-quality clinical and public health knowledge, carries our research, delivers on innovation; and improves and changes clinical and public health practice by using audits at a national and local level.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Social Researcher to work in the Clinical, Health Intelligence and Research (CHIR), within the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Implementation Support Team (MIST).
As Social Research specialist for the organisation the post-holder will provide expert direction, advice, training and quality assurance on the development and use of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to support MIST staff to deliver core functions across the organisation and to manage a portfolio of projects that will influence internal and national policy and practice in the field of problematic drug use.
The successful candidate will provide planned support across the MIST programme on social research and evaluation, with particular focus on public participation and community engagement through an inclusive and collaborative approach.
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The post will report directly to the Service Manager.
The Candidate
We are looking for a candidate with specialist experience, expertise and knowledge of social research, particularly qualitative research, and project managing research initiatives and programmes. This will require someone with a high level of communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills. Experience in the field of substance use would be desirable.
You will have the ability to prioritise your own work effectively and be able to direct activities of/to others working with a range of stakeholders in a politically sensitive and changing environment.
If you choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced by AI or similar technologies.
Location and Working Pattern:
The post is based in either Gyle Square, Edinburgh or Bothwell Street, Glasgow. We are currently hybrid working; therefore, you will be expected to spend time in both PHS offices as well as the option to work at home.
The work pattern is Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week.
PHS is a flexible employer, and we are happy to discuss requests for alternative working patterns.
During times of public health emergency, or other urgent business need, you may be required on a temporary basis to work your normal contracted working hours over 7 days including weekends, in order to meet the needs of the service.
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with PHS.
Benefits
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. Click here to view the full range of the PHS Employee Benefits.
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Inclusion
Public Health Scotland (PHS) is a national NHS board committed to being a diverse, inclusive and welcoming employer. We support a range of flexible working options to help colleagues balance work and personal responsibilities. As an Established Carer Positive employer, we are committed to supporting staff with caring responsibilities and fostering a flexible, understanding workplace culture.
We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support colleagues to grow and thrive. Staff are also welcome to join our active equality networks.
As an equal opportunities and Disability Confident Employer, we aim to guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, and we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience.
PHS is working towards becoming a trauma informed organisation and recognises that trauma may affect people in different ways, including during the recruitment process.
If you need reasonable adjustments or support, please contact the Recruitment Team on nss.wfrs@nhs.scot.
Further Information
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Dr John Mooney, MIST Clinical Lead on john.mooney2@phs.scot, or Tara Shivaji, Consultant in Public Health Medicine - Drugs, Alcohol on tara.shivaji2@phs.scot.
Closing date for completed applications is 27 July 2026.
Further information on PHS is available from: www.publichealthscotland.scot.
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies however, where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance.
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