News
Invitation for Applicants to Position of Post-Doctoral Researcher – Social Care for 2019-2020
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The successful candidate will receive a contract of employment from Middlequarter Ltd, one of the HAPAI partners, but will work alongside staff in the Research Services and Policy Unit of the Department of Health, based at Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50-58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, D02 XW14.
37 hours/week
Appointment will be made on the IUA Salary scale at a point in line with experience – Post Doctoral Researcher Irish University Association Pay scale, Level 2.
Dr Sarah Gibney, Research Service and Policy Unit, Department of Health
Doctoral level qualification in a social policy, health or social care discipline. Experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis using appropriate software. Publications (research reports, journal articles etc) commensurate with experience. Strong communication skills. Ability to manage complex research projects and work effectively as part of a team.
Prior experience in applied social care research settings involving interaction with policy-makers, representative bodies and interest groups.
Please email your Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the post to: ResearchServicesUnit@health.gov.ie or by
POST: HaPAI C/O Research Services & Policy Unit, Department of Health, Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50-58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, D02 XW14
Interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 2nd December 2019.
Note: Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Ireland.
Ireland’s population is living longer than ever before, and this represents the achievements of society in general and specifically how as a health and social care system we are succeeding in adding years to life. Our goal is to provide care and support at the lowest level of complexity, as close to home as possible supporting people to live independently in their own community for as long as possible. Consideration of adding life to those years gained means that we need to focus on systematically introducing effective early interventions and supports.
The current policy scope for social care in Ireland encompasses home care, residential care, palliative care and community supports for older people and those with a disability. In addition to recognising the general population ageing profile it should be noted that the age profile of those with a disability is changing with the number those over 55 years with an intellectual disability having increased by 173% since 2002. Disability increases with an ageing population and the HaPAI indicators demonstrate that almost 50% of the population at age 75 will have a disability.
Achieving the Sláintecare vision for healthcare will require significant change, both in terms of designing models of care that can meet the holistic needs of different groups of people, as well as changing the way that care is delivered in all settings – at home, in the community and in hospital. It requires a system that is integrated in terms of all stages of an individual’s life.
This role is supported by The Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative; a co-funded project between The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Department of Health, The Health Service Executive (Health and Wellbeing Division), and Middlequarter Ltd. HaPAI is a jointly funded programme of research, monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge management.
The purpose of the Initiative is to fulfil one of the objectives of the National Positive Ageing Strategy (NPAS), which is to
‘support and use research about people as they age to better inform policy responses to population ageing in Ireland’.
The NPAS is in turn linked to the Healthy Ireland initiative launched in 2013 which provides a framework and set of actions across all agencies and NGOs, recognising the need to view health and wellbeing as a continuum across the life course. Full details about the Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative can be found at www.hapai.net
This HaPAI supported role focuses on research and evidence for the advancement of social care in Ireland and will involve working across disciplinary boundaries. The successful candidate will receive a contract of employment from Middlequarter Ltd, one of the HAPAI partners, but will work alongside staff in the Research Services and Policy Unit of the Department of Health, based at Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50-58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, D02 XW14. The post-holder will work under the supervision of the Assistant Principal Officer, Dr Sarah Gibney and will work closely with staff from the Social Care Division.
The successful candidate will gain experience in an applied research setting with opportunities for further training. The successful candidate will be familiar with methodologies and analytic techniques required to deliver high quality evidence to inform decision making for policy and strategies. The successful candidate will have excellent organisational, interpersonal, and analytical and writing skills and be able to successfully project manage and deliver high quality output for diverse audiences and knowledge users. This post will suit an inter-disciplinary researcher. We particularly encourage those with a experience of research in ageing to apply, although we also welcome applicants from other research backgrounds.
The Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative is an equal opportunities employer. The contract is for a minimum of 12 months based on a 37 hour week. Unsociable hours may occasionally be required.
Informal enquiries to: ResearchServicesUnit@health.gov.ie