Vacancy -- Social Research Undergraduate Placement x 2

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Health and Social Services Group
Knowledge and Analytical Services
Team Support - £22,150 - £25,620
£20,000
Full time (not suitable for candidates who wish to work on a part time or job share basis)
Fixed term
50 weeks (open to undergraduate students between their 2nd and 3rd year of study)
Cardiff
TBC

Purpose of Post:

The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. The Social Research and Information Division is a core part of the government’s analytical function. The division comprises around 40 social researchers who work closely with policy and other analysts (e.g. statisticians, economists) to provide analytical advice and evidence to support key policy decisions in devolved areas such as education, health and the environment. Analysts play a key role in providing high quality evidence to support policy making and the Welsh Government more broadly.

 

These posts are open to undergraduate students on a sandwich year placement between their second and third year of study. The successful candidates with be based in the Social Research and Information Division, working closely with social researchers to support the development and delivery of different types of research projects. The responsibilities of the successful candidates will vary depending on the team; and the exact posts will be dependent on the interests, skills and experiences of the successful candidates. There are two posts available, each based in a different team within the division. Our aim is to fill posts in the following teams:

 

Post One: in the Corporate Research Team


This role will involve research and analysis using a range of methods and sources of data to help inform improvements to the way the Welsh Government works. This will include designing, carrying out and reporting on primary research projects (for example, surveys) with Welsh Government staff and stakeholders as well as analysis of other organisational data (such as administrative data). The role will also involve conducting evidence reviews and developing social research best practice guides for the team. There will also be an opportunity to assist with corporate responsibilities such as producing bulletins for the Social Research Division.

 

Post Two: in the Sustainable Futures Research Team


This role will involve working closely with researchers on a wide range of topic areas, including housing, the environment, rural affairs and culture. The role will involve assisting with the design, delivery, analysis and reporting of primary and secondary research Likely tasks include conducting evidence reviews, developing and administering small-scale online surveys, and assisting with qualitative research. There will also be an opportunity to assist with corporate responsibilities, such as providing administrative support for the Welsh Government’s Government Social Research Committee.

 

Key tasks:

The key tasks of the successful applicants will depend on which team they are placed with, but will include a combination of the following:

 

  • Supporting with the management and quality assurance of research
  • Assisting with research projects which use qualitative (e.g. in-depth interviews, focus groups) and quantitative methods (e.g. survey work, statistical analysis,  monitoring and reporting information) 
  • Research design, analysis and synthesis
  • Undertaking literature searches and reviews
  • Liaising with analysts across the Welsh Government
  • Providing administrative support for data collection exercises
  • Preparing reports for publication on the Welsh Government’s social research webpages or for use internally
  • Project management
  • Administrative tasks, such as organising meetings, seminars and events, taking minutes and record keeping

Development opportunities:

The posts offer excellent development opportunities, including:

  •  Learning how social research is commissioned, delivered and used within government and funded bodies (e.g. Natural Resources Wales, Arts Council Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru / National Museum Wales)
  • Developing an understanding of how evidence can help inform and improve policy making and organisational ways of working
  • Developing key skills (such as communications skills, critical thinking and working as part of a team, often to tight deadlines)
  • Opportunities to develop an understanding and practical experience of a range of research techniques (such as survey design, conducting interviews, analysis and presentation of findings, report writing and communicating research findings to a non-specialist audience)
  •  Developing project management skills
  • Attending appropriate courses, conferences and seminars (including courses on quantitative and qualitative analysis)
  • Shadowing or working with social researchers, analysts and policy officials from other Welsh Government departments during the placement. There may also be an opportunity to work collaboratively with officials from government-funded bodies

Closing Date:

26/11/2019, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competency behaviours required for the role

Changing and Improving - Review working practices and come up with ideas to improve the way things are done

    Making Effective Decisions - Undertake appropriate analysis to support decisions or recommendations

    Collaborating and Partnering: Proactively contribute to the work of the whole team

     

    Delivering at Pace: Work in an organised manner using own knowledge and expertise to deliver on time and to standard

    Job specific criteria

    Broad awareness of how social research can be used to inform decisions in government.
    Basic familiarity with one or more of the following computer packages: Microsoft Excel; Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (or another comparable computer-assisted quantitative analysis software programme); NVivo or MaxQDA (or another comparable computer-assisted qualitative analysis software programme).
    Experience in the application and / or communication of research (e.g. report writing, questionnaire design, interviewing, statistical analysis).

    Assessment Process

    Other Information

    • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
    • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
    • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
    • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.
    Charlie Heywood-Heath - charlie.heywoodheath@llyw.cymru - 03000 250383

    How to apply

    All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

    To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

    If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

    For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

    When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

    Grievance and Complaints

    Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

    This vacancy is closed to applications.