Research Assistant, CASCADE
Cardiff University School of Social and Spatial Sciences is seeking to recruit a Research Assistant to work within the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Research Centre that is located within the School.
CASCADE is recruiting up to four fixed term positions, each available at 0.5 FTE, within the following sub areas of Children’s Social Care Research
- Reducing Inequalities - We examine how structural, organisational and practice factors shape unequal experiences for children and families. Our aim is to understand, reduce and ultimately eliminate inequalities, and to ensure our research includes and amplifies underserved voices
- Supporting Relationships - This area focuses on the importance of loving, stable and lasting relationships for children and families. We examine how relationships are formed, maintained and protected throughout involvement with social care.
- Supporting Excellent Practice - This area focuses on the skills, judgements and approaches that enable practitioners to work effectively. It covers direct work, assessment, decision-making and emerging tools such as AI designed to support practice
- Effective Organisation & Systems - We explore how leadership, culture, systems and resources shape the conditions for good practice. Strong organisations enable confident decision-making, learning and sustained improvement.
Further information about each area can be found in the attached Job Description
This post is part-time (17.5 hours per week), fixed term from 1st September 2026 until 31st August 2027.
Salary: £33,951 - £36,636 per annum, pro rata for part time hours (Grade 5), with annual increments up to final salary at top of grade). New appointments are usually made at the starting point of the salary scale.
Responsible to Professor Donald Forrester, CASCADE Research Centre Director/Priority Theme Lead
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Donald,
[email protected]/Priority Theme Lead
From the 1st August 2026 the School of Social Sciences and the School of Geography and Planning will come together to create the new School of Social and Spatial Sciences, building on and strengthening existing interdisciplinary research and education.
Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave, pro rata for part time workers (including bank holidays) blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.
As the biggest university in Wales – and a major employer, with more than 7,000 staff – we are an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with great benefits and opportunities for progression.
Date advert posted: Friday, 16 October 2026
Closing date: Friday, 30 October 2026
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We especially welcome and encourage applications from those under-represented groups within the University workforce, such as those who identify as LGBT+, Ethnic Minority or those with disabilities. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University