Location
London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Hours
Full Time - Regular travel required, including overnight stays approximately one or two nights per fortnight

Salary
£33,551 per annum

About the Role
This post offers a unique opportunity to develop practical social research skills as part of a close-knit team working in a fast-paced environment. The Research Assistant will work within the 12-strong Research, Data & Thematics (RDT) team, conducting detainee surveys in custodial establishments and analysing results for use by inspectors. Reporting to a Research Officer, the role involves maintaining HMI Prisons’ databases, providing analysis for thematic and other reports, and representing the Inspectorate during inspections. The role requires regular travel and time away from home to carry out surveys in places of detention across England, Wales, and the UK. The work supports the independent scrutiny of prisons, young offender institutions, secure training centres, courts, and immigration detention facilities to ensure detention is humane, safe, respectful, and prepares detainees for release.

Experience
- Analytical skills across both quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Ability to deliver work at pace and collaboratively within a team environment
- Experience of using IBM SPSS or other statistical analysis software is desirable
- Experience with MS Office applications including Word, Excel, OneNote, and Outlook is desirable
- Interest in the criminal justice system is advantageous

About you
Enthusiastic and committed to the values of HM Inspectorate of Prisons. Physically able to undertake demanding tasks such as spending long periods on feet, ascending and descending stairs, crouching, carrying up to 70 paper questionnaires, and responding quickly in emergencies during detainee surveys.

Qualifications
An Honours degree or post-graduate qualification in a relevant social or statistical science (e.g. Sociology, Statistics, Psychology, Criminology or similar) with a substantial social research methods component is essential.