Research Fellow

South West Community Chaplaincy; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Cycle to Work scheme

On site parking

Referral programme

Sick pay

Generous annual leave

Job summary

The Well Centre Charity seeks a Research Fellow to lead research and evaluation for a Maudsley-funded programme across four South London boroughs. You will document, analyse and demonstrate the impact of new youth-friendly primary care approaches as they are designed, implemented and adapted.

You will work with KCL’s CAMHS Digital Lab, primary care teams, youth workers and community stakeholders to build the evidence base and scale the model nationally.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, social sciences or related discipline
• Experience setting up or supporting research studies, ideally in adolescent or population health
• Ability to translate complex findings into accessible insights for diverse audiences
• Strong literature synthesis and critical appraisal skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams
• Knowledge of ethical research practice and GDPR compliance
• Ability to form effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders
• Experience of qualitative research with young people

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver research and evaluation tracking rollout of Well Centre–style services
• Use mixed methods to understand outcomes and experiences
• Analyze data and translate findings into actionable recommendations
• Collaborate with CAMHS Digital Lab to support digital innovation and data capture
• Engage with young people and community voices
• Prepare protocols and support ethical approval processes
• Produce reports, presentations and publications
• Synthesize evidence for commissioners, clinical partners and funders
• Champion evidence-led practice within WCC and wider programme

Skills

Epidemiology

Biostatistics

Public health

Research methods

Qualitative research

Written & verbal communication

Project management

Education

MSc or equivalent in relevant field

PhD (near submission)

Tools

R

Python

STATA

Job description

Play a key role in a pioneering £1m Maudsley funded programme transforming how primary care supports young people. As Research Fellow, you’ll lead research and evaluation activity across four South London boroughs and help build WCC’s growing national evidence and insight function.

This post offers an exceptional opportunity to be part of an innovative and rapidly developing programme that blends real world service change with high quality research. Working across the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) boroughs —Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Croydon— you will document, analyse and demonstrate the impact of new youth friendly primary care approaches as they are designed, implemented and adapted.

Supervised byDr Ann Hagell(Consultant to The Well Centre Charity) andProfessor Johnny Downs(King’s College London), you will join a collaborative and multidisciplinary partnership that includes KCL’s CAMHS Digital Lab, primary care teams, youth workers and community stakeholders. This is a rare chance to contribute foundational insight to a charity entering its national scaling phase.

About The Well Centre Charity

The Well Centre Charity exists to ensure every young person has access to health support that is holistic, youth friendly and free from barriers. Our model brings together GPs, Health and Wellbeing Practitioners and mental health practitioners to deliver integrated care in a way young people value.

Rooted in Lambeth, the Well Centre model has inspired services across South London and beyond. We are now building theresearch, learning and system infrastructurerequired to scale this approach nationally. Joining us now means shaping our evidence base and strengthening our role as an innovation partner to local and national systems.

This post is funded by the Maudsley Charity, but the employment contract will be held byHerne Hill Group Practice, the home of the original Well Centre.

About the Role

As Research Fellow, you will lead research and evaluation for the Maudsley programme and contribute to the wider evidence and insight function of WCC. You will use bothqualitative and quantitative methods, support digital innovation with KCL, and help ensure that young people’s experiences, outcomes and priorities shape service development.

Your work will inform commissioners, clinicians and system partners working to reduce health inequalities and strengthen support for adolescents across South London and beyond.

What You’ll Do

You will:

• Design and deliver research and evaluation that tracks the rollout of new Well Centre–style services
• Use mixed methods to understand how services improve young people’s outcomes and experiences
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data and translate findings into actionable recommendations
• Work closely with the CAMHS Digital Lab to support digital innovation and data capture
• Contribute to co production and engagement with young people and community voices
• Prepare protocols and support ethical approval processes
• Produce high quality reports, presentations and publications
• Synthesise evidence for commissioners, clinical partners and funders
• Champion evidence led practice within WCC and the wider programme

About You

We are looking for a thoughtful, curious and motivated researcher who wants to make a tangible difference to young people’s lives. You’ll value collaboration, bring intellectual rigour and enjoy working in a small team where flexibility, initiative and shared purpose matter more than hierarchy.

Essential Criteria

• Postgraduate degree (e.g., MSc) in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, social sciences or related discipline
• Experience setting up or supporting research studies, ideally in adolescent or population health
• Ability to translate complex findings into accessible insights for diverse audiences
• Strong literature synthesis and critical appraisal skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams
• Knowledge of ethical research practice and GDPR compliance
• Ability to form effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders
• Experience of qualitative research with young people

Desirable

• PhD (completed or near submission) in a relevant field
• Experience in adolescent health, youth development, primary care or CAMHS
• Familiarity with NHS datasets and publicly available health and mapping data
• Understanding of SNOMED, Read Codes or clinical phenotyping systems
• Experience with ethical approval and information governance processes
• Strong quantitative or analytical skills using R, Python or STATA
• Experience of co design with young people

What We Offer

• The chance to be part of a pioneering programme improving adolescent health
• A supportive, collaborative and values led culture
• Opportunities for publication, innovation and professional development
• Hybrid working and flexibility
• Autonomy to contribute creatively to a growing organisation

Benefits

(Herne Hill Group Practice employment terms)

• Company pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• On site parking
• Referral programme
• Sick pay
• Generous annual leave

Job Details

• Job type:Full time or part time
• Hours:Up to 37.5 per week
• Salary:£34,960.82 – £40,000 per year
• Location:Hybrid remote, London SW2 3UP, with travel across the four SLaM boroughs