CFE Research Practitioner

Children’s Services Research Practitioner

Fixed Term Contract

PO5:
Starting salary £54,360 pa. Rising in annual increment to maximum salary of £57,495 pa. Including LW.

Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the south to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the north, we are proud to be the ninth largest borough in London. Lambeth is the home of the Windrush generation, London’s largest LGBTQ+ community, and thriving Portuguese and Spanish‑speaking communities.

Our diversity is our strength.

It is an exciting time to join Lambeth Council. W e have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth’s communities and residents through our Lambeth 2030 Plan ‘Our Future, Our Lambeth.’

With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world‑renowned institutions such as St Thomas’s Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment.

The postholder will jointly support the Transformation and Improvement team based in the Children, Families and Education (CFE) directorate and the Lambeth HDRC team based in the Integrated Health and Adult Social Care (IHASC) directorate.

The Transformation and Improvement team is a multi‑disciplinary team managing a number of statutory functions across the Children, Families and Education directorate. You will be part of a fast‑paced project‑based team, working together to improve outcomes for children and young people.

The Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is based within Lambeth Council. Lambeth HDRC was developed in partnership with King’s College London and Black Thrive. Its purpose is to help Lambeth become more research‑active, generate and use evidence more effectively, and build the skills, partnerships and infrastructure needed to improve decision‑making and reduce health inequalities.

The CFE Research Practitioner is a 12‑month role based in the CFE directorate, while also part of the Lambeth HDRC research team. The postholder will lead the development of a research culture within CFE, ensuring that research, evidence and data are used to inform service improvement, policy development and decision making.

• Developing and delivering a research strategy and programme for Children and Families Services, working closely with practitioners, community organisations, academics and other stakeholders.
• Designing and managing research projects, evaluations and evidence reviews that can improve services and outcomes for children and young people.
• Building and maintaining collaborative relationships with academic partners, particularly King’s College London and London South Bank University, to support research activity and knowledge exchange.
• Identifying funding opportunities and contributing to high‑quality research grant applications and funding bids.
• Publishing and presenting research findings to internal and external audiences, helping translate evidence into practice.
• Supporting the development of research standards, guidance, training and tools to build research capacity across Children and Families Services and the wider council.
• Supervising and mentoring research staff, assistants and interns where appropriate.
• Monitoring national policy developments affecting children and young people, identifying implications for local services and contributing to strategic planning.
• Contributing to the wider HDRC programme by strengthening research infrastructure and embedding evidence‑based practice across the council.

The role combines children’s services…