Senior Qualitative Research and Evaluation Officer (Public Mental Health)

Welcome to the McPin Foundation

Thank you for your interest in our organisation and our Senior Qualitative Research and Evaluation
Officer (Public Mental Health)

About us

The McPin Foundation exists to transform mental health research by placing people affected by
mental health issues at its centre.

Our Vision
Our mission is to improve everyone’s mental health through research informed and directed by
expertise generated through lived experience.  We want the value of lived experience of mental
health issues to be upheld and embraced, which is why we put it at the heart of all our work.

Our Goals
To be a mental health research pioneer
To achieve change through influencing and research impact
To help people we are connected with to develop and flourish
To challenge inequality and injustice in society

Our Core Values
We oppose oppression. We stand against discrimination, abuse, inequality and violence in all its
forms. We strive to equalise power imbalances in research and make McPin an inclusive
organisation.

We are compassionate. We care about the work we do and the wellbeing of everyone connected
to us. We approach our work with careful intentions and kindness. We support our colleagues and
partners to deliver impactful work.

We are collaborative. We approach everything we do by centring lived experience and collective
working to deliver meaningful research that improves lives. We listen to each other and value the
expertise each person and organisation brings to our project or partnership.

We are courageous. We are guided by our beliefs to act confidently and boldly – sometimes
making difficult decisions. We encourage everyone working with us to be pioneers, following the
best and most meaningful approaches while striving to be innovative and creative.

The post holder will join a busy team at the McPin Foundation consisting of a Research and
Involvement team, a Comms team and an Operations team, all based in our offices in London,
although we operate a hybrid working practice with all staff working from home some of the time.
We also have a wider network of freelance and contracted advisors and researchers who work with
us on specific projects around the country.

You can find out more about us at www.mcpin.org.

Job Description

Job Title:  Senior Qualitative Research and Evaluation Officer (Public
Mental Health)
Location:
Head office/working remotely - Unit 1.4 The Green House, 244-254
Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA.
This post will require regular travel around the United Kingdom

Prepared by:  Tanya
Mackay
Closing Date:
Friday 27th February
2026, 9 am
Interview Date:
w/c 9th March 2026

Terms and conditions
Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary FTE: £35,499 per annum

Holidays FTE: 25 days plus 8 public holidays and 3 additional days at Christmas
Employment status: 2 years fixed term
Probationary period: 6 months
Notice period: 8 weeks

The post holder will be required to have a enhanced DBS check.

About the job

The post holder will work as part of the Research and Involvement team at the McPin Foundation.

We conduct a range of research and evaluation projects, support other people to use expertise from
experience in research, and provide support, training and consultancy to the wider mental health
sector.  Much of our work is conducted in partnership with universities, charities, public sector
organisations and NHS and social care professionals.

The role will include developing and delivering evaluation projects for Local Authorities, working in
collaboration with team members, external partners, and local communities.  Some evaluations will
include supporting people who have personal experience of mental health issues to engage in our
involvement work.  Specifically, the role will work upon a new public health evaluation programme
(known as PHIRST) with colleagues at McPin and The University of Exeter funded by the NIHR SPHR.
Our programme is known as PHIRST EmPower.  Most of the work will involve qualitative data
collection including training others in local communities to support those activities – something we
call community or peer research.  We are commissioned to deliver 10 evaluations, and they can be
anywhere in the UK - our first site is Redcar and Cleveland.  Thus, this programme will provide the
post holder an exciting opportunity to work on a wide range of evaluation projects focused on public
health across the UK.

This post will be based at our head office – Unit 1.4 The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath
Road, London E2 9DA.  This post will require regular travel around the United Kingdom

Company number: 6010593   Charity number: 1117336. Head office and registered office: Unit 1.4 The Green House,
244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA.

Work with us

The post holder will work on PHIRST EmPower and will be expected to undertake new connected
work as it comes in.  We do encourage post holders to support colleagues, so there may be some
unconnected consultation work requested of the post holder.  This post would ideally suit someone
with excellent research and evaluation skills who is keen to develop further and willing to lead on
projects as well as working with others including colleagues in Local Authorities and staff at the
University of Exeter.  The PHIRST programme uses evaluability assessments, theory of change models,
co-production with local communities and both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.
The post holder will contribute to designing evaluation plans, and lead on qualitative data
collection, analysis and writing reports/papers where needed.  They will also support other
people with lived experience who work on an ad hoc or volunteer basis as their link contact and
may co-facilitate research involvement groups with adults and young people in the PHIRST
evaluations.

Our team is committed to transforming mental health research through collaboration, inclusion and a
belief in equity and anti-oppressive behaviour.  We strongly encourage applications from Black
people, People of Colour, people who are LGBTQIA+, those with a disability and those who
identify themselves in marginalised groups, as well as people with lived experience of mental
health issues.

We offer benefits including a competitive salary, hybrid/flexible working, a NEST Pension scheme with
6% employer contribution, wellbeing support and mentoring scheme, an individual training budget
and access to an Employee Assistance Programme and healthcare cash plan.

Key Responsibilities

•  Work on NIHR PHIRST Empower as the senior qualitative researcher alongside colleagues

both within McPin and University of Exeter to deliver evaluations that support Local
Authorities to build an evidence base for their public health programmes. This includes
assessing whether an intervention is evaluable and co-developing an evaluation protocol with
local stakeholders, followed by data collection, analysis, write up and dissemination activities
to ensure learning has impact.

•  Contribute to the development of PHIRST evaluability assessments and evaluation

proposals , ensuring they meet the needs of commissioners and funders as well as Local
Authority partners.

•  Ensure that co-production values and principles are prioritised in all work. Bring peer and
community research approaches into all PHIRST evaluations. Strategize how to ensure local
communities benefit from PHIRST evaluations.

•  Conduct literature reviews and scoping work

•  Work within relevant research ethics and governance frameworks. Contribute to ethics

applications submitted at University of Exeter.

•  Deliver research and evaluation projects according to agreed research protocols, on time
and within budget. This includes in person data collection, travelling to sites and managing
own administration for this work.

•  Data collection, which will include qualitative interviews, focus groups, surveys, and

Company number: 6010593   Charity number: 1117336. Head office and registered office: Unit 1.4 The Green House,
244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA.

consultations and as most of the evaluations will be mixed methods support colleagues
responsible for the quantitative data collection

•  Qualitative analysis will be the priority but also synthesis with mixed methods data (routine

data from Local Authorities is likely to be requested in all PHIRST evaluations)

•  Keep PHIRST EmPower team up to date with progress, communicating with local authority
partners and other colleagues in McPin and Exeter. Engaging with other PHIRST teams, to
share learning and benefit from being part of a consortium of PHIRST teams.

•  Support and work alongside others who use expertise from experience of mental health
problems in their work at McPin. Support community research approaches in our PHIRST
evaluations.

•  Communicate and collaborate with academic and other partners, commissioners, and the

wider mental health sector as required beyond PHIRST.

•  Writing up and publishing our work in the form of peer review journals, funder reports,

McPin published reports and other creative methods.

General

•  Engage effectively with a range of communication tools, including X, Brevo, Instagram, blogs,

and our website

•  Represent the McPin Foundation and speak at events, seminars and meetings promoting the
aims and work of the organisation in line with McPin Foundation mission, vision and values

•  Attend and contribute to the team’s meetings and other organisational activities

•  Contribute  to  a  critical  learning  environment  within  the  team,  sharing  your  skills  with

colleagues as required and developing new ways of working

•  Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of post as allocated by your Line Manager as
part of working in a small team to deliver the McPin Foundation mission, vision and goals

•  Travel across the UK as required. Regular work in the evenings and weekends will be needed.

•  Work within McPin’s principles, policies and procedures at all times

The key responsibilities above give a broad outline of the functions of the post. However, these must
be approached in a flexible manner. The post holder will be expected to adapt to changing
circumstances and undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of post as allocated by your Line
Manager. The outline of responsibilities may change from time to time.

Company number: 6010593   Charity number: 1117336. Head office and registered office: Unit 1.4 The Green House,
244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA.

Competencies
A post holder who is meeting the requirements of this role will demonstrate the following
competencies in their work:

You work to SMART* goals and clearly defined quality standards, you encourage
others to do the same and explain why these things matter.  You prioritise and
organise your own work and project work effectively.  You take responsibility and
evaluate the quality of your own work and identify any concerns about quality
with managers to manage risks in projects.  You offer constructive feedback to
colleagues.  You suggest way in which policies, procedures and quality standards
can be improved.
*SMART goal is defined as one that is specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused,
and time- bound

You improve the impact of our work through the inclusion of expertise from
experience, including mental health experiences, and will draw on your own lived
experience if appropriate. You seek out opportunities to involve a variety of
stakeholders in our work, mindful of our commitment to diversity. You work with
others to improve the experience of people who support our project work and those
who take part.

You take into account all opinions and perspectives to improve your work. You treat
others with respect even when they express views that differ to your own. You
challenge bias, prejudice and intolerance and bring it to the attention of a manager.
You are conscious of the impact of your own behaviours on others. You are open to
giving and receiving constructive feedback and thanking colleagues for their
contributions. You act in accordance with our equality and diversity policy.

You collaborate with others to deliver our mission.  You offer suggestions and ideas
that benefit the team and improve team working.  You ensure that your own
behaviours towards others contribute to the creation of a climate of trust. You
support everyone to work together to achieve McPin’s mission. You recognise and
resolve tensions and disagreements with colleagues, you seek a positive solution and
when appropriate take advice from your manager.  You look for development and
learning opportunities to support becoming a more effective team member.

You care for the wellbeing of everyone connected with us. You take responsibility for
noticing and supporting workplace wellbeing for those who engaged in project work.
You seek positive solutions when concerned about the wellbeing of others, or bring
to the attention of the appropriate manager when appropriate.

You lead projects with some support and can demonstrate effective leadership
behaviours consistent with the values of McPin. You devise new ways of working, as
needed, which you then put into practice within your project teams. You are able to
lead project teams within McPin and to assume a leadership role in projects that may
involve external staff or stakeholders. This involves taking responsibility for strategic
decisions within projects with support from other members of McPin staff.

Quality

Involving

Inclusivity

Collaboration

Caring

Leading

Company number: 6010593   Charity number: 1117336. Head office and registered office: Unit 1.4 The Green House,
244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA.

Person Specification

E= Essential                D = Desirable

Knowledge

•  Excellent understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, but
particular emphasis on qualitative data methods and theory used in social research (E)

•  Good understanding of research governance principles and be able to operate safely and

ethically within required procedures (E) including with young people (D)

•  Good understanding of mental health, the impact of mental health issues on people’s lives, and

the system and services operating to support people with mental health issues (E)

•  Good understanding and interest in public health, inequalities and research that addresses

intersectional and complex aspects of individual, community and societal lives (E) including for
young people (D)

•  Good understanding of peer-led and community research (D) public and patient involvement

(PPI)/or public engagement in research (D)

•  Understanding of intersectionality and a commitment to inclusivity, equity and anti-oppression

principles (E)

•  Knowledge of safeguarding issues when working with young people and adults and ability to

apply these in practice (E)

Skills

•  Able to apply research methods in practice, particularly qualitative methods (E)

•  Able to analyse and write up research findings, including as part of a team (E)

•  Confident working in teams with excellent inter-personal skills showing excellent team

membership qualities (E) including an ability to help others succeed in their work, inclusive of
colleagues, external partners and group members (E)

•  Able to sensitively support and recognise need for support in others, taking into account

principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and justice (E)

•  Adept communicator – both oral and written - using well developed skills to include writing for a
variety of audiences, including academics, third sector organisations, policymakers, professionals
and the public, particularly young people (E)

•  Able to present information at meetings, chairing and answering questions as well as preparing

presentations and training sessions for work with internal and external audiences (E)

•  Highly organised and efficient, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work to

deadlines (E)

•  Good computer skills, particularly in using Microsoft Office software – Word, PowerPoint, Excel,

Outlook (E)– and an excellent knowledge of NVivo or equivalent software (E)

Experience

•  Experience of applying research methods to a high standard, and of experience working in a

research environment (E) working in a mental health or public health research environment (D)

Company number: 6010593   Charity number: 1117336. Head office and registered office: Unit 1.4 The Green House,
244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA.

•  Experience of taking a lead in projects, include project management (E).

•  Experience of analysing and writing up research (E), ideally including writing for peer review

journal publication (D)

•  Experience of building constructive working relationships with others, including senior managers,

academics and other researchers, group members (E)

•  Experience of applying involvement methods to a high standard, and of experience working in a
research environment (D) working in a mental health or public health research environment (D)

•  Experience of working with the direct beneficiaries of a research project (E) including people with

mental health issues and families/carers, preferably in a research setting (D)

•  Writing research documents aimed at a lay audience (E)

•  Personal experience of mental health issues, or other issues relevant to public health research

addressing inequalities, and ability to draw on ‘expertise from experience’ in role (D)

Qualifications

•  Appropriate level of education and qualifications in order to demonstrate clear ability in skills,

knowledge and competency for this post (E).

Company number: 6010593   Charity number: 1117336. Head office and registered office: Unit 1.4 The Green House,
244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA.