"Senior Academic Research Leader in Children’s Social Care research"

Would you like to be a part of world-leading research which will improve the lives of children and young people supported by children’s social care services?

The Rees Centre, based at the University of Oxford’s Department of Education, is expanding with two exciting opportunities which will help the Centre step up its programme of academic research. The Centre produces research and evidence that enables practitioners, policy makers, and the research community to understand and improve children’s social care and education.

Following the launch of our new five-year strategy, we are seeking a Senior Academic Research Leader in Children’s Social Care research who will deliver academic excellence in the field of children’s social care. They will shape, and drive, our programme of research on the children’s social care system and practice.

The role will be based at the Rees Centre which produces research and evidence that enables practitioners, policy makers, and the research community to understand and improve children’s social care and education.

You will provide intellectual and practical leadership in the area of Children in Social Care and establish the strategic direction of a major research programme in this area.

You will be at the forefront of recent developments within your field, and your work will contribute to national debates about how to improve stability, experiences and outcomes for children in care or adoption.

You will have a concern for and experience of impact and translation of your research to support improvements to policy and practice.

You will be a leading authority in psychological and/or social scientific research in the field of children in social care with an outstanding international reputation for research and knowledge and experience of social work. You will have the ability to link research in the area of child development and CSC to larger theoretical debates in education and social sciences with an in-depth knowledge of your specialism to enable the development of innovation and new understanding in the field. Essential skills for collaboration and teamwork are required for the postholder in this role, as well as having an excellent reputation in teaching and academic supervision in the area of CSC.

This post is full time and offered on a permanent basis. We welcome applications from people with experience of the care system.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement, CV and a statement of research interests and future research plans as part of your online application. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post.

Only applications received before 12.00 midday on Thursday 18 September 2025 will be considered. Interviews are planned to be held on week commencing 2 October 2025, at the Department of Education, Oxford.