CFE Research Practitioner

Job Description

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.

About us

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. We have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth's communities and residents through ourLambeth 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.

About the team

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.

About the role

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.

Key responsibilities include:

• 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 expertise with research leadership, helping Lambeth become a more evidence-driven organisation focused on improving outcomes and reducing inequalities for children and young people.

Please have a look at our dedicated One Lambeth Values and Behaviours page.

Please also look at Lambeth Staff Benefits.

Recruitment checks

Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information about the DBS can be found at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs

You will be required to undertake a Cifas check. Further information about Cifas can be found here Cifas

How to apply

To be considered for interview, your CV and supporting statement will clearly evidence how you meet the shortlisting criteria on the personal specification marked "A" for application:

CFE Research Practitioner - JDPS

We operate an anonymised application process, so be sure to remove personal details when uploading your CV or personal statement.

Recruitment timelines

Advert close date: 11:59pm on 10 September 2026

Shortlisting: 11-14 September 2026

Interviews: 21 September 2026

Recruitment checks

Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information about the DBS can be found at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs

You will be required to undertake a Cifas check. Further information about Cifas can be found here Cifas

Contact information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Laura Feeney at lfeeney@lambeth.gov.uk or Hardeep Aiden at haiden@lambeth.gov.uk.

At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and to guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. For a full list of our accreditations, please click here.