Application pack for the post of Ethnographer
The application pack consists of the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Background to the role
Job Description
Person Specification
Guidance on application
Personal Application Form (see separate pdf)
page 2
page 6
page 9
page 12
Two documents should be consulted in conjunction with this application pack before making
an application. These are Barnwood Trust’s Strategic Framework 2011-2021 and
Unlocking Opportunities – a radical plan, a description of our ten year Investment Plan.
These are available either as downloads from the website, or through inclusion in this pack if
you have applied for a pack by post.
Barnwood Trust: background
Barnwood Trust’s vision is to create the best possible environment in Gloucestershire for
people with disabilities and mental health challenges to make the most of their lives. Its ten
year investment plan, Unlocking Opportunities, outlines how the organisation intends to act
as a catalyst for change across the county in order to achieve this vision.
The origins of Barnwood Trust go back to 1794, with the first public subscription for the
building of an asylum in Gloucester. The subscribers, who were the predecessors of
Barnwood’s Trustees, raised the funds and in 1815 until 1856 partnered with the County and
City in the building and operating of a mental hospital in Gloucester.
In 1858 the subscribers bought what came to be known as Barnwood House Hospital. From
the very start, the hospital had a philanthropic dimension, with wealthier patients
subsidising those of more moderate means. The hospital was a centre of excellence and
innovation and thrived through the latter years of the nineteenth century and after World
War Two, it became a centre for research into the biochemistry of the brain.
However, as the 1950s and 60s marked a fertile era for scientific exploration, rising research
costs coincided with a downturn in patient numbers – and income – as more people took
advantage of improved care provided free by the State after the introduction of the NHS in
1946. As a result, the main hospital closed in 1967 and the majority of the estate, which
comprised over 200 acres, was sold during the 1970s. The Trustees were very astute in the
selling of much of the land, with the result that the Trust now has the benefit of a substantial
endowment fund; this has enabled the Barnwood Trust to evolve and to pursue its charitable
objects in new ways.
From around 1980 the Trust’s operations were focussed on the provision of day care,
sheltered housing and grant giving. Then in 2011, the Trustees agreed a new strategic
direction for the Trust, marking the end of its role as a direct provider of services. Its new
strategy - Unlocking Opportunities – outlines how Barnwood Trust will work over the next
ten years to enable people living with disabilities and mental health challenges, across
Gloucestershire, to take charge of their own lives and support other people.
Barnwood Trust: Unlocking Opportunities, 2011-2021
The development of Unlocking Opportunities was informed by an extensive consultation
exercise, during which people with disabilities and mental health challenges across the
county shared their views, experiences and aspirations. We heard how many people would
feel so much better if they had something interesting to do, people to share things with and a
place to live that feels good, free from stigma and discrimination. It is in this context that
Barnwood Trust identified its key strategic goals for the coming decade.
Over this ten year investment period, Barnwood Trust will work alongside other
organisations and individuals in the county in support of its three goals: developing people;
developing voices; and developing community spaces. It is envisaged that this approach will
deliver greater opportunities for meaningful activities and social engagement; better
connected, appropriate services; the development of more appropriate accommodation
across the county; and a greater number of accessible public spaces, where people can come
together to pursue common interests in a truly inclusive and hospitable environment.
Through its engagement and influencing work, the Trust also expects to see more businesses
and community groups being welcoming to people with disabilities and mental health
challenges, in a manner which is genuine and meaningful.
Barnwood Trust recognises the importance of community development in bringing about
durable change for people with disabilities and mental health challenges. The Trust has
therefore embarked on a major community-building initiative in Gloucestershire, with the
aim of fostering more inclusive, vibrant communities across Gloucestershire; communities in
which everyone can feel a part, join in, and take care of each other. Our work is expected to
encourage people to recognise their own abilities to make a difference in the places where
they live and work, and build positive relationships in their community. We believe that it is
in doing things together that confidence is built and opportunities emerge; and that in doing
things together, barriers are broken down and unhelpful stereotypes are challenged.
The Trust is currently working with 8 communities – ‘learning sites’ - across Gloucestershire,
each with a unique identity and character. Each area is being supported to use strengths
based approaches to community development. These include asset based community
development, community animation, time banking and storytelling. These approaches
encourage local people to recognise their own abilities and strengths to make a difference in
the places where they live and work, and make positive connections with their neighbours.
Barnwood Trust is supporting these communities by providing advice, practical support and
small amounts of money so that people can come together to do what they enjoy, work on
what they care about, share their skills and strengths, and build connections in their
communities. We also offer specialist support to build the confidence of community
members who might otherwise be isolated, and bring organisations together to consider how
they too can support people to do these things.
It is envisaged that these combined approaches will contribute positively to individual and
community wellbeing, so the places where we live and work are more resilient and equipped
to welcome those who are living on the margins of their communities.
Barnwood Trust: research and evaluation
Barnwood Trust is committed to designing and implementing a research and evaluation
programme that will enable it to evaluate its progress in delivering change in
Gloucestershire. Specifically, the research and evaluation programme will enable the Trust
to assess its impact on individuals, communities, and organisations across the county, and its
overall presence and influence in Gloucestershire.
For Barnwood Trust, it is imperative that its research and evaluation work is conducted in a
manner consistent with its organisational values and ethics:
1. Ensure the genuine and meaningful participation of citizens, especially people with
disabilities and mental health challenges;
2. Provide a learning/empowerment legacy to Gloucestershire;
3. Focus on the assets and achievements as well as the challenges faced by the county;
and
4. Ensure high standards of methodological rigour underpin all its evaluation activities.
The Ethnographer role will be critical to the Trust’s efforts to document its community
development initiative. Working alongside the Unlocking Opportunities team, you will be
responsible for designing and carrying out in-depth research to explore the process of change
in three of its community development sites. For example:

the dynamics in each of the communities, types of stakeholder engaged/contextual
analysis etc.
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the processes underway in each of the communities
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associated outcomes
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overall impact on individual participants, communities, organisations/agencies

the learning of the participants about what the strengths and weaknesses of that
process are
Given the nature of this work, you will be required to engage with a broad range of
individuals and organisations. This will likely include:

Community members, including people with disabilities and mental health
challenges, and their families and carers

Community group representatives and other informal community leaders

Organisations and agencies from the voluntary, statutory and private sector

Elected representatives
You will be part of a small – but expanding - Research Unit, based at the Trust’s offices in
Ullenwood. As part of your employment, you will be mentored by an experienced
ethnographer /qualitative researcher, who will support you through each stage of the
research process.
You will be based in based in Barnwood Trust’s offices in Cheltenham, but will be required to
spend a significant amount of time in each of the community development sites. This will
include some evening and weekend working, as required.
Ethnographer: Job Description
KEY PURPOSE:
To enable the key contributors to Unlocking Opportunities to track the process of
delivering the outcomes, and overall impact, of the Unlocking Opportunities plan in
three specific learning sites in Gloucestershire.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Responsible to the Research Coordinator.
Responsible for liaising with everyone contributing to the delivery of Unlocking
Opportunities; employees of Barnwood Trust; delivery partners in the public,
voluntary and private sector; and community members in Gloucestershire.
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) Ethnographic study: research planning and design
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In collaboration with the Research Coordinator and other relevant team
members, develop a plan for the ethnographic study, with the aim of exploring
the processes, outcomes and impact across the three learning sites; the
evolving interactions, events, relationships, and sequence of events etc.
Using your knowledge of ethnographic research, advise on appropriate
research methods for the study, and also methods of analysis (including any
relevant software)
In collaboration with the Research Coordinator and other relevant team
members, identify the key issues around which to develop this plan, updating
this from time to time as new issues emerge, and the plan evolves
Within the plan, identify key milestones for organisation, data collection and
reporting

Implement the plan in collaboration with internal and external partners
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(b) Research ethics



Assist in the development of research ethics protocols for the ethnographic
data collection
Work with the Research Coordinator to ensure these protocols are consistent
with the ethics and overall values of Barnwood Trust
Design the project information sheets and consent forms
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(c) Data collection & analysis
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Build strong relationships in each of the learning sites to enable the study to
commence
Make practical arrangements for the collection of data (scheduling, travel
to/from sites etc.)
Collect ethnographic data in each of the three learning sites
Work with the Research Coordinator to ensure that ethnographic data is
coordinated with other data collection activities, in support of the overall
evaluation of Unlocking Opportunities
Maintain up to date, confidential records of ethnographic data
Prepare and organise data for analysis
Lead on the analysis and interpretation of ethnographic data
Assist the Research Coordinator to write progress reports to the Unlocking
Opportunities Steering Group and other key stakeholders
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(d) Knowledge management


Contribute to writing up and presenting the findings of the ethnographic
research for a range of relevant audiences
Assist the Research Coordinator to design and deliver a dissemination strategy
for the research findings resulting from the ethnographic study (including , for
example, the use of web-based and print methods as well as workshops and
conferences)
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(e) Other
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Actively demonstrate the Trust’s values, mission and vision and promote the
aim of the Investment Plan
Work cooperatively with colleagues and carry out any other reasonable tasks
as may be required
Maintain confidentiality at all times and ensure adherence to the Trust’s
confidentiality and data protection policies
Take responsibility for undertaking training and development activities
identified through the appraisal process and for applying learning in the
workplace
Contribute to activities organised to support the development of Barnwood
Trust and its workforce
Take responsibility for working in accordance with the Trust’s policies, taking
reasonable care for you own health and safety, and that of other people, and to
comply with all health and safety legislation.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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Full time, 3 year contract
Salary of 25-30k, depending on experience
37.5 hour week (including some evening and weekend working, as required)
Ethnographer: Person Specification
Education
Essential
/Desirable
Form of assessment
MA/MSc/PhD degree in social sciences or other
relevant discipline
Training and/or experience of conducting
ethnographic research
E
Application
E
Application
E
Application
Proven track record of designing, delivering and
completing ethnographic research projects
E
Application/
presentation
Proven track record of analysing and writing up
ethnographic research findings
E
Application
Proven track record of working with vulnerable
groups
E
Application/interview
Knowledge and/or experience of strengths-based
approaches to community development
D
Application/interview
E
Interview
E
Application/
presentation/interview
Strong IT skills (demonstrable proficiency in using
MS Word and Excel and PowerPoint, and
qualitative data analysis software)
E
Application
Creativity, flexibility and adaptability
E
Application/interview
Full driving licence
E
Application
Knowledge and Experience
At least 2 years relevant experience in
ethnographic research
Skills
Competence in applying ethnographic research
methods
Strong analytical skills, with demonstrable
experience of analysing both qualitative and
quantitative data
Communication
Excellent writing skills, with demonstrable
experience of writing research papers and reports
for a range of audiences, and a range of a media
Confident verbal communication skills, and an
ability to work with a wide range of people, using
tact, diplomacy and sensitivity as required
E
Application
E
Interview/task
Work ethic and approach
A positive attitude, and an ability to generate
E
goodwill and build relationships with collaborators
and colleagues
Application/interview
Ability to manage parallel tasks, prioritise work,
and manage time effectively to meet internal and
external deadlines
E
Application/interview
Displays the utmost integrity, and an ability to
hold and respect confidential and sensitive
information
E
Application/interview
Dependable and resilient
E
Application/interview
Commitment to working as part of a team
E
Application/interview
Self-motivated, resourceful, and proactive in
taking initiative
E
Application/interview
Concern for, and commitment to, delivering high
quality work
E
Application/interview
Commitment to people with disabilities and
people with mental health problems
Passionate about making a positive difference to
E
the lives of people with disabilities and people with
mental health problems
Keen interest in disability, social and public policy
related research
E
Interview
Interview
Commitment to Barnwood Trust
Commitment to contributing to the achievement of E
the vision, mission and values of Barnwood Trust
Interview/presentation
Guidance on applications
Applicants are requested to submit the following documentation as part of their application:
1. Completed personal application form (see separate pdf).
2. Letter of application, which should include a personal statement setting out why you
wish to apply for this post and what makes you suited to it. You should also indicate if
you are available for interview on Tuesday 19th March, 2013, and, if offered the
post, when you would be available to start.
3. Curriculum vitae relevant to this post.
All of this material needs to be submitted before an application can be considered.
Please submit your application by 5pm, Friday 1st March, 2013, either by email or post,
to:
Clare Fletcher
Research Coordinator
Barnwood Trust
Ullenwood Manor Farm
Ullenwood Manor Lane
Ullenwood
Cheltenham
Glos
GL53 9QT
clare.fletcher@barnwoodtrust.org
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be asked to present a piece of your own
ethnographic research to the panel. You will also be asked to talk about how your experience
of carrying out this research, and the skills you drew upon, are relevant to the post at
Barnwood Trust.
If you have any queries please call Clare Fletcher on 01452 634014.