Promoting the use of evidence-informed policy and practice in adult social care

research in practice for adults (ripfa) is a national research utilisation organisation for adult social care. The organisation, a department of the Dartington Hall Trust, was established following a request from a network of local service agencies who wished to replicate in adult social care, the services provided by research in practice (RiP) in the child and family field. The establishment of the two organisations alongside each other has resulted in the Dartington Hall Trust becoming the leading site for social care research utilisation work in England and Wales.

Established in September 2005, ripfa is a Partnership organisation, funded through the agencies which become Partners on payment of an annual fee. Currently there are 49 Partners in the network, local authorities across England from Cumbria to Southend. Our mission is to promote the use of evidence-informed policy and practice in adult social care, promoting the best ways of sharing and implementing research evidence with the organisations and professionals providing support to adults. Our aim is to help our Partners use evidence from research and other sources to inform decisions which result in improved outcomes for service users and carers.

Our delivery methods include learning events, information exchange networks, practice development, Change Projects, research briefings, website products and a programme of individual support to Partner agencies. In addition, while ripfa and RiP serve different networks, our co-location and shared focus on research utilisation enable us to develop joint work on themes that concern both adult and children’s services.

Following the appointment of the initial Director, Alison Petch, to be Director of IRISS (Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services) in Scotland, we are seeking to appoint an exceptional individual to lead ripfa through the next stage of its development.

You will need to have a passion for engagement in research utilisation and knowledge management and a desire to build further on the solid base established by ripfa. You will need a strong track record of effective leadership and delivery in a key area relevant to the activities of ripfa, and be able to build collaborative networks across the policy, practice and academic arenas at a senior level. You will also be able to manage the detail of operational, financial and human resource demands in a small organisation and be able to engage and enthuse potential Partners and other individuals about the centrality of evidence-informed practice.

In return we offer the opportunity to work in a creative and entrepreneurial environment in an outstanding location, together with the reward of knowing that your success and influence will have a direct impact on the lives of adults and their families.