Morgan Harris Burrows (MHB) are a small consultancy who have a significant track record in crime and crime-related research, development and evaluation projects for both central and local government and the private sector. The consultancy is currently seeking to fill two posts to supplement their team of partners, staff and associates working in this area.

MHB are the national evaluators of the Youth Justice Board’s (YJB) Youth Inclusion Programme. The YJB have funded around 70 youth projects to function in the most deprived, high crime neighbourhoods across England and Wales. Each project focuses on some 50 young people between the ages of 13 and 16 within the local neighbourhood who are most disaffected, and at greatest risk of offending. The aim is to engage these disaffected young people in constructive activities and prevent them from offending. MHB have a team of three involved in the national evaluation, supported by a network of seven regional evaluators who are responsible for liasing with local projects and ensuring that the data for the evaluation are collected.

The research assistant appointed will assist with the day-to-day administration of this evaluation. This will involve close liaison with the regional evaluators and local projects on all matters relating to the national evaluation. S/he may also be required to assist with other work in the crime and criminal justice field and must be prepared to travel throughout England and Wales.

The successful applicant will possess a good degree at graduate or post-graduate level in criminology, or a related subject. In addition, the post-holder will be expected to have sound research experience, including the ability to collate and analyse quantitative data. Good written and oral presentation skills will also be important, as will inter-personal skills to work with colleagues, clients, fellow researchers and negotiate with the subjects of any commissioned research. Experience in previous employment roles where such attributes were required would be advantageous, but not essential.

Salary range: £19,000 to £23,000, depending on qualifications/experience offered.

As MHB’s work in the criminal justice field expands, there is a need for a research analyst to work alongside different project teams, assisting data entry and analysis activities and ensuring the most effective presentation of research findings. At the current time the most pressing need is to support two major Home Office projects relating to the use of forensic science in crime investigation - the evaluation of the national ‘DNA expansion programme’ (supporting the police use of DNA) and the forensic science ‘Pathfinder’ project (promoting the best use of all forms of forensic science).

The successful applicant will need to be able to quickly grasp the objectives and methodologies of the projects they support and have a good working knowledge of Excel (experience of other software packages, including SPSS, is desirable but not essential). The post would suit a recent graduate in the social sciences, but non-graduate applicants with suitable experience in administration are strongly encouraged.

Salary range: £16,500 to £19,000, depending on qualification/experience offered.

MHB staff are required to exercise considerable flexibility in their working arrangements. Although nominally working from MHB's London office, a significant proportion of any working week will be spent working from home, visiting client’s offices or projects/activities being evaluated. These working conditions mean that applicants for both posts must be self-motivated and be ready to accept a high degree of personal responsibility for their own work.

Both posts will initially offered on a one-year contract, but they are likely to be renewable. Annual holiday entitlement is 20 working days (excluding public holidays).

Further advice can be obtained from Alan Mackie ([log in to unmask]) or John Burrows ([log in to unmask]). Those wishing to apply for either post should send a CV (indicating the post sought), by 30 June 2001, to:

John Burrows

Morgan Harris Burrows

The Charterhouse

LONDON EC1M 6AH