Junior user researcher

Band 5 · User researcher · 342 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Junior user researcher

Most often performed at Civil Service grade EO or HEO.

A junior user researcher is embedded in a multidisciplinary team to carry out user research activities.
At this role level, you will:
have some practical experience but need regular guidance and training to produce your best work and develop your skills
work in combination with a more senior user researcher

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Plan and run research sessions with patients, carers, and staff, with guidance from a more senior researcher.
Use methods such as interviews, usability testing, and contextual observation in care settings.
Get informed consent, adapt sessions for participants' needs, and raise any safeguarding concerns.
Analyse findings and present them to the team as clear, actionable insight.
Recruit diverse participants, including people who find services hard to use.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Agile research practicesUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: describe agile working and the roles in a multidisciplinary digital team
Analysis and synthesisUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: understand how to apply basic techniques for the analysis of research data and synthesis of findings effectively involve your team in analysis and synthesis present clear findings that colleagues can understand and use
Inclusive researchUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: demonstrate some awareness of the diversity of users of government services and the need to make government services usable and accessible for everyone
Research management, leadership and assuranceUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: explain the importance of working to a user research plan and of following standards for user research
Stakeholder relationship managementUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: describe who your stakeholders are and the importance of managing relationships with them explain what your stakeholders find important and why
User research methodsUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: plan and conduct a user research project, with support understand when to use basic user research methods and how to apply them correctly effectively involve your team in research activities
User-centred practice and advocacyUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: describe how government services and technology affect how people behave explain how user-centred practices are used to build services that adapt to changing user behaviour and needs
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Awareness (1)	You can: describe the main parts of the health and care system and the services the organisation supports explain why patient safety and confidentiality matter in your work
Ethical research with patients and care staffThis reference	Working (2)	You can: plan research sessions that get informed consent and protect participants' wellbeing and privacy adapt sessions for people who are unwell, distressed, or in vulnerable circumstances, and know when to stop recognise and report safeguarding concerns that come up in research
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Working (2)	You can: apply data protection principles to your work contribute to data protection impact assessments handle information requests and records correctly
Equality, diversity, and inclusionThis reference	Working (2)	You can: recognise and challenge behaviour that excludes others consider different needs when you plan your work

Typical qualifications and experience

A degree in a relevant subject, such as social science or psychology, or equivalent experience.

Band 5 outline

Knowledge: Professional or technical knowledge, typically from a degree or equivalent experience.
Autonomy: Works to broad objectives within professional standards; plans own work.
Scope: Own professional work within a team or product.
Leadership: May guide and check the work of support staff and apprentices.
Accountability: Quality of own professional work.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	4	Gives complex, sensitive, or contentious information needing persuasion, negotiation, or training skills, or highly complex information.	32
Knowledge, training, and experience	5	Expertise in a specialism, underpinned by theory or practical experience (degree level or equivalent).	120
Analytical and judgemental skills	3	Judgements on a range of facts or situations needing analysis or comparison of options.	27
Planning and organisational skills	2	Plans straightforward tasks or activities, some ongoing.	15
Physical skills	3	Developed skills needing speed or accuracy, such as advanced keyboard use.	27
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	2	Implements policies for own area and proposes changes to its practices.	12
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	1	Takes personal care of equipment and resources used in own work.	5
Responsibility for people	1	Shows own work routines to new or less experienced colleagues.	5
Responsibility for information resources	3	Takes formal minutes, regularly writes reports or queries, or maintains information systems as a significant duty.	16
Responsibility for research and development	3	Carries out research or development within formal programmes as a main duty.	21
Freedom to act	3	Follows defined policies and procedures; work is managed rather than supervised.	21
Physical effort	2	Frequent sitting or standing in a restricted position, or occasional light to moderate effort.	7
Mental effort	3	Frequent concentration on unpredictable work, or occasional prolonged concentration.	12
Emotional effort	2	Occasional exposure, or frequent indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	11
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 5: 326 to 395)			342