Forward Trust is seeking a Consultant to carry out a detailed analysis of TOC data to improve reliability, provide insights for stakeholders, and support ongoing development of our services. The placement is 3 months full time between February 2026 and June 2026.
Applications close Friday 27th February, 5pm.
For the full details, including person specification, working hours, scope of work and key outputs, download the below document:
About
Forward Trust is a UK-based organisation providing specialist drug and alcohol treatment services. Our Theory of Change (TOC) provides a framework for understanding how individuals progress through treatment and recovery, from initial engagement to sustained, independent recovery. The TOC identifies four stages of recover, Pause, Engage, Develop, Prosper, and captures the interventions and support provided at each stage.
Responsibilities
- Data Reliability and Audit
- Conduct initial audits comparing keyworker-recorded TOC status with automated calculations across all substance pathways and TOC stages.
- Summarise case notes and treatment/intervention data to validate TOC status assignment.
- Recommend approaches to improve data reliability and consistency.
- Data Analysis and Reporting
- Compare TOC data with NDTMS treatment outcome measures.
- Perform discrete analyses using TOC data, including demographic, substance-use, and treatment characteristics.
- Develop insights and commentary on strengths, limitations, and patterns in the data.
- Communication and Stakeholder Reporting
- Produce accessible reports, visualisations, and dashboards suitable for:
- Forward Trust Board of Trustees
- Funders and commissioners
- Service staff and teams
- Ensure reporting formats are replicable and updateable for future use.
- Produce accessible reports, visualisations, and dashboards suitable for:
- Recommendations and Future Development
- Provide actionable recommendations to improve TOC data collection, analysis, and communication.
- Support Forward Trust in planning the implementation of recommendations.
Details
- Location: remote
- Salary: £12,000
- Duration: 3 months
Essential criteria:
- Postdoctoral-level researcher or equivalent experience in social science, addiction studies, public health, or related field.
- Experience with quantitative data analysis and data visualisation (Power BI, Excel, or similar).
- Strong understanding of treatment outcomes and recovery frameworks in substance use services.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences.
- Experience with large, complex datasets and data quality assessment.
Desirable criteria:
- Knowledge of UK drug and alcohol services and NDTMS reporting.
- Experience producing outputs for strategic decision-makers or funders.
To apply, please send your CV and short cover letter to Dr Ania Couchinho (Ania.Couchinho@forwardtrust.org.uk). Applications will be reviewed by the panel, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly should they be invited to interview.
Applications close Friday 27th February, 5pm.