Job summary
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Research Assistant in Mental Health Research, to work in close partnership with researchers, in the delivery of an NIHR funded trial. Understanding the Wellbeing and Support Needs of Carers of Parents with Bipolar is a 21-month research project funded by the NIHR's Research Programme for Social Care. This project aims to understand the needs and experiences of the partners of parents with bipolar disorder, a group we currently know little about. Often, parents with bipolar are cared for by their partners. These partner carers experience many emotional and practical impacts from their caring role, but there is little research on their specific support needs and experiences.
The Trust delivers a wide portfolio of high quality research including this important study pathways, including an existing clinical trial (the integrated bipolar parenting intervention (IBPI) trial), NHS Trusts, and the third sector including Bipolar UK and social media to advertise the study. This is a great opportunity to have a key role in a new NIHR funded research trial, led by Professor Steve Jones. This project is led by Lancaster University and involves national recruitment through different.
Main duties of the job
The post will be based at LSCFT with regular travel to the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research at Lancaster University.The post-holder will join a unique team of clinical, academic and research staff who are passionate about optimising mental health services through applied research, working alongside clinical services and other relevant health and education settings. The post-holder will be responsible for recruitment to each work package, as well as developing the online survey, conducting the qualitative interviews, and supporting the co-design workshops. After recruitment targets have been met, this post will also involve analysis of the survey and interview data.
You must have at least a degree level qualification in a relevant discipline and knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research designs including clinical trial designs with recruitment and retention targets. You will need to be competent in qualitative methods. Experience of working collaboratively in clinical trials and service users/relatives, clinicians and service providers, would be a definite advantage. We are looking for an energetic dynamic, self-directed and committed individual with an interest in becoming a key part of our research team.
About us
Our goal is to find out what needs partner carers have, how they want these needs addressed, and what influences these needs and experiences. We will use this information to work with carers and professionals to develop a toolkit to improve social care for these carers. This project is led by Lancaster University and involves national recruitment through different pathways, including an existing clinical trial (the integrated bipolar parenting intervention (IBPI) trial), NHS Trusts, and the third sector including Bipolar UK and social media to advertise the study. The post will be based both in LSCFT and in the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research at Lancaster University.
The study has three work packages:
- Online Survey: We will recruit 150 partner carers and measure well-being, support needs, and experiences with Care Act assessments.
- Interviews: We will interview 30 partner carers to gain deeper insights into their experiences.
- Toolkit Development: Through a series of workshops with 10 professionals and 10 social care workers, we will co-produce a toolkit for frontline social care workers about the needs of partner carers.
This is a full-time post, funded from the 1st April 2025 to the 31st December 2026. The post-holder will be responsible for recruitment to each work package, as well as developing the online survey, conducting the qualitative interviews, and supporting the co-design workshops.
Job description
Job responsibilities
After recruitment targets have been met, this post will also involve analysis of the survey and interview data.
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT
Please be aware the use of artificial intelligence (AI) when submitting an application is monitored and if you have used AI to generate an application, you are required to declare this on your application form. AI-generated content may lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description. Personalisation is essential when submitting an application form to convey your skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
After recruitment targets have been met, this post will also involve analysis of the survey and interview data.
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT
Please be aware the use of artificial intelligence (AI) when submitting an application is monitored and if you have used AI to generate an application, you are required to declare this on your application form. AI-generated content may lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description. Personalisation is essential when submitting an application form to convey your skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc(hons) Psychology (2:1 or above) or equivalent (e.g. post graduate conversion course accredited by the British Psychological Society
- Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualifications in relevant area of psychology e.g. Masters in Research Methods or a clinical topic
Knowledge
Essential
- Quantitative, qualitative and co-design research methods
- Research governance and ethics
- A good understanding of the needs and challenges of people living with bipolar and their families
Experience
Essential
- Work with people with mental health issues
- Using data entry and data management.
- Recruiting individuals to research studies
Other
Essential
- Ability to undertake psychologically informed research projects under supervision
- Good communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work across a number of different settings
- Communicate effectively with potentially vulnerable or otherwise anxious/distressed participants
Desirable
- Familiar with working with databases, statistical software such as SPSS or R, and qualitative analysis software such as nVivo.
- Ability to access electronic information and conduct literature searches using resources such as Medline, Cochrane, Proquest etc.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc(hons) Psychology (2:1 or above) or equivalent (e.g. post graduate conversion course accredited by the British Psychological Society
- Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualifications in relevant area of psychology e.g. Masters in Research Methods or a clinical topic
Knowledge
Essential
- Quantitative, qualitative and co-design research methods
- Research governance and ethics
- A good understanding of the needs and challenges of people living with bipolar and their families
Experience
Essential
- Work with people with mental health issues
- Using data entry and data management.
- Recruiting individuals to research studies
Other
Essential
- Ability to undertake psychologically informed research projects under supervision
- Good communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work across a number of different settings
- Communicate effectively with potentially vulnerable or otherwise anxious/distressed participants
Desirable
- Familiar with working with databases, statistical software such as SPSS or R, and qualitative analysis software such as nVivo.
- Ability to access electronic information and conduct literature searches using resources such as Medline, Cochrane, Proquest etc.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
