Job summary
The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey & Sussex (ARC KSS) is seeking a dynamic, self-motivated and flexible research assistant to support delivery and implementation of high quality, applied health and care research.
Supporting mainly the Primary & Community Health Services and Social Care themes of ARC KSS, the role offers an exciting opportunity to support the ARC KSS Implementation Managers in delivery of its implementation strategy, ensuring our research priorities and implementation activity is impactful, and meets the challenges and needs of our population and health care systems across the region. You will work across the system collaborating with academics at the Universities of Sussex, Kent and Surrey and across the health and care system including the newly aligned Integrated Care Systems, NHS Trusts, local authorities and providers. Importantly you will also assist in ensuring the public and users of services are at the forefront.
Main duties of the job
The role will be varied, working and collaborating across a number of different areas of interest and projects in health and/or social care. You will be supporting engagement with key stakeholders including the public, clinicians, practitioners and academia, producing reports and evaluating the impact of ARC KSS work.
- Supporting senior members of the team to deliver of digital and face-to-face events
- Use of virtual platforms such as Zoom, GoTo and MS Teams.
- Administration support (setting up meetings, and note taking, maintaining logs).
- Support activities arising from Communities of Practice (mapping, research activities).
- Assist with implementation research activities including:
- Transcript analysis (using qualitative methodologies)
- Descriptive quantitative analysis
- Setting up/evaluating surveys
- Content analysis (qualitative and quantitative)
- Setting up/evaluating descriptive surveys
- Assist with implementation element of funding applications.
- Assist with communications activities relating to dissemination and implementation of outputs.
- Assist with public and community involvement.
- Coordinate the quarterly Implementation Strategy Group.
- Identify and address own professional development and support needs.
- Actively participate in the Trust supervision and appraisal processes.
- Travel pan and supra-regionally in an efficient manner.
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About us
Application for full-time or part time (2.5 days per week) will be considered. If you wish to be considered for part time please specify in your application which theme you are interested in (Primary and Community Health Services or Social care). The full time role will hold both themes. The post(s) are 1-year fixed term in the first instance.
The candidate will be supported to develop their career alongside the demands of the role, so the post could be a great stepping stone for graduates wishing to enter formal research or clinical training programmes.
Whilst employed by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust the postholder will be supervised by Implementation Managers employed at Kent, Surrey and Sussex Academic Health Science Network (KSS AHSN).
The contractural base is Grove House Crowborough and there will be a need for reasonable travel across the region, including to your base and meeting spaces of other ARC KSS collaborators dependent on whether virtual or in-person is required to meet project needs.
The trust has a flexible working policy and the postholder can, where appropriate, work from other locations within the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Primary and Community Health Services theme led by Professor Harm Van Marwijk at Brighton and Sussex Medical School is focussing its research on the provision of integrated and sustainable care in primary and community health services; helping people to live well with long term conditions (including cancer, diabetes and mental health conditions and addressing health inequality, with a focus on seldom heard groups including migrant health, homelessness and social deprived communities.
The Social Care theme led by Professor Julien Forder at the University of Kent is prioritising research on new models of person-centred care, their cost, effectiveness and sustainability in addition to the risk factors, variation and inequalities in person-centred care.
Both themes are well aligned, and have several areas of cross theme working including developing and evaluating the delivery of asset / strengths-based approaches, left shifting care models (i.e. social prescribing) and encouraging the growth of healthy communities, with a focus on reducing health and care needs and improving quality of life over the lifespan. See attached pdf detailing the objectives for all ARC KSS applied research themes and be sure to check out Applied Research Collaboration | Kent, Surrey & Sussex (nihr.ac.uk) for the latest news.
Primarily working across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, the role would suit graduates who are interested health and care, and how applied research is implemented into practice and the impact it can have.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Primary and Community Health Services theme led by Professor Harm Van Marwijk at Brighton and Sussex Medical School is focussing its research on the provision of integrated and sustainable care in primary and community health services; helping people to live well with long term conditions (including cancer, diabetes and mental health conditions and addressing health inequality, with a focus on seldom heard groups including migrant health, homelessness and social deprived communities.
The Social Care theme led by Professor Julien Forder at the University of Kent is prioritising research on new models of person-centred care, their cost, effectiveness and sustainability in addition to the risk factors, variation and inequalities in person-centred care.
Both themes are well aligned, and have several areas of cross theme working including developing and evaluating the delivery of asset / strengths-based approaches, left shifting care models (i.e. social prescribing) and encouraging the growth of healthy communities, with a focus on reducing health and care needs and improving quality of life over the lifespan. See attached pdf detailing the objectives for all ARC KSS applied research themes and be sure to check out Applied Research Collaboration | Kent, Surrey & Sussex (nihr.ac.uk) for the latest news.
Primarily working across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, the role would suit graduates who are interested health and care, and how applied research is implemented into practice and the impact it can have.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent.
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health & social care practice, and / or research design and analysis
Knowledge / Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working on research projects either within an academic, clinical or other provider setting
- Confident use of virtual platforms such as Zoom, GoTo and MS Teams to host meetings/events
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Knowledge of databases, research skills and methodologies including qualitavie/quantitative, setting up and evaluating surveys
- Knowledge of the aims and objectives of the ARC KSS
- Understanding of applied health & social care research and implementation of evidence into front line services
Desirable
- Experience of working with public and communities
- Experience working with senior academics
- Experience working with health & social care providers and clinicians
Skills / Personal Attributes
Essential
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the ARC KSS.
- Willingness to undertake training if required.
- Willingness and ability to travel efficiently throughout Kent, Surrey and Sussex and nationally, at times.
- To be able to communicate effectively under pressure and maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent.
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health & social care practice, and / or research design and analysis
Knowledge / Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working on research projects either within an academic, clinical or other provider setting
- Confident use of virtual platforms such as Zoom, GoTo and MS Teams to host meetings/events
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Knowledge of databases, research skills and methodologies including qualitavie/quantitative, setting up and evaluating surveys
- Knowledge of the aims and objectives of the ARC KSS
- Understanding of applied health & social care research and implementation of evidence into front line services
Desirable
- Experience of working with public and communities
- Experience working with senior academics
- Experience working with health & social care providers and clinicians
Skills / Personal Attributes
Essential
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the ARC KSS.
- Willingness to undertake training if required.
- Willingness and ability to travel efficiently throughout Kent, Surrey and Sussex and nationally, at times.
- To be able to communicate effectively under pressure and maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
