Research Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Job Responsibilities:

  To ensure the research design meets the needs of the evaluation and shows whether the project is effective and value for money

  To be responsible for ensuring patients treatments, assessment, follow- ups and data collection are co-ordinate

  To work to maintain service user and parent/carer confidentiality

  To maintain close liaison with relevant clinical and research staff

  To collect research data as appropriate

  To maintain and ensure that data associated with research projects is kept secure

  To ensure data collected meets the requirements of the research and evaluation

  The post-holder may be exposed to emotional situations on an occasional basis, for example hearing about life stories of service users and families in order to engage and encourage participation in research

  The post holder will manage their own work-load and timetable, with routine supervision

  They will travel to locations where it is agreed that in- person attendance is required

  Duties and Responsibilities:

  Duties are likely to involve some or all of the following :

  Recruitment

  To attend multidisciplinary team meetings and other meetings to aid identification of any service users needed for particular evaluation. To present research protocols to the team to encourage participation.

  To identify tasks to ensure the evaluation is effective. To assist clinicians to obtain informed consent from participants if necessary

  To provide verbal and written information and support to research participants and their parents/carers for the duration of their involvement in the research project and to assist participants with the completion of questionnaires as necessary

  To undertake video calls to aid service users if necessary

  To carry out assessment of individual participants according to the research /evaluation demands

  To assist in preparing protocols and manuals for the evaluation

  To work at all times according to Good Clinical Practice, Research Governance and Trust guidelines

  Other

  To attend meetings as required

  To attend virtual meetings across the east of England

  To undertake assessments and follow-up when necessary

  To complete interviews with participants, families and other stakeholders as required

  To maintain a working knowledge of relevant mental health practice and to disseminate up to date information, protocol amendments etc to personnel as required

  To assist with the creation and delivery of relevant evaluation related protocols and procedures

  To undertake any other duties, which may be required from time to time, as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and needs of the service

  Education and Development

  To keep up to date with relevant training and develop skills and knowledge by maintaining a programme of development

  To participate positively in regular supervision and annual appraisal

  To complete Good Clinical Practice Training.

  Working Relationships and Communication Requirements of the Job

  To liaise with research and academic staff, the wider Trust personnel, clinical staff, and external contacts as necessary

  To maintain a position of integrity, appreciating the need for confidentiality when dealing with staff and issues appertaining to this post

  To demonstrate and use excellent communication skills

  Communication requirements

  To liaise with research and academic staff, the wider Trust personnel, clinical staff, and external contacts, including patients and participants using email, telephone, personal contact, written letters, notes, memos etc.

  To demonstrate and use excellent communication skills

  Clinical Responsibility

  The postholder will be responsible for understanding the clinical presentation of someone with a severe eating disorder / disordered eating, learning disability and autism, and mental health conditions in children and young people.

  Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

  The postholder may be required to supervise some undergraduates who may be volunteering or working within the department.

  Financial responsibility

  The postholder will be responsible for minimising the financial impact of this evaluation

  Service Development and Improvement

  The postholder will be needed to make a contribution to the development of clinical interventions as directed by the Clinical Lead or Consultant Psychiatrist.

  Analytical and Judgemental Skills

  To ensure that any data collection is conducted according to specific research protocols and adheres to the Data Protection Act 1998 and according to Good Clinical Practice guidelines

  To be responsible for the recording of patient and/or parent/carer recruitment on appropriate systems, when required

  To provide information / reports on recruitment when requested

  The postholder should be familiar with data processing packages such as PASW

  For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Psychology Degree (Hons, 2.1 or above) or equivalent degree in a related discipline

Desirable

• Higher degree (e.g. MSc, PhD)
• Experience of working on funded clinical trials
• Experience of gaining informed consent from those who volunteer to take part in research
• Understanding of research methodologies including experimental and qualitative research methodologies

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems
• Working within mental health care services and nonstatutory services/voluntary agencies.
• Ability to analyse complex statistical data using various analysis programs SPSS and Excel
• A good level of keyboard skills gained from experience or training

Desirable

• Experience of working with those who have a history of PTSD/Trauma
• Experience of working with people with neurodevelopmental disabilities

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential

• Able to communicate effectively within the multidisciplinary team environment.
• The ability to communicate complex and sensitive material regarding clients of the team, effectively in team meetings (10+ people).

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Essential

• Ability to analyse complex statistical data using various analysis programs SPSS and Exce

Desirable

• Experience of managing data within clinical trials, including the completion and management of trialspecific Clinical Record Forms.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

CAMHS Community Eating Disorder 15 Forest Lane, Kingsley Green Radlett WD7 9HQ

15 Forest Lane, Kingsley Green

Radlett

WD7 9HQ

Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)