264532 (LF) Assistant Research Practitioner

NHS Scotland; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Lothian is recruiting for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 4 Assistant Research Practitioner based at the Western General Hospital. The post is fixed-term for 12 months within the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network (NDN) team, contributing to groundbreaking dementia and neurodegenerative disease research delivery.

You will work with clinicians and research nurses, coordinating trials and helping bring innovative treatments to patients under supervision.

Qualifications

• Experience in a hospital or clinical setting is desirable.
• Clinical skills such as venepuncture and ECGs are desirable but full training will be provided.
• Willingness to work towards Annex 21 training may be required.

Responsibilities

• Join the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network (NDN) team within NHS Lothian.
• Contribute to delivery of clinical trials across neurological conditions.
• Coordinate activities with clinicians and research nurses to support study delivery.

Skills

Venepuncture

ECGs

Project management

Education

PDA Level 8

Job description

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

We are recruiting to the post of Assistant Research Practitioner - Fixed term for 12 months

NHS Lothian is excited to be recruiting to a Assistant Research Practitioner based at the Western General Hospital

We are looking for an inspirational leader who is caring, compassionate and motivated to join our strong, empowered and highly skilled nursing family.

Our Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan sets out our Vision, Ambitions and Values that enable excellent care for our patients and service users. It also demonstrates what you can expect from our organisation and what you can aspire to in your own career development. A collaborative, person focused approach is at the very centre of everything we aspire to achieve, and necessary to deliver care that is high quality, compassionate, safe and effective. We continue to work towards having a diverse and inclusive culture for people who work for us and use our services. We want everyone to realise their full potential and make a positive contribution. We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and communities. We are committed to supporting the development of a nursing and midwifery workforce that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We are interested in your passion for developing with us as a leader as well as demonstrating alignment with the values and ambitions set out in our Strategic Plan. We are committed to providing the strong foundations of clinical education with our Clinical Education and Training team, our education co-ordinators, robust induction programmes and preceptorship as well as working with you to build on your leadership strengths.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 4 Assistant Research Practitioner to join the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network (NDN) team within NHS Lothian.

Based at the Western General Hospital, you will become part of a dedicated and highly skilled research delivery team at the forefront of groundbreaking clinical research. This role offers a unique chance to contribute to studies that have the potential to transform the lives of people living with neurodegenerative conditions and shape the future of patient care.

The team coordinates and delivers an exciting and diverse portfolio of clinical trials, both commercial and academic, across a wide range of neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Vascular Dementia, and Huntington’s disease.

Working alongside leading clinicians and research nurses, you will play a pivotal role in bringing innovative research treatments and interventions to patients within NHS Lothian.

The NHS Lothian NDN team is part of a Scotland-wide research delivery network funded by the Chief Scientist Office, dedicated to supporting the rapid set-up and delivery of high-quality clinical trials in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.

Applicants should have experience working in a hospital or clinical setting and exceptional project management skills. Clinical skills such as venepuncture and ECGs are desirable but full training will be provided. Applicants will be expected to be educated to PDA Level 8 or willing to work towards under Annex 21 training.

To learn more about the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network and its current studies, please visit: Homepage - Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network

Why Join Us?

• Be part of pioneering research that is changing the future of dementia and neurodegenerative disease care.
• Work alongside expert multidisciplinary teams and the wider NRS Neuroprogressive & Dementia Network in Scotland
• This post offers an excellent opportunity to develop new clinical skills and gain experience in the management and delivery of clinical trials.

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• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

*Please note this is a Trainee post, therefore Annex 21 applies*

For trainees covered by Annex 21 where the period of training lasts for between one and four years, pay will be as follows:

• up to 12 months prior to completion of training: 75 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.
• more than one but less than two years prior to completion of training: 70 per cent of the pay band maximum of the qualified rate of the qualified.
• more than two but less than three years prior to completion of training: 65 per cent of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate.
• more than three years from completion of training: 60 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.

For further guidance on Annex 21 – please follow this link: Annex 21 – Arrangements for pay and banding of trainees

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification. If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact Jessica Crossan on 0131 537 2409/0131 537 3804 or email [e-mail]