Ease Research Assistant

Greater Manchester Mental Health; Manchester; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Research Assistant to work on the EASE trial, an NIHR RCT assessing EMDR for early psychosis with distressing life experiences. Based at Central Park, Manchester, the role involves recruitment, assessments, and data handling across multiple Greater Manchester sites.

The post runs full-time for 12 months from January 2027, with possible extension.

Qualifications

• Good honours degree in psychology (2:1) from a recognised university.
• Experience as Assistant Psychologist or Research Assistant in a mental health setting.
• Eligibility for membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) or relevant professional body.

Responsibilities

• Recruit eligible participants to the NIHR EASE trial.
• Conduct assessments using validated clinical measures to confirm eligibility and perform baseline/follow-up assessments.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation and update clinical records.

Skills

Recruiting research participants

Research experience

Driving license

Education

BPS eligibility or equivalent

2:1 psychology degree

Job description

Main area Mental Health Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Flexible working and job shares considered.) Hours Full time - Happy to discuss flexible working Job ref 437-8283499

Site 1st Floor, Central Park Hub, Unit B Town Greater Manchester Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 06/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

The post is to work as a Research Assistant on the EASE Trial, an NIHR randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to examine the value of EMDR for people with early psychosis, and a history of distressing life experiences.

As the post will involve extensive travel within the Greater Manchester area, the ability to travel independently of the public transport system is important. The post is based at Central Park, Northampton Road, Manchester, M40 5BP.
The post is funded full-time for 12 months from January 2027, with the possibility of extension.
The post-holder will receive line management support from Professor Filippo Varese and the EASE trial managers in Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH). This includes regular line management supervision, clear objective setting for 3, 6 and 12 months and annual appraisals thereafter (depending on continued funding for the post).

We strive to be an inclusive research team, and we welcome applicants from a diverse range of communities to apply for the post, including people from diverse ethnic communities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and/or who identify as having a disability, lived experience of a mental health problem, or as being neurodivergent.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for recruiting eligible participants to the trial, conducting assessments using validated clinical measures to confirm the eligibility of participants, and to conduct baseline and follow up assessments. Administrative requirements will include timely and accurate documentation, updating clinical records, and managing record-keeping databases. This post will involve travelling to, and working across, multiple locations including NHS settings and participants’ homes. Hence, the post holder must be comfortable lone working, within a supported and structured risk management protocol. Applicants should be able to work warmly and sensitively with people experiencing distress, and be able to manage their own wellbeing using available supervision and support structures.

You will have a good first degree in Psychology (at least a 2:1). You will have some experience of working in a mental health setting as an Assistant Psychologist or Research Assistant (or equivalent experience), and an interest in psychosis, trauma, and/or other serious mental health difficulties.

Working for our organisation

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.

We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford,Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.

Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.

Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.

Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

• Pay Enhancements: – 30% additional for Evenings (8pm onwards) and Saturdays and 60% additional for Sundays and Bank holidays.
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years

Person specification

Experience

• Experience of recruiting research participants from diverse communities that are often under-represented in research, such as Black, Asian and other diverse ethnic communities.
• Experience of conducting research
• Experience as a research assistant.
• Experience in Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) in a research setting.

Education / Qualifications

• Good honours degree in psychology (at least 2:1).
• Good honours degree in psychology (at least 2:1).
• Eligibility for membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) or relevant professional body.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of research design.
• Knowledge of research methods, including data collection and analysis.
• Knowledge regarding psychological approaches to severe mental illnesses.
• Knowledge of research ethics and governance procedures.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to conduct literature searches.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a team player and liaise with a variety of other personnel within health and social services and with community members.
• Full UK driving license (subject to Disability Discrimination legislation.

Important Information about working for GMMH:
All positions within the Trust are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, for further information on the checks required please visit the NHS Employers website www.nhsemployers.org

The Trust mandates all post holders who require a DBS for their role to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration throughout your employment with GMMH.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.

The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities. If you would like to have an informal chat about the recruitment process for this role or would value some additional support, we’d love to hear from you.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

A candidate may utilise the help of AI when writing job application.The assessment of an application is made on its entirety and most times AI-generated content does not fully grasp the context and requirements of the job one applies for thus producing inaccurate and misleading information, especially in the supporting statement section of an application that can lack real life examples of one’s achievements, success and challenges.

We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored. GMMH reserves the right to follow up with a candidate at the interview on specific responses and those examples used in the supporting statement to explore it further.

Sponsorship

We are proud to be an approved sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa. Applications from individuals who require sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications. Please be aware that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible roles and salary requirements on the UK Government’s website – click here .

If you are offered a role with us and you require sponsorship, we will check your eligibility in line with the information on the above website. Your offer of employment could be withdrawn if the role is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not otherwise able to evidence your right to work in the UK.

The Home Office introduces new changes from 22/07/2025 that impact the health and care sector, you may wish to familiarise with it here .

Do you have experience outside the NHS?

We want to attract and retain people with diverse skills and experience, to deliver inclusive healthcare services to our communities.

We will consider relevant experience outside the NHS to calculate your salary on appointment. Please contact our Recruitment Team for more information.

**Please note, this vacancy may be closed at any time if sufficient applications have been received**

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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