Research Assistant

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 4,000 - 6,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare trust in London is seeking a Research Assistant for a fixed term of 1 year. The role involves liaising with services to recruit trial participants, conducting interviews, and administering psychometric questionnaires as part of a research study on psychosis. Candidates should have a minimum 2:1 degree and some experience in mental health settings, as well as knowledge of research methodologies. This position offers specialized training and the opportunity to contribute to important stigma research.

Benefits

High Cost Area Supplement (15% of basic salary)

Qualifications

• Must have a first degree with a minimum 2:1 classification.
• Experience in a mental health setting is essential.
• Knowledge of research methodologies and data analysis is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with clinical and voluntary services to raise study profile.
• Conduct semi-structured interviews with participants.
• Administer psychometric questionnaires for data collection.
• Collaborate with the research team on trial activities.

Skills

Experience in mental health settings

Knowledge of audit, research design and data analysis

Structured psychiatric interview skills

Education

Good first degree (at least a 2:1)

Job description

Overview

Research Assistant (BAND 5; 1.0 WTE; Fixed Term: 1 year in first instance). Stigma and discrimination can have a serious impact on the wellbeing of people who experience psychosis and can affect personal recovery. Peer-delivered interventions that support people with psychosis who have been personally impacted by stigma show promise, but trials to date have been small and have focused on feasibility rather than efficacy. Following the NIHR funded feasibility trial, Let's Talk 1, the Let's Talk 2 Trial has been funded by the NIHR through the EME programme. The Let's Talk 2 trial is a 32-month randomised controlled trial, jointly led by Professor Tony Morrison and Dr Melissa Pyle at the Psychosis Research Unit. The study aims to evaluate the benefits of a peer-delivered intervention called Lets Talk to aid mental health disclosure decision making. Our four NHS sites are led by experts in Psychosis and Psychosis Research, Peer Support and Stigma and Discrimination research. Dr Lisa Wood is the site lead for NELFT.

The successful applicant will be part of this national and international team and will gain high-quality training in psychosis and stigma research, be trained in the delivery of semi-structured psychosocial assessments, and have the opportunity to work within a clinical trial that will advance the field of stigma research. We are seeking to appoint a research assistant to work on the Lets Talk 2 Trial. The post is primarily responsible for liaison with clinical services and voluntary services across the footprint of the Trust to raise the profile of the study and aid recruitment of trial participants, conduct semi-structured interview assessments, and administer other psychometric questionnaires with people who have experience of psychosis and report internalised stigma. The posts will be for a fixed term of 12 months initially.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with clinical services and voluntary services across the Trust footprint to raise study profile and aid recruitment of trial participants.
• Conduct semi-structured interview assessments with people who have experience of psychosis and who report internalised stigma.
• Administer psychometric questionnaires as part of data collection for the trial.
• Collaborate with a national and international research team and contribute to trial activities as required.

Qualifications

• Good first degree (at least a 2:1).
• Some experience of working in a mental health settings, with an interest in psychosis/bipolar disorder.
• Knowledge of audit, research design and data analysis is essential.
• Experience of using a structured psychiatric interview would be advantageous.

Benefits

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941).