Research Assistant

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a Research Assistant to join their team in Exeter. The role involves supporting clinical trials by assisting with patient recruitment and facilitating study activities. Candidates should possess excellent communication skills, a degree in psychology or a relevant field, and experience working with mental health patients. This permanent full-time position offers the opportunity to contribute to vital health research within a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Educated to A Level or equivalent.
• Experience of working with patients with mental health conditions.
• Familiarity with clinical data confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Support senior staff in study delivery.
• Assist in facilitating study set-up and patient recruitment.
• Maintain patient records and document data accurately.

Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Attention to detail in data collection

Ability to work autonomously

Self-motivated

Team collaboration

Education

A Level or equivalent

Degree in Psychology or relevant field

GCP Training

Tools

Microsoft Office

Email and internet proficiency

Job description

Weare seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Research Assistant to join our busyteam. You will play a pivotal role in the day to day running of the NationalInstitute for Health Research portfolio across in mental health, dementia,CAMHS and learning disability within Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

Main duties of the job

Thisrole will involve supporting senior staff members leading trials in all aspectsof study delivery including facilitation of study set-up, identification of patientseligible for recruitment, and ensuring that all studies activities areconducted according to the study protocol, Good Clinical Practice (GCP),Research Governance and local Trust guidelines, resulting in the collection of high-qualitydata. Your work will be focused on participant recruitment and will involveboth patient-facing and data admin work.

Youwill help raise awareness of research amongst clinical colleagues and service usersand will help to embed research within clinical teams. The studies we supportrange from observational to interventional studies and may include commercialclinical trials of investigational medicinal products.

This is a 37.5hr per week permanent position.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

• To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner with patients, people who use services and their carers who may have specific difficulties in understanding and/ or communicating and who may be distressed.
• To work closely with colleagues in other multi-professional teams on a day-to-day basis.
• To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the participation of the patient.
• To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
• To maintain and build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in the Trust.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• To plan and prioritise own workload.
• To provide relevant knowledge to the planning, development and delivery of research projects.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

• Liaise with the members of multi-disciplinary research delivery team to establish procedures for the safe and smooth running of clinical trials.
• Attend team meetings, and appropriate clinics, to screen and recruit new patients.
• Perform appropriate assessments and rating scales as required for screening purposes and by the study protocol (training will be provided if required).
• Update appropriate patient databases to aid recruitment and reporting of recruitment.
• Evaluate patient eligibility for entry to clinical studies by coordinating pre-study tests, obtaining results and arranging appropriate appointments according to the study protocol. Ensure that subsequent study specific investigations are undertaken as required by the protocol.
• Facilitate the informed consent process ensuring that the patient (and carers/ family) fully understand the nature of the study; and ensure that the consent form is completed accurately and filled as required.
• The post holder will be responsible (where appropriate) for the assessments and documentation for follow up visits as per the trial protocols and in agreement with more senior research practitioners.
• Provide ongoing information, advice and support to patients (and carers/ families) regarding clinical trials.
• Maintain adequate patient records and ensure all relevant information is documented in the patients medical and nursing notes. Accurately document data collected into the case report forms.
• Complete the electronic case report e-CRF and paper case report form, in a timely and efficient manner ensuring an audit trail is evident.
• Obtain any missing data and resolve queries with the clinical investigators and trial management office.
• In association with the local clinical team, ensure that all adverse events are recorded and appropriately reported.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Maintain an awareness of current advances in treatment, research and nursing practice and uses this knowledge to maintain the highest standard of care for patients with dementia and/ or mental health conditions.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• The post holder is responsible for their own professional actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice Guidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
• To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

• Careful use of equipment.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

• To assist the work of less experienced assistants and/ or trainees as required.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

• To maintain accurate records.
• To be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and respond to the e‑mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much of its internal communication.

Responsibility for Research and Development

• Ensure a competent knowledge and understanding of the Department of Health Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, ICH GCP Guidelines and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) amended regulations 2006.
• Assess and evaluate the progress of on‑going clinical studies and provide regular updates to the Senior CSO/CRN, clinical trial coordinating centre, local line manager and other appropriate staff.
• Ensure clear and accurate record keeping
• Attend local and national meetings in relation to clinical trials as appropriate.

Freedom to Act

• Work is managed rather than supervised
• Accountable for own actions manager is available for reference
• Manages own workload

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to A Level or equivalent
• Degree in Psychology or relevant field
• GCP Training

communication

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Evidence of accuracy and attention to detail in data collection.
• Ability to deal with the public and colleagues in a pleasant and polite manner at all times.
• Willingness and ability to travel independently to patients, across the network and to events outside the region.
• Understanding of the needs and capabilities of patients with Alzheimers disease and mental health conditions and their carers.

physical skills

• Access to transport with the ability to travel if required.
• Able to work effectively from home with suitable equipment provided by the Trust.

Experience

• Experience of working with patients with mental health conditions, dementia and/or learning disability, and their carers.
• Experience of using cognitive, non-cognitive and activities of daily living assessments.
• Previous experience of working with a multidisciplinary team.
• Previous clinical research experience

Knowledge

• Clinical placements and/or supervised practice in a health care setting
• Familiarity with the issues surrounding clinical data, particularly confidentially.
• Knowledge of mental health, dementia and/or learning disability conditions

planning and organisational skills

• Ability to work autonomously using own initiative, and as a member of a team.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to prioritise, organise and plan own workload.
• Diplomatic and calm under pressure.
• Able to prioritise workload
• Excellent computer skills able to use all Microsoft office package.
• Proficient in use of email, the internet and word processing.

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.