Research Assistant

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT); Fulbourn; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local health and social care organization based in Fulbourn seeks a dedicated individual for a role focused on engaging with patients in mental health clinics. The successful candidate will collect and manage data for the QUEST trial research project, conduct structured interviews, and support the study team in meeting research targets. Candidates will be trained, so a background in mental health is essential. Collaboration and communication skills will be key to success in this role.

Qualifications

• Experience with quantitative data management and anonymization.
• Ability to engage participants through various communication formats.
• Knowledge of psychological/emotional needs of research participants.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with study leads and clinical staff to deliver the study.
• Facilitate research project setup and follow protocols.
• Conduct structured interviews and psychometric tests with participants.
• Manage and maintain an external database of research data.
• Conduct reviews of clinical notes for data extraction.

Skills

Data management

Communication skills

Psychometric testing

Research protocols

Education

Background in mental health or related field

Job description

Role Overview

In this exciting role, the post holder will travel to mental health clinics throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) to discuss the QUEST trial with community mental health service users, and recruit patients with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. The post holder will collect data for the project in clinics or participant homes, involving the Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN‑BPD), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‑V Personality Disorders (SCID‑5‑PD) and a range of other measures. Full training will be provided. Maintaining good working relationships with service users, carers, clinic staff and other stakeholders will be key to the success of the project.

Key Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively and be supported by the study Chief Investigator, Principal Investigator and the QUEST study team, research and delivery staff and clinical services to assist with the successful delivery of the study and achievement of local and national targets in relation to research performance.
• Assist in the set‑up and facilitation of the research project.
• Maintain and manage an external database of quantitative data, anonymise data, input data into the database and keep it up to date.
• Approach potential research participants using a variety of communication formats, in order to engage them in the research study.
• Carry out any relevant psychometric test materials and structured/semi‑structured interviews whilst ensuring the safety and comfort of participants and yourself.
• Follow‑up research participants at agreed intervals where indicated.
• Be aware of the psychological/emotional needs of research participants, responding and reporting appropriately.
• Ensure that research procedures (including consent processes and follow‑up) are carried out according to the approved protocol and the UK policy framework for health and social care research.
• Conduct reviews of electronic patient clinical notes, extracting and coding data for research purposes.
• Score relevant tests, make data anonymous and enter data into the study database.
• Ensure safe storage of paper data.

About CPFT

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high‑quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life. Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

Equality and Diversity

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under‑represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Additional Information

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications. Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process. For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk.

Contact

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Siobhan Coleman, Job title: Research Delivery Lead, Email address: [e-mail]