Research Assistant

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a motivated Research Assistant to support the Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR) team. You will assist with data collection, data analysis and preparation of reports and publications, contributing to a range of patient experience and quality of life studies.

Responsibilities include supporting project management, literature reviews, and engagement in dissemination activities while maintaining high standards of data integrity and compliance with

Qualifications

• Applicants should hold a good degree in nursing, allied health, psychology or other scientific-based subject.
• Experience with data collection, data analysis and literature reviews is desirable.
• Ability to contribute to reports and manuscripts with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Assist with data collection, entry and validation across CPCR projects.
• Support data analysis and preparation of reports and publications.
• Assist in planning where required and contribute to project milestones.

Skills

Data analysis

Data collection

Literature reviews

Report writing

Education

Good degree in nursing, allied health, psychology or other scientific-based subject

Tools

NVivo

R

SPSS

Excel

Job description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to join CPCR to assist with project related activities. Responsibilities include assisting and facilitating data collection, data analysis and preparation of reports/publications., The post holder will support research project activities within the Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR) team. CPCR lead a wide range of research projects exploring patient experience & quality life. Duties will include data collection & analysis, dissemination, administrative functions and literature reviews. The primary aims of the post are to:

Key Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day running of CPCR projects
• Provide support to the Post-doctoral Research Fellow
• Contribute to publications and project reports where required, Planning and Organisational
• Assist in delivery of stated objectives for CPCR projects.
• Work with CPCR team members to meet project milestones
• Actively participate in committees and meetings as required.
• Ensure that all projects adhere to Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
• Facilitate Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) activities for project development and ongoing PPI input.
• Facilitate data management including data collection, entry, validation and analysis.
• Liaise with project leads and staff to facilitate project maintenance and delivery of project milestones.
• Assist with report writing and manuscript preparation.
• Carry out all duties in a way that supports equality and values diversity.
• Promote and support equality in access to research and value diversity ensuring the service provided meets the needs of all service users., Assist in delivery of CPCR studies including recruiting participants from a clinic setting.
• Work with CPCR team members and project leads to facilitate project maintenance, delivery of project milestones, scheduling study meetings as required for each study and present updates at monthly team meetings.
• Use own initiative to organize, plan and complete necessary tasks.
• Maintain attention to detail when completing study documents, data entry and analysis.
• Is responsible for ensuring own professional knowledge is regularly updated and keep abreast of relevant developments, making effective use of learning opportunities and actively promoting the workplace as a learning environment.
• Assist in the conduct of quantitative and qualitative research processes, project management and ability to work autonomously in all research projects.
• Use relevant computer software including Microsoft Word and research software as appropriate for each project for example use of NVIVO to assist in qualitative analysis or 'r'/'SPSS' to assist with quantitative analysis.
• Propose policy or service changes applicable to the conduct of research within CPCR.
• Assist with report writing and manuscript preparation.
• Facilitate Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) activities for project development and ongoing PPI input; including contacting patients face to face or via telephone and email, scheduling PPI events and actively managing these.
• Take formal minutes in meetings (for example in trial steering group committees for national trials with more than 15 members of all levels of experience) and notes during data analysis conversations and at other stages to keep a log of decision making throughout the research process.
• Provide a supportive environment when conducting participant interviews and other research meetings with research teams including internal and external research team members (e.g. for industry sponsored research studies).
• Discuss personal and sensitive information with research participants and the ability to respond appropriately and empathetically.
• Follow risk assessments and distress policy to ensure the comfort and safety of participants and themselves is paramount, escalating any concerns to senior team members.
• Attend clinics in person to facilitate research study recruitment.
• Facilitate data management including data collection, entry, validation and analysis: Adapt, design information systems to meet the specifications of others.
• Responsible for the operation and data input for one or more information systems for department/service/sponsor preference, for example (but not limited to) the local research study management system (e.g. RPEAK), electronic patient records systems (e.g. CWP), spreadsheets for data entry, visualisation and analysis (e.g. excel), online questionnaire and data management systems (e.g. qualtrix, redcap). Multiple systems will be used on a daily basis.
• Introduce, adapt and improve information systems for CPCR and relevant studies e.g. developing and implementing systems to input, store and disseminate information used in statistical/data analysis and information relevant to the smooth running of research studies.
• Responsible for one or more information systems for collection of statistical/epidemiological information, such as Excel, R, SPSS.
• Undertake basic statistical analysis such as comparisons, frequencies, mean and standard deviation, conduct qualitative data analysis using NVivo software to store, manage, analyse and synthesise the data.
• Assist in cleaning data and preparing data for more complex analysis and assist senior members of the team in qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• Apply a range of facts and theoretical evidence to situations requiring analysis. Manages statistical/analytical queries, assessing whether analyses are robust e.g. investigating data anomalies identified during analyses, instigating corrective action as required.
• Synthesise, analyse and interpret research findings.
• Apply and adhere to research Governance policies and procedures: for example, is able to ensure that all projects adhere to Good Clinical Practice guidelines, GDPR and contributes to audits when required.
• Actively participates in committees and meetings as required.
• Provide and receive complex or sensitive information.
• Communicate with all levels across the organization and within Research and Innovation on a regular basis.
• Communicate with research participants and patients which will include emotional and distressing topics.
• Facilitate interviews with patient/family study participants which will mean exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances on a regular basis due to the nature of work undertaken by CPCR.
• Carry out all duties in a way that supports equality and values diversity. This responsibility includes actions in relation to all internal and external stakeholders and research sponsors.
• Facilitate the promotion and support of equality in access to research and value diversity ensuring the service provided meets the needs of all service users.
• Responsible for promoting the work and reputation of the Trust and supporting its wider activities.
• Responsible for ensuring that personal, professional and corporate essential training requirements for self and staff under line management are met.
• Proactively engage in the PDR process ensuring that preparation work, objectives and personal development needs are identified and met.
• Demonstrate the Christie values and behaviour, being accountable for their own attitude and behaviour.
• Liaise with senior staff members and the finance department to manage the project budget and any participant expenses.
• Applicants should hold a good degree in nursing, allied health, psychology or other scientific-based subject. An understanding of project work and evidence of high-quality delivery to deadlines are essential.
• We are looking for an individual with excellent organisational and communication skills, who can work well both in a team and using their own initiative.
• The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.
• Can work with CPCR team to support any new members of staff and provide training on specific tasks.
• There may be occasions where the research assistant will provide training to other clinicians regarding a particular element of the research study, such as the use of medical devices being used in research projects or qualitative research techniques.

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards. These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

If You're Offered the Role - you will be agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

No Smoking Policy - You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information - We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit. We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply