Research Assistant

TouchConsult; London; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to improving mental health care through research. As a Clinical Research Assistant, you'll play a vital role in recruiting participants and coordinating studies that enhance care for vulnerable populations. This position offers a unique opportunity to work alongside experts in the field, gaining invaluable experience in clinical research while contributing to impactful projects. With a commitment to equality and diversity, this organization provides a supportive environment where your contributions will make a difference. If you're passionate about mental health and research, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Degree level education or equivalent experience in healthcare.
• Experience in NHS or social care with service user contact.

Responsibilities

• Recruit patients for National Institute of Health Research studies.
• Coordinate research trials and engage clinical teams.

Skills

Good IT skills

Excellent organisational skills

Time management

Interpersonal communication

Public speaking

Education

Degree in healthcare-related field

Job description

West London NHS Trust

About

West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

We aim to meet the diverse needs of a local population of nearly 700,000 people and employ around 4,000 staff across 32 sites.

We take our responsibilities as an employer very seriously and are committed to equality and diversity .

Background

The trust was created in 2001 by the merger of Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health Trust, and Broadmoor Hospital Authority.

It was further enlarged by the absorption of the Hounslow Mental Health Services following the dissolution of the Hounslow and Spelthorne Mental Health and Community Trust in 2002.

In 2003, the remainder of the Hounslow services for adults and older people previously based at Ashford Hospital was also absorbed into our trust.

How We Fit Into The NHS

The trust is part of the National Health Service (NHS), which is the publicly funded healthcare system in the United Kingdom. The NHS provides healthcare to anyone normally resident in the United Kingdom with most services free at the point of use.

The services we provide are contracted by commissioners, such as primary care trusts (PCTs), on behalf of local residents. We also provide some services that are commissioned on a national or regional basis, such as high secure services.

We report directly to NHS London , which is one of ten strategic health authorities (SHAs) in England. We also work closely with statutory and voluntary organisations to provide our local communities with a comprehensive range of mental health services.

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Key details

Location

SiteLakeside MHU (West Mid)AddressTwickenham RoadTownLondonPostcodeTW7 6AFMajor / Minor RegionLondon

Contract type & working pattern

ContractFixed term: 12 months (Business Development)HoursFull time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary

Salary£34,521 - £41,956 Per Annum InclusiveSalary periodYearlyGrade(Band 5)

Specialty

Main areaResearch & Develoment

West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job Overview

Are you passionate about improving care in Mental Health & Dementia through research?

Do you have experience within mental health services or with vulnerable adults, or experience recruiting participants for health research? The Research Delivery Team at West London NHS Trust is looking for Clinical Research Assistant to join their team to support recruitment to and coordination of our portfolio of Mental Health & Dementia Research. Supported Noclor NHS Research Office, this is a chance to gain experience and knowledge of clinical research with experts in the field.

Advert

The role will be based in the Research Delivery Service at Noclor NHS Research Office, hosted by West London NHS Trust. This role also involves working across multiple organisations within West London to ensure people with mental health, dementia, learning disabilities, neurodegenerative and neurology problems have access to research opportunities. At least 60% of the role will be spent in clinical services across the Trust, or completing participant visits, with the remainder spent at the team base at Lakeside Mental Health Unit, or at Noclor Offices in Kentish Town.

You will work with research teams to recruit patients to a range of National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) portfolio studies. You will also promote research engagement actively assisting research teams with patient recruitment and data collection. You will be expected to have a good working knowledge of ICH GCP and be able to competently coordinate research trials, as well as engaging clinical teams & increasing awareness of research across the Trust.

You should be able to demonstrate an awareness of the challenges of research delivery in the NHS, particularly within mental health & dementia services. The ideal candidate should have effective communication skills, good organisational skills, flexibility, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to work autonomously.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m. The Trust is rated as Good overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as Outstanding.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached. The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to West London NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, you will be required to undergo a pre-employment checks which can take between 4-8 weeks . After which your information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR ).

Please ensure you include email addresses for your referees which MUST be at supervisory or managerial capacity covering the last 3 years of employment to date to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

West London NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We encourage the thoughtful use of technology as a demonstration of strong time management and a commitment to innovation. However, we encourage applicants to personalise their recruitment application to showcase their unique skills and experiences.

While AI-generated content can be a helpful tool, relying solely on generic responses instead of highlighting your own strengths and achievements may impact the success of your application. The success of an application will always be assessed against the essential and desirable criteria for the role, so it is important to ensure that your application and any supporting information clearly demonstrate how you meet these requirements.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a healthcare-related field.
• ICH Good Clinical Practice
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience working in an NHS based health or social care environment with service user contact.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in research delivery/patient recruitment in clinical research
• Experience of working with people in mental health and dementia services
• Project management experience
  
  

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Understanding of clinical trials in the field of dementia or neurodegenerative diseases conditions and social care
• Knowledge of the NHS Research Ethics Committee and R&D application processes
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrable knowledge of research design and methods including an understanding of the analytical process
• Good working knowledge of GCP principles and how to ensure regulatory compliance with clinical trials
  
  

Skills

Essential criteria

• Good IT skills, including demonstrable competence in word processing and data entry systems
• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to establish appropriate documentation and record keeping.
• Proven time management skills including the ability to manage own workload within defined parameters.
• Willing to undertake training (if necessary) to deliver assessments and take clinical samples from study participants.
• Experience of public speaking
• High level of interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisations
  
  

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

• Ability to receive, analyse and handle large volumes of complex, sensitive and highly confidential information.
• Ability to travel across the North West London region
• Demonstrable ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences and through a variety of mediums with confidence, empathy and enthusiasm.
• Evidence of accuracy and attention to detail in data collection and recording
• Proven ability to work effectively as a team member as well as working alone
• Able to work flexibly and creatively contributing to the formulation and adjustment of plans and organising clinical, academic and service user involvement within those plans
• Ability to work on own initiative and to take decisions independently when necessary
• Ability to deal with the public and colleagues in a pleasant and polite manner at all times.
• Enthusiastic and professional
• Diplomatic and calm under pressure.
• Phlebotomy trained or willingness to learn
  
  

Documents

• Candidate Pack (, 1.2)PDFMB
  
  

Further details / informal visits contact

NameLaura StevensJob titleDeputy Research Delivery ManagerEmail address [email protected]