Research Support Assistant

NHS; Preston; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS health trust in the UK is looking for a Research Support Assistant to join their team. The role involves leading recruitment and data collection for a mental health trial, conducting assessments, and liaising with clinical teams. Candidates should have a degree in psychology or a related field, with knowledge of research methods. This position also emphasizes flexibility and diversity, encouraging applicants from all backgrounds.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Support for work/life balance

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in a relevant discipline is required.
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research designs including clinical trial designs.
• Experience of working in clinical trial management with large multi-disciplinary research teams is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead on recruitment and data collection for a trial.
• Conduct clinical assessments including interviews and managing data.
• Liaise with clinical teams and meet potential participants.

Skills

Quantitative research methods

Qualitative research methods

Data analysis using SPSS

Effective interaction with multidisciplinary staff

Education

BSc(hons) Psychology (2:1 or above) or equivalent

Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Job description

Overview

Go back Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 10 February 2026

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to appoint a Research Support Assistant in Mental Health Research, to work in close partnership with the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research at Lancaster University, in the delivery of an NIHR funded trial Mouth Matters in Mental Health Study.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is a large health and wellbeing Trust employing over 7000 staff and serving a population across the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System. The Trust provides inpatient and community specialist Mental Health services to children and young people, adults and older adults and also delivers forensic mental health services. Additionally, the Trust provides a range of physical health care community services and children\'s services.

The Trust delivers a wide portfolio of high quality research and is supporting this important study. People with severe mental health difficulties often experience poor oral health and find it difficult to attend the dentist. This project aims to improve access to dental services in people with severe mental health difficulties.

Main duties of the job

The post starts in April 2026. The successful applicant will lead on recruitment and data collection for a trial. This will involve liaising with clinical teams, meeting potential participants, conducting clinical assessments (e.g. interviews, self-report measures) and managing data. The post-holder will receive clinical supervision and training from experienced clinical academics (e.g. Clinical Psychologists) working in the field of mental health research.

All research through Spectrum is conducted with people with lived experience to ensure that it is focused on priorities relevant to them. The Spectrum team takes an active approach to implementation to influence practices through working at national policy levels as well as training clinicians. See https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/health-and-medicine/research/spectrum/

You must have at least a degree level qualification in a relevant discipline and knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research designs including clinical trial designs with recruitment and retention targets. You will need to be competent in data collection and both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Experience of working collaboratively in clinical trial management with large multi-disciplinary research teams, and service users/relatives, clinicians and service providers, would be a definite advantage. We are looking for an energetic dynamic, self-directed and committed individual with an interest in becoming a key part of our research team.

About us

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you\'d like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached Job Description and Person Specification

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc(hons) Psychology (2:1 or above) or equivalent (e.g. post graduate conversion course accredited by the British Psychological Society)
• Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Knowledge

• Quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Quantitative data analysis using SPSS backgrounds and of different ages.
• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.

Experience

• Data analysis either quantitative or qualitative
• Contact with people with mental health difficulties and/or other disabilities

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.

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Lantern Centre/Spectrum Centre, Lancaster University

The Lantern Centre/Spectrum Centre, Lancaster University