Senior Research Assistant

Sussex Partnership; Hove; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in mental health care is seeking a Senior Research Assistant to join their innovative CONNECT study. This role involves recruiting participants and conducting assessments to support a groundbreaking research project aimed at improving mental health outcomes. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in psychology, excellent communication skills, and a passion for research. Join a dedicated team committed to making a difference in the lives of patients and communities.

Benefits

Flexible working

Fully funded lifelong learning opportunities

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience working with severe mental health problems.
• Knowledge of psychological assessments and self-report measures.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and assess participants for the CONNECT study.
• Support patients in using digital tools for monitoring.
• Maintain accurate records of research data.

Skills

Communication

Research

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Honours degree in Psychology

Post-graduate degree in Psychology

Job description

Main area Research and Development Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (12 months from starting date) Hours

• Full time
• Job share
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 354-CO-21635

Site Sussex Education Centre Town Hove Salary £29,970 - £36,483 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 27/05/2025 23:59

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

Are you are interested in being part of cutting-edge research within Mental Health care? Are you looking to develop your research skills and experience further?

If yes, then this opportunity could be for you.

We are currently running a Wellcome Trust funded study called "CONNECT", and we are looking to hire a full-time Senior Research Assistant.

The CONNECT Study recruited individuals with psychosis and uses smartphone apps to actively and passively collect data using a prospective observational cohort study. Data will be used to develop and validate a personalised risk prediction algorithm for relapse. Additionally, we want to maximise engagement and information obtained from digital remote monitoring by asking the right questions, at the right frequency and time.

As the Senior Research Assistant, your roll is key to the success of the study. You will be responsible for the recruitment and assessment of participants, working to protocol and adhering to local policies, procedures and codes of practice.

You will need excellent communication and liaison skills as they will be required to promote the study locally, and recruit from mental health services and organisations which are used by people with psychosis. To do this you will be required to travel to locations not always accessible by public transport.

Main duties of the job

As the Senior Research Assistant, your main duties will be:

• To identify, recruit and conduct assessments of mental health; and well-being for people with psychosis;
• To introduce patients to the digital tools;
• To record outcomes;
• Contribute to reports;
• Support the engagement of patients in the study.

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with excellent communication skills who are able to build a strong rapport and relationship with both service users and staff; who have excellent research and IT skills and the ability to work flexibly and conduct high quality assessments with service users with a psychosis diagnosis.

Working for our organisation

The R&D department in Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust is a large and vibrant department with research assistants and clinical studies officers working across a variety of projects.

As the CONNECT Senior Research Assistant, you will work directly with two other Senior Research Assistants, the team research coordinator Dr Ellie Robson, and with Professor Kathryn Greenwood (Professor of Clinical Psychology) locally.

You will also receive training and be linked to the multidisciplinary research group with international leaders in their fields in Manchester, London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

There will also be opportunities to meet staff on other projects and from different disciplines, and to take up CPD opportunities to strengthen your clinical and research work experience. There are regular psychosis research lab meetings, and Sussex Psychosis Research interest Group (SPRiG) seminars, which will further strengthen your knowledge and skills.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To assist the Research Coordinator/Project Manager and other research group members in the planning of research.
• To identify and recruit participants into all phases of the study.
• To liaise and work with clinical teams in recruiting participants into the study.
• To undertake protocol based psychological assessments, including administration of self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with participants and others involved in their care, including extraction of relevant data from medical records.
• To set participants up on a digital remote monitoring platform (e.g. using apps) and support participants to use and work with digital devices (e.g. wearable devices).
• To support ethics applications and ethical amendments, as required.
• To collect and maintain high quality, valid and reliable clinical activity and outcome data and appropriate statistical and data management information including active participation in inter-rater reliability checks.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings, steering groups and other forums.
• To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings including maintaining recruitment figures with relevant NHS Trusts and managing databases to record research data and monitor study activity.
• To assist with the writing of reports for submission to research sponsors and presentation material.
• Work closely with the Research Coordinator/Project Manager, and the other study site research assistants.
• Work alongside the project team across all sites in a collegiate manner.
• Support and promote patient and public involvement across the whole project.
• Work flexibly for the benefit of the project and as required.
• Travel to different sites across East and West Sussex where appropriate.
• Comply with departmental policies concerning security, safety and patient confidentiality and to ensure that procedures are carried out with the safe systems work.

Other Duties

• To undertake administration tasks, necessary training and/or development.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as directed by the line manager/supervisor.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology, or equivalent.
• Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis
• A post-graduate degree (MSc or equivalent) in the Psychology field would be desirable

Experience, Knowledge

• Up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge in working with people with severe mental health problems, particularly people who experience psychosis.
• Experience of using psychological self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with people with severe mental health problems.
• Experience working with people with severe mental health problems in an NHS context.
• Experience of working with mental health service users in a research capacity
• Understanding of confidentiality and protocols for ethics and data protection.
• Experience of teaching other health professionals
• Lived experience of mental health issues
• Experience working as an assistant psychologist or research assistant or PhD completed in a clinical psychology field.
• Experience with, and commitment to, patient and public engagement and non-academic dissemination of research study findings.

Skills

• Ability to use initiative to efficiently plan, optimise and progress project and communicate findings.
• Time management skills including ability to manage own workload within defined parameters and adhere to agreed timelines.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member as well as working alone.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with colleagues at all levels.
• Flexible approach to dealing with research problems as they arise.
• Ability to use initiative to efficiently plan, optimise and progress projects.

Personal Attributes

• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• The candidate must also be able to travel to different research sites. A driving license and access to a vehicle is desirable

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children’s social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.