Research Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE:

LOROS is seeking to appoint a Research Associate to join the enthusiastic and motivated research team to work on a number of exciting projects in palliative and end of life care focusing on older people, family carers and health inequalities. The primary project for this post will be working on the following 3 year study: Developing effective service models for Adult Palliative and end of life care for People with a Learning disability (DAPPLE).

The DAPPLE project will start in November 2024 and is funded by the NIHR HS&DR programme (NIHR150160) and led by the Kingston University (CI Prof Irene Tuffrey-Wijne). The wider project team includes colleagues from the Open University and University of Leicester. There are also a wide range of contributing stakeholders, including policy makers, professional organisations, family carers and self advocacy groups.

One of the study work streams involves exploration, comparison and contrasting of palliative and end of life care services for people with learning disabilities at four study sites, one of which is Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, hosted at LOROS Hospice. The postholder will be responsible for engagement, participant recruitment, data collection and data analysis. Participant recruitment and data collection will involve any relevant health or social care services or settings (including family settings) within the area.

Data collection involves (1) ethnographic case studies of people with learning disabilities who are approaching the end of life, their families, carers, professionals, and service provision; and (2) retrospective case studies of people with learning disabilities who have died. Data collection methods include participant observation, interviews, document analysis and field notes.

The postholder will work closely with the wider research team, in particular the ethnographic researchers at the other three Study Sites, with whom there will be regular meetings for ongoing collective data analysis and peer support. As well as co-researchers with learning disabilities, who are employed by Kingston University as part of the research team. The postholder will receive regular supervision and support.

General Research activities

These are the key responsibilities of the job; on occasions you may be required to undertake other duties that commensurate with your grade.

Proactively supporting the development of research proposals and study protocols.

Engagement with patient and public involvement (PPI) representatives and groups.

Recruitment of participants and consenting to research studies

Interviews with patients, family members and health and social care staff

Questionnaire and Case Report Form development and design

To lead in the collection, evaluation, analysis and interpretation of qualitative data, and work autonomously to attain project milestones.

Conducting desk-based research including literature review, rapid evidence assessments, database searches and synthesis

Organising, facilitating and supporting study meetings and events

Presenting information on research progress and outcomes to the research group and relevant stakeholders.

Supporting publication and dissemination activity

Responsibility for maintaining project site files

DAPPLE Study activities

You will be expected to work independently under the supervision of the Deputy Lead for Research at LOROS Hospice who is also the site Research Lead for the DAPPLE study. You will also work with others in the LOROS Centre for Excellence research team and support study PIs manage and deliver other projects. Your role will include but not be limited to the following in relation to the DAPPLE study:

Be responsible for all research activities related to Study.

Organise and lead stakeholder engagement events, involving local learning disability service providers, palliative care services, primary care services, family carers and self-advocates

Recruit participants for ethnographic case studies (including participants with learning disabilities) and retrospective case studies (including family carers and professionals).

Carry out participant observation, interviews and document analysis.

Record field notes.

Carry out both independent data analysis and collaborative data analysis across Study Sites, using content analysis, the framework method, and mind-mapping techniques.

Ensure adherence to study protocol and administrative requirements.

Ensure efficient and effective data management and data storage.

Monitor project progress to ensure compliance with and adherence to the project plan and to identify, evaluate and rectify problems.

Work with co-researchers with learning disabilities.

Take an active role in the preparation and publication of data, reports and information, ensuring that these meet legislative, contractual and ethical requirements.

Support the provision of regular and ad hoc information, both written and verbal, to all the project participants, funders, the sponsor and the REC to include annual reports, updates, guidance, commitments and project newsletter/website.

Work with the site Project Lead to ensure that the project is meeting its targets, is producing meaningful output and to predict and plan any changes that warrant requests to changes in protocol, funding or time. This may include adapting existing or developing new research methodologies as needed by the participants profile or through circumstances (e.g. pandemic restrictions).

Work collaboratively with the wider multi-disciplinary research team and patient/public representatives, and support the project managers.

Prepare and present research findings for meetings; including conferences both oral presentations and poster presentations.

In addition to the post holder will be required to support other projects and will require competence in the following:

To have a solid understanding of the application of ICH GCP Guidelines, the EU Directive on Clinical Research and Research Governance. To ensure that all work undertaken is in line with research protocols, ICH GCP, Research Governance guidelines and all relevant organisational SOPs.

Work with the research team to support preparation and set-up of the studies, including liaison with professionals, Research & Innovation departments, care homes and community organisations.

To ensure patients / carers are provided with written information relevant to the research study and are given the opportunity to discuss the research study at the outset and during the course of the research trial in which they are being asked to participate (i.e. informed consent).

To support and assist in the analysis of qualitative data using appropriate software such as NVivo

Presentation of data including the writing up findings and study outputs for different purposes and audiences including public partners and internal reports.

To record and report any adverse events and serious adverse events according to trial protocol and local procedures. Ensuring that safety data is reported as required in accordance with SOPs and study protocols, and reports send in a timely manner.

Undertaking any research specific training required for the role including ICH GCP training and consent training. Attending in-service training, conferences and study days at the discretion of the Research Manager.

In collaboration with the wider team contribute and assist with the production of research articles and to project newsletters, websites

To attend meetings, both internal and external, to represent the research team as required. Also attending meetings and learning sessions having an active role in the presentation of research information both internally and at national meetings.

To track and report the accruals on a monthly basis maintaining the recruitment database for all studies they are involved with.

Contributing to preparation and writing of project reports, papers and other outputs in accordance with both internal and external requirements.

OTHER KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

LOROS Research and Education team

LOROS Clinical teams including inpatient, outpatient, day care, therapists and CNS

University of Leicester researchers and collaborators

Person Specification

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Experience of the theory and application of qualitative research relevant to health sciences.
• Experience in the management and conduct of qualitative research.
• Experience of undertaking health service and/or clinical research.
• Demonstrable research abilities in at least some of the following: health services research, qualitative methods, mixed methods.
• Ability to use data collection and analysis software packages such as Nvivo
• Excellent communication both written and oral (including electronic and telephone/video-conferencing) with diverse audiences e.g. clinicians, managers, academics, service users including learning disabled audiences.
• Ability to use reference libraries, e.g. Endnote, Zotereo
• Ability and experience with qualitative methods of analysis, e.g. thematic analysis, grounded theory or similar.
• Evidence of problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Ability to pay excellent attention to detail, with a thorough, methodical and flexible approach to work.
• Ability to contribute to report writing, publications, presentations to high standard and the dissemination of information for both academic and other audiences.
• Experience of organising and leading stakeholder/PPI groups
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts and to collaborate with a range of people.
• Committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), including training relevant to the post
• Willingness and ability to reflect on own practice
• Ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent organisation skills with the ability to manage own workload and prioritise work as necessary.
• Self-motivation with the ability to work independently. Ability to be responsible for own development and to use own initiative.
• Able to prioritise and cope with competing pressures.
• Willingness and ability to cope with sensitive issues, including death and dying
• Ability to plan own workload and work autonomously.
• Ability to work independently, and as a member of the research team
• Ability to work across sites as required.
• Good organisational and time management skills.
• Proficient IT skills Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint

Desirable

• Experience of using SystmOne.
• Previous project management skills / experience.
• Fluent (spoken) in any of the following languages: Gujarati and/or Bengali and/or Hindi and/or others.
• Experience of using SPSS or other statistical packages for Quantitative research

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of a sound knowledge of the research process.
• An excellent publications record including high quality, peer reviewed qualitative research publications.
• Knowledge of research issues relating to the patient who lacks capacity.
• Experience of anticipating and resolving problems that may jeopardise the smooth running or deadlines of a research project
• An understanding of current issues in the UK health and social care system, particularly related to service provision for people with learning disabilities
• Advanced communication and organisational skills with a track record of engaging with different groups in health and/or social care settings, including people with learning disabilities.
• An awareness of regulatory requirements around research.
• Have Knowledge of and comply with the Data Protection legislation / General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Information Governance requirements.
• An understanding of ethical and confidentiality issues in relation to data collection in ethnographic research

Qualifications

Essential

• A higher degree in health services research, social sciences, psychology, sociology, nursing, or related discipline

Desirable

• A PhD in a health-related or social scientific discipline or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Research experience in health service research particularly palliative care and Black, Asian and Minority ethnic communities.
• Experience of identification and recruitment of participants.
• Experience of handling situations of a sensitive nature for research participants.
• Experience of working with a range of collaborators and to be able to work at pace.

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking research with patients who are in the last year of life.
• Experience of undertaking ethnographic field work.
• Experience of working in co-production with people with learning 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 details

Employer name

LOROS Hospice

Address

Groby Road

Leicester

LE3 9QE