Senior Clinical Research Assistant

Job responsibilities

Recruitment and Delivery

Promoting the study to staff and service users across Greater Manchester.

Where required, exercise professional judgement to assess patient eligibility for participation in research projects.

To lead on discrete tasks within the research team.

Managing enquires from potential recruits and/or their advocates.

Communicating detailed information to young people and their families and advocates about their participation in the study. Includes providing complex research related information to research participants when taking informed consent for the research study or carrying out a research procedure.

Offer support to participants during their involvement in the research project.

Liaise with appropriate multi-disciplinary team members in health and social care, and Greater Manchester Police, regarding recruitment and support of research participants.

Visit participants at a variety of locations to assess eligibility, take informed consent and collect outcome measures, in consideration of individual need, using prioritisation and delegation skills.

Ensure all research activities are undertaken in adherence with the study protocol and the UK policy framework for health and social care research.

Undertake qualitative interviews.

To maintain confidentiality of information regarding patients, families, and carers at all times.

Communicate and liaise effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary and research teams within and external to the Trust, both verbally and in writing, providing and receiving complex or sensitive information. This often involves communicating and conveying complex and sensitive information about a patients treatment decision making capacity status to the patient, carers, family, and other clinicians.

Complete audio-recordings of interviews and their transcription

Inputting of data.

Proactively engage stakeholders in the research process, supporting recruitment to stakeholder groups that are representative of the communities we serve.

Assist in the facilitation of focus groups.

To be aware of the psychological/emotional needs of the patient/carer, responding and reporting appropriately (e.g., reporting as necessary adverse and serious adverse events and breaches of study protocol, as per individual requirements).

Engaging fully in supervision, communicating openly and honestly about experiences and progress on the project.

Project Management Support

Work closely and effectively with other team members towards the success of the project.

Arrange briefings for teams and stakeholders as appropriate.

Assist the project team leads and centre manager with the general delivery of the study.

Liaise with the study sponsor, clinicians and research collaborators.

Liaise with the Chief Investigator, Site Lead, and Project Manager regarding the

ongoing support and feasibility of the project.

Maintain and provide up-to-date project and recruitment information for the project, which includes consent of patients, completion of case report forms and routinely collected data.

Organise groups associated with the research study.

Organise interviews and other data collection opportunities associated with the research study.

Enter and check quantitative research data, under supervision.

Order supplies for research team.

Ensure that appropriate facilities and resources are available as required per research visit.

Authorised signatory in relation to petty cash reimbursements to research participants for travel expenses and small payments in relation to the study.

Undertake advance planning to meet deadlines for formal study monitoring and study milestones (e.g. participant recruitment, data collection and data analysis). Includes managing and prioritising own workload and tasks and working to appropriate deadlines and targets set.

Contribute to the training and support of other Research Assistants on the project and across the Trust.

Present at conferences, study days and meetings when required.

Actively promote the research study and any other research opportunities to staff and services.

Act as an ambassador for the Research and Innovation Department of Pennine, usually under the identity of the Young People's Mental Health Research Centre.

Contribute positively to the research culture and activities of the Young People's Mental Health Research Centre.

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• 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
• ECDL or excellent PC literacy including knowledge of all Microsoft Office packages

Desirable

• Have trained or be willing to undertake training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Short courses and experience to post graduate diploma level

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a professional capacity with people with mental health issues.
• Experience of working with children, young people, and families
• Experience working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders
• Data analysis, either quantitative or qualitative
• Experience of statistical analysis software
• Experience with documenting and maintaining data
• Good understanding of data confidentiality/GDPR

Desirable

• Demonstrable administration experience
• Training / facilitation experience
• Previous research experience
• Experience of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties
• Demonstrable experience working in an NHS environment
• Experience of CAMHS as a service user
• Experience of carrying out patient and public involvement (PPI) consultation activities

Knowledge

Essential

• Proficient in the use of Office software packages, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access
• Knowledge and appreciation of governance, risk and confidentiality issues
• Knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies

Desirable

• Knowledge of research ethics and obtaining informed consent.
• Knowledge of the principles of GCP
• Knowledge of NHS Research Governance procedures and the Research Governance Framework

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Ability to lead on discrete tasks within a research project
• Can demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Research Centre and those of the Trust.
• Participate in and contribute to team discussions Database / Internet skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate verbally and in writing with all levels of staff
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and members of the Multidisciplinary Team
• Ability to educate and support colleagues, patients and carers Maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing
• Ability to analyse and interpret written and numerical data
• Ability to collate information and produce written reports
• Able to organise and prioritise own workload, work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Use of initiative and ability to work under minimal supervision
• Ability to produce accurate, well presented work with a quick turnaround
• Excellent attention to detail

Desirable

• Typing skills specifically experience of transcribing large amount of interview /group audio data.

Work related circumstances

Essential

• To work flexibly when required
• Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).