Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic research assistant to carry out tasks for the NIHR funded study: "Improving quality of life and behaviour that challenges in people with mild to moderate intellectual disability through person-centred solution focused communication (ICONIC)."
This study will take place over 66 months. In this programme of research, we are aiming to adapt and evaluate the effectiveness of DIALOG+ for people with intellectual disability. DIALOG+ is a brief, low cost solution focused intervention that improves the therapeutic effectiveness of routine clinical meetings between clinicians and patients, by using existing resources. DIALOG+ has been shown to be effective in improving quality of life in people with psychosis and other mental health conditions.
Main duties of the job
The applicant will assist in conducting literature reviews and writing papers for publication.
The applicant will be responsible for supporting the recruitment of participants with intellectual disability from NHS services across London and possibly from other regions on England and therefore should be willing to travel (travel expended will be covered).
The role will involve undertaking consent procedures and conducting baseline and follow-up assessments (completing questionnaires with participants). The applicant will also carry out qualitative interviews with people with intellectual disability, carers and clinicians and will be involved in the analysis of qualitative data.
About us
The Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry (USCP) is part of the Wolfson Institute of Population Health (Queen Mary University of London) and supported by East London NHS Foundation Trust. It is located in the London Borough of Newham, in East London. Since 2012, the Unit is a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre (the only one specifically for Mental Health Service Development worldwide), and since 2022 it hosts a NIHR Global Health Research Centre for the Community Treatment of Long-Term Conditions. The research is multi-disciplinary, aims to innovate and involves the development and testing of novel interventions in mental health care. Since 2013, the Unit has generated more than £40m competitive research, mostly from the National Institute for Health Research, the European Commission and the Medical Research Council. Currently, the Unit consists of about 35 full time researchers, PhD students, and managerial/administrative staff.
The applicant will have a substantive contract with ELFT and an honorary contract with QMUL. The two organisations work collaboratively and have a close working relationship.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To identify and recruit potential participants for the programme according to the protocol and guidelines, through liaison with community learning disability teams and social care organisations, to assist staff, if required, in providing information so that patients and carers can make informed decisions about their participation.
- Undertake informed consent procedures employing role-play and preparing scripts about how to talk to professionals and potential participants about the study.
- Conduct face to face assessment interviews using structured questionnaires. Conduct baseline and follow up assessments
- To undertake the recording of recruitment, recruitment logs and study screening logs. The investigators and the researchers will collect and discuss screening logs monthly in teleconferences.
- Maintain responsibility for data management and liaison with the Programme Manager. Set up and maintain mechanism for storing study data in accordance with Trust and UCL guidelines and in liaisonwith the Programme Manager.
- Conduct literature reviews under the supervision of the programme manager and Chief investigators
- Contribute to reports and prepare papers for publication
- Prepare presentations and easy read/accessible information
- Support the involvement of patients and the public (PPI) in the co-production of the intervention
General duties
- To undertake any other duties, which may be required from time to time, as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and needs of the study.
- To work at all times according to Good Clinical Practice, Research Governance and Trust guidelines.
- To comply with the relevant general policies and standards of Trusts and Universities where duties may be undertaken.
- To ensure that any data collection is conducted according to the research protocol and adhere to the Data Protection Act 1998 and Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
- To maintain a working knowledge of relevant practice in intellectual disability health and social care and maintain good working relationships with clinical teams.
Further duties are outlined in the Job Description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To identify and recruit potential participants for the programme according to the protocol and guidelines, through liaison with community learning disability teams and social care organisations, to assist staff, if required, in providing information so that patients and carers can make informed decisions about their participation.
- Undertake informed consent procedures employing role-play and preparing scripts about how to talk to professionals and potential participants about the study.
- Conduct face to face assessment interviews using structured questionnaires. Conduct baseline and follow up assessments
- To undertake the recording of recruitment, recruitment logs and study screening logs. The investigators and the researchers will collect and discuss screening logs monthly in teleconferences.
- Maintain responsibility for data management and liaison with the Programme Manager. Set up and maintain mechanism for storing study data in accordance with Trust and UCL guidelines and in liaisonwith the Programme Manager.
- Conduct literature reviews under the supervision of the programme manager and Chief investigators
- Contribute to reports and prepare papers for publication
- Prepare presentations and easy read/accessible information
- Support the involvement of patients and the public (PPI) in the co-production of the intervention
General duties
- To undertake any other duties, which may be required from time to time, as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and needs of the study.
- To work at all times according to Good Clinical Practice, Research Governance and Trust guidelines.
- To comply with the relevant general policies and standards of Trusts and Universities where duties may be undertaken.
- To ensure that any data collection is conducted according to the research protocol and adhere to the Data Protection Act 1998 and Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
- To maintain a working knowledge of relevant practice in intellectual disability health and social care and maintain good working relationships with clinical teams.
Further duties are outlined in the Job Description.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Undergraduate degree in psychology or related social/ health sciences
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification (MSc), or equivalent research experience in psychology/ psychiatry or closely cognate discipline (e.g. social science) ICH Good Clinical Practice
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of / familiarity with services for patients with intellectual disability or mental illness.tal
- Experience of conducting qualitative or quantitative research or conducting a systematic review
- Experience of working with people with intellectual disability or mental illness
Desirable
- Experience of recruitment of participants to research
- Authorship on a research paper published in peer-reviewed journal
- Experience presenting research findings to internal departments and external bodies and in research dissemination
- Experience of conducting qualitative interviews and/or analysis
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Good writing and communication skills - demonstrable ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences and through a variety of mediums with confidence, empathy and enthusiasm.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage people from culturally diverse backgrounds and in research
- Able to handle sensitive and highly confidential information and discuss complex issues with patients
- Ability to produce accurate meeting papers, excel spread sheets, graphs, reports using MS Office packages and use virtual meetings platforms.
- Understanding of the research process; demonstrable knowledge of research design and methods including an understanding of the analytical process
- Ability to produce clear, accurate written and verbal reports and maintain up to date records
Desirable
- Experience of preparing ethics applications
Attitude & Disposition
Essential
- Able to work under pressure and under own initiative
- Proven ability to work effectively as a team member as well as working alone
- Proven time management skills including the ability to manage own workload within defined parameters
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Undergraduate degree in psychology or related social/ health sciences
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification (MSc), or equivalent research experience in psychology/ psychiatry or closely cognate discipline (e.g. social science) ICH Good Clinical Practice
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of / familiarity with services for patients with intellectual disability or mental illness.tal
- Experience of conducting qualitative or quantitative research or conducting a systematic review
- Experience of working with people with intellectual disability or mental illness
Desirable
- Experience of recruitment of participants to research
- Authorship on a research paper published in peer-reviewed journal
- Experience presenting research findings to internal departments and external bodies and in research dissemination
- Experience of conducting qualitative interviews and/or analysis
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Good writing and communication skills - demonstrable ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences and through a variety of mediums with confidence, empathy and enthusiasm.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage people from culturally diverse backgrounds and in research
- Able to handle sensitive and highly confidential information and discuss complex issues with patients
- Ability to produce accurate meeting papers, excel spread sheets, graphs, reports using MS Office packages and use virtual meetings platforms.
- Understanding of the research process; demonstrable knowledge of research design and methods including an understanding of the analytical process
- Ability to produce clear, accurate written and verbal reports and maintain up to date records
Desirable
- Experience of preparing ethics applications
Attitude & Disposition
Essential
- Able to work under pressure and under own initiative
- Proven ability to work effectively as a team member as well as working alone
- Proven time management skills including the ability to manage own workload within defined parameters
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
