Job summary
We
are looking for Research Assistant to join the Research and Development team to
be based in Wonford House R&D Team.
This role is for a fixed term of 30 months and will involve
supporting the Social Health Cohort Study, in the recruitment, collection of blood biomarkers and follow up of study
participants ensuring study data is accurately and expediently collected and that all study activities are conducted according to the study
protocol, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Research Governance and local Trust
guidelines, resulting in the collection of high quality data.
The Research and Development Team is made up of many disciplines including Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Psychology graduates. We deliver many research studies for various mental health, dementia and learning disabilities on behalf of Universities, and partner agencies to hopefully improve the care of those who use our services.
We are looking for someone with significant experience of working with adults with severe mental illnesses and who has a passion for research, regardless of their experience.
We will support you to learn the skills you need to thrive in the role.
Main duties of the job
This role will involve supporting senior staff members leading trials in all aspects of study delivery including facilitation of study set-up, identification of patients eligible for recruitment, and ensuring that all studies activities are conducted according to the study protocol, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Research Governance and local Trust guidelines, resulting in the collection of high quality data. Your work will be focused on participant recruitment and will involve both patient-facing and data admin work.
You will be supported to present study information at clinical team meetings to make staff in the Trust aware of the study and what it will entail for their patients.
You will screen clinical team's caseloads for potential participants, approach those who may be eligible and provide information about the study.
For those who wish to take part, you will obtain informed consent and then complete necessary study procedures at various timepoints during their involvement in the study.
You will be required to take blood samples from participants, therefore it is essential that you are venepuncture trained or willing to learn.
Excellent IT skills is a must in this role.
.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.
- To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner with patients, people who use services and their carers who may have specific difficulties in understanding and/ or communicating and who may be distressed.
- To work closely with colleagues in other multi-professional teams on a day-to-day basis.
- To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the participation of the patient.
- To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
- To maintain and build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in the Trust.
- To plan and prioritise own workload.
- To provide relevant knowledge to the planning, development and delivery of research projects.
- Liaise with the members of multi-disciplinary research delivery team to establish procedures for the safe and smooth running of clinical trials.
- Attend team meetings, and appropriate clinics, to screen and recruit new patients.
- Perform appropriate assessments and rating scales as required for screening purposes and by the study protocol (training will be provided if required).
- Update appropriate patient databases to aid recruitment and reporting of recruitment.
- Evaluate patient eligibility for entry to clinical studies by coordinating pre-study tests, obtaining results and arranging appropriate appointments according to the study protocol. Ensure that subsequent study specific investigations are undertaken as required by the protocol.
- Facilitate the informed consent process ensuring that the patient (and carers/ family) fully understand the nature of the study; and ensure that the consent form is completed accurately and filled as required.
- The post holder will be responsible (where appropriate) for the assessments and documentation for follow up visits as per the trial protocols and in agreement with more senior research practitioners.
- Provide ongoing information, advice and support to patients (and carers/ families) regarding clinical trials.
- Maintain adequate patient records and ensure all relevant information is documented in the patients medical and nursing notes. Accurately document data collected into the case report forms.
- Complete the electronic case report e-CRF and paper case report form, in a timely and efficient manner ensuring an audit trail is evident.
- Obtain any missing data and resolve queries with the clinical investigators and trial management office.
- In association with the local clinical team, ensure that all adverse events are recorded and appropriately reported.
- Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
- Maintain an awareness of current advances in treatment, research and nursing practice and uses this knowledge to maintain the highest standard of care for patients with mental health conditions.
- The post holder is responsible for their own professional actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice Guidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
- To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.
- Careful use of equipment.
- To assist the work of less experienced assistants and/ or trainees as required.
- To maintain accurate records.
- To be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and respond to the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much of its internal communication.
- Ensure a competent knowledge and understanding of the Department of Health Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, ICH GCP Guidelines and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) amended regulations 2006.
- Assess and evaluate the progress of on-going clinical studies and provide regular updates to the Senior CSO/CRN, clinical trial coordinating centre, local line manager and other appropriate staff.
- Ensure clear and accurate record keeping
- Attend local and national meetings in relation to clinical trials as appropriate
- Work is managed rather than supervised
- Accountable for own actions manager is available for reference
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.
- To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner with patients, people who use services and their carers who may have specific difficulties in understanding and/ or communicating and who may be distressed.
- To work closely with colleagues in other multi-professional teams on a day-to-day basis.
- To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the participation of the patient.
- To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
- To maintain and build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in the Trust.
- To plan and prioritise own workload.
- To provide relevant knowledge to the planning, development and delivery of research projects.
- Liaise with the members of multi-disciplinary research delivery team to establish procedures for the safe and smooth running of clinical trials.
- Attend team meetings, and appropriate clinics, to screen and recruit new patients.
- Perform appropriate assessments and rating scales as required for screening purposes and by the study protocol (training will be provided if required).
- Update appropriate patient databases to aid recruitment and reporting of recruitment.
- Evaluate patient eligibility for entry to clinical studies by coordinating pre-study tests, obtaining results and arranging appropriate appointments according to the study protocol. Ensure that subsequent study specific investigations are undertaken as required by the protocol.
- Facilitate the informed consent process ensuring that the patient (and carers/ family) fully understand the nature of the study; and ensure that the consent form is completed accurately and filled as required.
- The post holder will be responsible (where appropriate) for the assessments and documentation for follow up visits as per the trial protocols and in agreement with more senior research practitioners.
- Provide ongoing information, advice and support to patients (and carers/ families) regarding clinical trials.
- Maintain adequate patient records and ensure all relevant information is documented in the patients medical and nursing notes. Accurately document data collected into the case report forms.
- Complete the electronic case report e-CRF and paper case report form, in a timely and efficient manner ensuring an audit trail is evident.
- Obtain any missing data and resolve queries with the clinical investigators and trial management office.
- In association with the local clinical team, ensure that all adverse events are recorded and appropriately reported.
- Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
- Maintain an awareness of current advances in treatment, research and nursing practice and uses this knowledge to maintain the highest standard of care for patients with mental health conditions.
- The post holder is responsible for their own professional actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice Guidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
- To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.
- Careful use of equipment.
- To assist the work of less experienced assistants and/ or trainees as required.
- To maintain accurate records.
- To be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and respond to the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much of its internal communication.
- Ensure a competent knowledge and understanding of the Department of Health Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, ICH GCP Guidelines and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) amended regulations 2006.
- Assess and evaluate the progress of on-going clinical studies and provide regular updates to the Senior CSO/CRN, clinical trial coordinating centre, local line manager and other appropriate staff.
- Ensure clear and accurate record keeping
- Attend local and national meetings in relation to clinical trials as appropriate
- Work is managed rather than supervised
- Accountable for own actions manager is available for reference
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to A Level or equivalent
Desirable
- GCP Training
- Degree in Psychology or relevant field, or relevant experience and associated qualification in the area
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Clinical placements and/or supervised practice in a health care setting or experience within a mental health setting (ward or community)
- Familiarity with the issues surrounding clinical data, particularly confidentially.
- Knowledge of mental health, dementia and/or learning disability conditions
- Venepuncture trained (or willingness to learn)
Other
Essential
- Access to transport with the ability to travel if required
- Able to work effectively from home with suitable equipment provided by the Trust
- A Standard CRB Check will be required for this role.
- Ability to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative
- Ability to work as a member of a clinical team.
- Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery and research contexts.
- Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery and research contexts.
Communication and Working Relationship Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Evidence of accuracy and attention to detail in data collection.
- Ability to deal with the public and colleagues in a pleasant and polite manner at all times.
- Willingness and ability to travel independently to patients, across the region.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with patients with mental health conditions, and their carers
- Previous experience of working with a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous clinical research experience
- Experience of using cognitive, non-cognitive and activities of daily living assessments.
Analytical and Judgement Skills and Planning and Organisational Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of GCP guidelines
- Ability to work autonomously using own initiative, and as a member of a team.
- Self-motivated with the ability to prioritise, organize and plan own workload.
- Diplomatic and calm under pressure.
- Able to prioritise workload
- Excellent computer skills able to use all Microsoft office package.
- Proficient in use of email, the internet and word processing
Desirable
- Knowledge of research governance framework and current legislation.
- Previous use of databases.
- Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations formulations and decisions
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to A Level or equivalent
Desirable
- GCP Training
- Degree in Psychology or relevant field, or relevant experience and associated qualification in the area
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Clinical placements and/or supervised practice in a health care setting or experience within a mental health setting (ward or community)
- Familiarity with the issues surrounding clinical data, particularly confidentially.
- Knowledge of mental health, dementia and/or learning disability conditions
- Venepuncture trained (or willingness to learn)
Other
Essential
- Access to transport with the ability to travel if required
- Able to work effectively from home with suitable equipment provided by the Trust
- A Standard CRB Check will be required for this role.
- Ability to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative
- Ability to work as a member of a clinical team.
- Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery and research contexts.
- Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery and research contexts.
Communication and Working Relationship Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Evidence of accuracy and attention to detail in data collection.
- Ability to deal with the public and colleagues in a pleasant and polite manner at all times.
- Willingness and ability to travel independently to patients, across the region.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with patients with mental health conditions, and their carers
- Previous experience of working with a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous clinical research experience
- Experience of using cognitive, non-cognitive and activities of daily living assessments.
Analytical and Judgement Skills and Planning and Organisational Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of GCP guidelines
- Ability to work autonomously using own initiative, and as a member of a team.
- Self-motivated with the ability to prioritise, organize and plan own workload.
- Diplomatic and calm under pressure.
- Able to prioritise workload
- Excellent computer skills able to use all Microsoft office package.
- Proficient in use of email, the internet and word processing
Desirable
- Knowledge of research governance framework and current legislation.
- Previous use of databases.
- Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations formulations and decisions
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.
