Job summary
Interview will be held on 19th Nov 2025
We have an exciting opportunity fora motivated and enthusiastic Clinical Research Assistant to join our welcoming research team. The successful applicant will assist in the provision of clinical research within Berkshire Healthcare across several specialisms.
You will support research across the whole of Berkshire and travel is therefore an integral part of the job. Additionally, you will actively promote research and the work of the National Institute for Health and care Research amongst clinicians, service users and the wider NHS. You will work with the research team to drive clinical research delivery performance within the Trust and help the Trust to achieve research targets.
Work Pattern: Usually Mon-Fri 9-5 but some flexibility may be required.
In preparation for your interview, you may feel that you would like to learn more about the National Institute for Health and Care Research and clinical research you may want to look at the following:
Transforming lives through research
Research awareness for NHS staff
Embedding a research culture | NIHR
If you feel you want to know more the following online courses are also open for anyone to complete. See the links below for further information:
Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research
Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research - FutureLearn
What is Health Research
What is Health Research? Online Course - FutureLearn
Main duties of the job
- You will be trained to support a wide variety of research studies and working in conjunction with colleagues from within the Berkshire Healthcare Research & Development team, will support the Clinical Research Team with day-to-day activities for current research studies.
- Although this role will present with some opportunities to be involved in the delivery of treatments and interventions in line with Research projects (e.g., shadowing assessments, interventions, co-facilitating outreach workshops/groups), this is a primarily research support focussed role.
- The role requires excellent organisational skills and a meticulous approach to work. Main duties include support to implement research protocols, identification, recruitment, and support of patients through the research process as well as providing research support as necessary to study teams and clinicians
- The role involves collectingaccurate data, management of tissue or other biological samples, carrying out clinical assessments, and document generation and control. You will be required to be trained in venepuncture for this role and a keen eye for detail is required.
- Flexibility between Mental Health, Dementia and Community based Portfolio studies isrequired.
This post is based at University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, but you willbe required to travel as required by the job role and as such a time efficient mode of transportation is essential.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Experience of supporting healthcare research in an NHS setting
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- Previous management experience
- Excellent IT skills
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Emma Donaldson on 07795 047962 or email: research@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Experience of supporting healthcare research in an NHS setting
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- Previous management experience
- Excellent IT skills
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Emma Donaldson on 07795 047962 or email: research@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- English & Maths GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above, or equivalent Functional Skills qualifications
- Minimum NVQ 3
Desirable
- Further qualification in research (e.g., masters)
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Able to demonstrate additional interest and/ or learning in relevant areas of Research including a willingness to undertake research specific training and venipuncture training
Previous Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working in a health or social care setting
- Experience of audits / evaluations or other forms of research
- Awareness of GDPR and data protection issues related to NHS research / service evaluations
Desirable
- Experience of providing direct care provision
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Sound research skills, including a working knowledge of statistics, and ability to analyse data and produce good quality reports.
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotional
- High standard of letter and report writing
- Appreciation of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge within a mental health and/ or learning disabilities context
- Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office and SPSS
Desirable
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision and line management appropriately and effectively
- Ability to interact and engage with people who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to interact effectively with staff from other disciplines
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently to deliver work as agreed and managed at regular intervals
- Ability to recognise the limits of own competencies and to seek supervision and support as required to practice safely and within professional guidelines
- Able to commute or travel efficiently between localities
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- English & Maths GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above, or equivalent Functional Skills qualifications
- Minimum NVQ 3
Desirable
- Further qualification in research (e.g., masters)
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Able to demonstrate additional interest and/ or learning in relevant areas of Research including a willingness to undertake research specific training and venipuncture training
Previous Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working in a health or social care setting
- Experience of audits / evaluations or other forms of research
- Awareness of GDPR and data protection issues related to NHS research / service evaluations
Desirable
- Experience of providing direct care provision
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Sound research skills, including a working knowledge of statistics, and ability to analyse data and produce good quality reports.
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotional
- High standard of letter and report writing
- Appreciation of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge within a mental health and/ or learning disabilities context
- Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office and SPSS
Desirable
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision and line management appropriately and effectively
- Ability to interact and engage with people who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to interact effectively with staff from other disciplines
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently to deliver work as agreed and managed at regular intervals
- Ability to recognise the limits of own competencies and to seek supervision and support as required to practice safely and within professional guidelines
- Able to commute or travel efficiently between localities
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.
