Job overview

These two Research Assistant posts offer an excellent opportunity to contribute to the Derby site of the Multicentre Study of Self‑Harm in England—one of the longest‑running and most influential self‑harm research programmes in the country.

The Derby site is one of three centres delivering this Department of Health and Social Care–funded study, working in close collaboration with the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester. Together, the centres collect, validate, collate and analyse data on self‑harm presentations across six hospitals in the three cities.

The study focuses on four key research domains: epidemiology and trends, clinical management, patient outcomes (including repetition and mortality), and pharmaco‑epidemiology. Findings from this work are widely disseminated, published in leading scientific journals and used to inform service development and national policy through organisations such as the NIHR, NICE and the Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategies.

Main duties of the job

The Research Assistants will play a key role in data collection and management for the Derby site of the study. Working under the guidance of the Liaison team/Multicentre Study of Self-harm  Research Project Manager, the post holder will be responsible for collecting, validating and managing self-harm presentation data from the patient record systems of Derbyshire Healthcare (CAMHS and adult Liaison services) and the Emergency Department of the Royal Derby Hospital.   

The successful candidate will have attained or be working towards an undergraduate degree in Psychology or related subject, be proficient in using Excel and SPSS for data cleaning and management, have excellent attention to detail, a strong understanding of the legal and ethical requirements of working with confidential data and be able to demonstrate outstanding communication and time management skills. 

This role involves working across two teams: the Research and Development Team, based at Kingsway Hospital, and the South Liaison Team based at the Royal Derby Hospital. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly between these locations in line with project priorities and service needs.

Working for our organisation

The Research and Development team are based at Kingsway Hospital and run a wide range of NIHR research, embedded research and evaluation studies,  knowledge and information services and  clinical audit. 

The South Liaison Team are based within the Royal Derby Hospital providing support to patients, carers and general hospital colleagues in regards to dementia, delirium and confusion, alcohol and substance misuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation, as well as other mental health concerns presenting to the hospital.

Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

CQC rated us as 'GOOD’ overall, commenting on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.”

Benefits include:

• Commitment to flexible working where this is possible

• 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years’ service 

• Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training

• Generous NHS pension scheme

• Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits

• Health service discounts and online benefits

• Incremental pay progression

• Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7

• Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network

• Health and wellbeing opportunities

• Structured learning and development opportunities