Job vacancy: Research Engagement and Inclusion Facilitator, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester

Job summary

Main area

East Midlands Research Delivery Network

Grade

NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Part time

37.5 hours per week (0.8 - 1 WTE)

Job ref

358-8067991-COR

Employer: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: East Midlands RRDN Office base at
Town: Leicester
Salary: £39,959 - £48,117 per annum/ pro rota for part time hours
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 06/07/2026 23:59

Research Engagement and Inclusion Facilitator

NHS AfC: Band 6

AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can support you as you complete your application. For example, they can check for spelling or grammar errors, or help you to decide what to include.

But they shouldn’t replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.

Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success, because automatically generated answers:

might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Attend and contribute to strategic level meetings to support public contributors in their engagement activities and the wider RRDN Team with practical duties associated with engagement and inclusion events.
Co-develop recruitment strategies aimed at engaging diverse populations to participate in research and seek out involvement and inclusion opportunities across the region.

Information and Administration

Disseminate engagement and inclusion resources to key stakeholders.
Facilitate the management of RRDN engagement activities and support the Research Engagement and Inclusion Manager with planning and delivery of these.
Collate and analyse information from multiple systems and data sources in relation to engagement activities, interpreting complexities within to shape presentations and communications, and to inform planning and design of future engagement activities.
Co-produce engagement tools and resources for use by RDN colleagues applicable for settings such as community groups, general practice, education settings and with under-served communities.

Operational Management

Facilitate the delivery of RRDN engagement activities, including through Be Part of Research and Join Dementia Research, alongside the Research Engagement and Inclusion Manager.
Champion and enable Research Teams to deliver the My Research Experience and reporting of data to optimise improvements in research delivery and participation at both a national and local level.
Plan community outreach and lead partnership building activities as required.
Create content for public engagement and inclusion training programmes aimed at increasing research participation and awareness of RDN services.
Organise meetings and facilitate conversations with public partners and key stakeholders about initiatives aimed at increasing participation and diversity in research.

Service Improvement and Development

Contribute to audit and creation of NIHR Standard Operating Procedures for public engagement and inclusion .

Performance Management

Regular requirement to produce detailed reports on public engagement and inclusion activities to a range of audiences, including outputs and outcomes from participation initiatives across the RRDN region and wider RDN.
Collate evaluation data and feedback and produce reports for wider dissemination.

Life Sciences Industry

Work collaboratively with the Patient Engagement in Clinical Development Service to help signpost to regional networks/groups to support the recruitment of public contributors for commercial research engagement activity.

Continuous Improvement

Promotes a culture of continuous improvement and wellbeing.

Communication and Stakeholder Management (NHS and Non-NHS)

Facilitate in person meetings and online public events.
Organise meetings and facilitate conversations with public partners and key stakeholders about initiatives aimed at increasing participation in research.
Facilitate stakeholder briefings.
Liaise with Research Engagement and Inclusion Facilitators from other RRDN regions to understand challenges and share best practice across the RDN.
Undertake stakeholder mapping exercises to identify new and existing partners, plan and undertake community outreach and partnership building activities as required.
Facilitate the delivery of the RDN public partner induction programme.

Ensuring Patient, Carer and Public Inform and Influence Delivery of the RDN Strategy

Contribute to the scoping and management of stakeholder networks across public engagement and inclusion to inform strategic planning of regional services based on the prioritisation of participant need and site-level feedback.
Contribute to the management of a community of RDN Public Partners, often being the first interaction with the RDN, helping them to seek out opportunities to champion the public voice across RDN services and be actively involved in the RDN strategy development and delivery.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of key inclusion and public engagement values and principles that underpin national strategies.
Provide key intelligence to inform meaningful and valued engagement with under-served communities and marginalised populations through regional level stakeholder engagement and mapping, and contribution of insights to actively avoid duplication and optimise continuous improvement and prioritisation of services.

Key Result Areas

Delivery of regional targets for My Research Experience surveys and co-production of annual report.

Specialist Responsibilities

Data upload and reporting as required for My Research Experience.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Postgraduate qualification (eg. Post Graduate Diploma) in a relevant subject or equivalent level of experience

Desirable criteria

Facilitation training/qualification
Data entry/analysis

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

Skilled facilitator with experience of group facilitation, designing and delivering virtual public events and training using participatory approaches (a qualification or course certificate is desirable)
Understanding of the principles and methodology of co-design and co-production
Experience of undertaking community engagement work in a health research and/or health service context, and in particular experience of engaging underserved communities with health and social care research or health/social care services
Knowledge of barriers to research participation amongst under-served communities or those experiencing health inequalities
Experience of writing reports and other communication material, analysing and incorporating data as required
Experience of developing recruitment and publicity materials aimed at members of the public
Project management experience with excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
Knowledge of data platforms such as NIHR Online Data Platform (ODP) an advantage

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

Excellent communication skills with the ability to encourage communication between patients, carers, public, healthcare and research professionals
Excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills, have meticulous and well-structured administration skills, be able to use initiative, work independently and in a proactive way
Proficient in Microsoft Office software including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Google Workspace applications
Proficient in meeting administration and management including arranging and supporting organisational level meetings, minute taking and awareness of confidentiality requirements when communicating with members of the public
Excellent communication, oral and written skills with experience in presenting to different audiences
Ability to convey complex information to a range of stakeholders using a variety of tools and methods
Ability to identify opportunities and approaches to achieve goals and improve results

Values and Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

Highly motivated
Enthusiastic and proactive approach to work
Team player
Problem solver and a solution-based approach to tasks
Flexible and co-operative approach
Committed to Equality Diversity and Inclusion and passionate about equity of access to health care or research
Aware of and observant of Health and Safety issues especially as they relate to working with the general public in varied locations

Additional Information

Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid Vaccination Status

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.