Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for individuals with a relevant degree or equivalent healthcare related experience to join West London Forensic Service as a Research Assistant. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates who are passionate about research and helping to improve clinical care. 

The main duties of the post-holder will relate to facilitating and promoting research activity within West London Forensic Service (WLFS). This will include identifying, recruiting and supporting patients through the research process as well as providing support as necessary to research active teams and clinicians within the service. The post-holder will develop and maintain research related databases, undertake data entry and statistical analysis using appropriate software packages, as well as contribute to writing up and dissemination of study findings.

The post is based within WLFS, which is a large forensic mental health service providing care to service users across different levels of security (medium and low security as well as the community). WLFS is an organisation that is very supportive of research and is keen to promote research activity in order to improve patient care, service user satisfaction and staff recruitment and retention. 

The post-holder will work closely with the WLFS Research Lead and other clinicians to develop and promote research within the organisation, 

This is a fixed term post for a period of 18 months.

Main duties of the job

The role will be based in West London Forensic Service, which is at the St Bernards Hospital site in Southall, Ealing. The role will be a varied one, working with different multi-disciplinary teams, clinicians and service users from across WLFS to support and promote research within the organisation. 

You will be working within a forensic mental healthcare environment, with direct patient contact being an integral part of the role. Training and induction will be provided with respect to working in this clinical setting. You will be supervised and managed by the Research Lead for WLFS, but supervision for specific projects may be provided by other clinicians within the service, depending on the study.

You will be one of two Research Assistants for West London Forensic Service. This exciting role will give you a great opportunity to have a positive impact within the organisation and develop your longer term career goals. You will be part of a wider peer group of Research Assistants working across other areas of the Trust.

You should be able to demonstrate effective communication skills, good organisational skills, flexibility, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to work autonomously under appropriate supervision.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham).  We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.