Job summary
- Main area
- Research
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- 12 months (12 month fixed term for the period of the research.)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 311-M210-25
- Employer
- Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Trust HQ
- Town
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Salary
- £29,970 - £36,483 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/07/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 22/07/2025
Employer heading
Senior Clinical Research Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 5
If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our #PennineCarePeople
https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/values
Job overview
The Senior Clinical Research Assistant will support the delivery of the research study, which is a novel Greater Manchester wide implementation pilot and evaluation of a Mental Health Joint Response Car for Young People and Families experiencing mental health crisis.
The post holder will become a member of the Young People's Mental Health Research Centre, benefitting from the vibrant and supportive research environment of the Centre and existing team.
The role will involve leading on discrete tasks within the research team, the recruitment of participants, following informed assent and consent processes, supporting people with lived experience advising on the project, presenting to a variety of stakeholders about the project at events and meetings, supporting the dissemination and communication plan, and undertaking a range of clinical research assessments as per study protocols and local guidelines for the completion of research documentation. These may include but are not exclusive to
the completion of research assessments, qualitative interviews, workshops, engaging with the immersive theatre component of the study, and the management of routinely collected quantitative data.
Main duties of the job
The role will involve the recruitment of participants, following informed assent and consent processes, supporting people with lived experience advising on the project, presenting to a variety of stakeholders about the project at events and meetings, supporting the dissemination and communication plan, and undertaking a range of clinical research assessments as per study protocols and local guidelines for the completion of research documentation. These may include but are not exclusive to the completion of research assessments, qualitative interviews, workshops, engaging with the immersive theatre component of the study, and the management of routinely collected quantitative data.
The role also involves providing information and answering any questions or queries from patients, staff, stakeholders, participants and carers about the study.
The post holder will use excellent communication skills to communicate with a variety of stakeholders and have advanced organisational skills to prioritise and effectively manage their workload.
Working for our organisation
The post holder will work independently according to an agreed plan and under supervision within the Trust’s R&D framework. The Research and Innovation Department has responsibility for all elements of research governance within the Trust and provides corporate support to internal staff and external partners undertaking research, service evaluations and innovation projects
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Recruitment and Delivery
• Promoting the study to staff and service users across Greater Manchester.
• Where required, exercise professional judgement to assess patient eligibility for participation in research projects.
• To lead on discrete tasks within the research team.
• Managing enquires from potential recruits and/or their advocates.
• Communicating detailed information to young people and their families and advocates about their participation in the study. Includes providing complex research related information to research participants when taking informed consent for the research study or carrying out a research procedure.
• Offer support to participants during their involvement in the research project.
• Liaise with appropriate multi-disciplinary team members in health and social care, and Greater Manchester Police, regarding recruitment and support of research participants.
• Visit participants at a variety of locations to assess eligibility, take informed consent and collect outcome measures, in consideration of individual need, using prioritisation and delegation skills.
• Ensure all research activities are undertaken in adherence with the study protocol and the UK policy framework for health and social care research.
• Undertake qualitative interviews.
• To maintain confidentiality of information regarding patients, families, and carers at all times.
• Communicate and liaise effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary and research teams within and external to the Trust, both verbally and in writing, providing and receiving complex or sensitive information. This often involves communicating and conveying complex and sensitive information about a patient’s treatment decision making capacity status to the patient, carers, family, and other clinicians.
• Complete audio-recordings of interviews and their transcription
• Inputting of data.
• Proactively engage stakeholders in the research process, supporting recruitment to stakeholder groups that are representative of the communities we serve.
• Assist in the facilitation of focus groups.
• To be aware of the psychological/emotional needs of the patient/carer, responding and reporting appropriately (e.g., reporting as necessary adverse and serious adverse events and breaches of study protocol, as per individual requirements).
• Engaging fully in supervision, communicating openly and honestly about experiences and progress on the project.
Project Management Support
• Work closely and effectively with other team members towards the success of the project.
• Arrange briefings for teams and stakeholders as appropriate.
• Assist the project team leads and centre manager with the general delivery of the study.
• Liaise with the study sponsor, clinicians and research collaborators.
• Liaise with the Chief Investigator, Site Lead, and Project Manager regarding the
ongoing support and feasibility of the project.
• Maintain and provide up-to-date project and recruitment information for the project, which includes consent of patients, completion of case report forms and routinely collected data.
• Organise groups associated with the research study.
• Organise interviews and other data collection opportunities associated with the research study.
• Enter and check quantitative research data, under supervision.
• Order supplies for research team.
• Ensure that appropriate facilities and resources are available as required per research visit.
• Authorised signatory in relation to petty cash reimbursements to research participants for travel expenses and small payments in relation to the study.
• Undertake advance planning to meet deadlines for formal study monitoring and study milestones (e.g. participant recruitment, data collection and data analysis). Includes managing and prioritising own workload and tasks and working to appropriate deadlines and targets set.
• Contribute to the training and support of other Research Assistants on the project and across the Trust.
• Present at conferences, study days and meetings when required.
• Actively promote the research study and any other research opportunities to staff and services.
• Act as an ambassador for the Research and Innovation Department of Pennine, usually under the identity of the Young People's Mental Health Research Centre.
• Contribute positively to the research culture and activities of the Young People's Mental Health Research Centre.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- BSc(Hons) Psychology (2:1 or above) or equivalent e.g. post graduate conversion course accredited by the British Psychological Society
- Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- ECDL or excellent PC literacy including knowledge of all Microsoft Office packages
Desirable criteria
- Have trained or be willing to undertake training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
- Short courses and experience to post graduate diploma level
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a professional capacity with people with mental health issues.
- Experience of working with children, young people, and families
- Experience working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders
- Data analysis, either quantitative or qualitative
- Experience of statistical analysis software
- Experience with documenting and maintaining data
- Good understanding of data confidentiality/GDPR
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrable administration experience
- Training / facilitation experience
- Previous research experience
- Experience of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties
- Demonstrable experience working in an NHS environment
- Experience of CAMHS as a service user
- Experience of carrying out patient and public involvement (PPI) consultation activities
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Proficient in the use of Office software packages, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access
- Knowledge and appreciation of governance, risk and confidentiality issues
- Knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of research ethics and obtaining informed consent.
- Knowledge of the principles of GCP
- Knowledge of NHS Research Governance procedures and the Research Governance Framework
Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to lead on discrete tasks within a research project
- Can demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Research Centre and those of the Trust.
- Participate in and contribute to team discussions Database / Internet skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate verbally and in writing with all levels of staff
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and members of the Multidisciplinary Team
- Ability to educate and support colleagues, patients and carers Maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing
- Ability to analyse and interpret written and numerical data
- Ability to collate information and produce written reports
- Able to organise and prioritise own workload, work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Use of initiative and ability to work under minimal supervision
- Ability to produce accurate, well presented work with a quick turnaround
- Excellent attention to detail
Desirable criteria
- Typing skills specifically experience of transcribing large amount of interview /group audio data.
Work related circumstances
Essential criteria
- To work flexibly when required
- Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
- Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
- Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Zarah Eve
- Job title
- Research Centre Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07517568587
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