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Job summary

Main area
Research
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (Part time hours considered)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Home or remote working
37.5 hours per week (Hybrid between University of Manchester and home working)
Job ref
437-7586820-A
Employer
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
University of Manchester
Town
MANCHESTER
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 Pro rata per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/01/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Digital Navigator

Band 5

Job overview

Description of the Unit or Project

The post holder will work within the GM.Digital Research Unit supporting a portfolio of digital mental health projects which form part of the UK Mental Health Goals Programme. The Mental Health Goals (MHG) programme aims to create an innovative alliance between people with mental health conditions – whose views are often not prioritised – and industry – who face unparalleled challenges in mental health R&D – to accelerate precision psychiatry and deliver valuable new treatments that work for those who need them. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/life-sciences-healthcare-goals/mental-health-goals

The post holder will be actively involved in developing innovative approaches to implementing new digital innovations in mental health services. This is an unique opportunity to work within a programme of major national significance for mental health with a variety of stakeholders (industry, researchers, clinicians, lived experience experts). The postholder will be part of a key national team driving innovation in mental health.

Main duties of the job

The Research and Innovation Digital Navigator will contribute towards supporting service users, healthcare professionals and researchers to use digital mental health tools. 

The Research and Innovation Digital Navigator will be involved in driving the design and implementation of digital mental health projects to support the UK Mental Health Goals Programme. The postholder will contribute to the accurate collection and secure management of data, and assist with quantitative and qualitative analysis. They will work widely with a range of stakeholders including service users, healthcare professionals, senior NHS leaders, researchers, industry partners and other key digital mental health stakeholders. They will also support the coordination and facilitation of focus groups and digital co-design workshops with participants.

 The post-holder will receive line management support from the Digital Navigator Team Lead/Research Unit Manager based in the GM.Digital Research Unit in Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH). This includes regular line management supervision, clear objective setting for 3, 6 and 12 months and annual appraisals thereafter (depending on continued funding for the post).

Working for our organisation

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.

We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.

Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.

Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.

Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Implementation of digital mental health innovations
 
• To support the roll-out and implementation of digital mental health research and innovations in mental health services
• To develop and refine models for implementation of digital tools in mental health
• To work with broader national and local mental health innovation and research teams to develop implementation playbooks and approaches to support digital tools
 
Communication and networking
 
• To regularly liaise with the healthcare professionals and other collaborators to identify and recruit eligible service users for digital innovations;
• To assist with the promotion of the digital tools to stakeholders;
• To contribute towards writing papers about digital implementation for reports and publications;
• To help present information on implementation progress and outcomes to management groups;
• To assist with the presentation of findings at internal and external meetings, and conferences nationally and internationally; and
• To liaise with research colleagues and support administrative staff on routine matters.
• To communicate effectively with national and international stakeholders in-person and virtually
 
Administrative activities  
 
• To contribute to the development/design of implementation approaches with the members of the team. 
• To assist with the running of any pilots , innovations and research studies. 
• To liaise with relevant funding bodies, research support network (e.g. NIHR Research Design Service, MRC, OLS) and R&I departments of partner organisations.
• To assist with the running of focus groups or consultation groups with service users and/or other stakeholders to inform  research and innovation
• To assist in running meetings, including production of agendas, writing of minutes and reports and taking follow-up action as required.
• To support the team members on other relevant research/administrative activities as required.
 
Research  & Innovation management 
 
• To populate, maintain and manage relevant and accurate databases on a daily basis, ensuring they represent a comprehensive and accurate record of progress.  
• To work effectively under time-pressure in order to meet tight deadlines and project milestones.
• To retrieve complex data from digital tools and analyse outcomes to produce summary reports on activity for a variety of purposes.
• To implementation research and innovation policies / standard operating procedures for their own work area and to be able to propose improvements to  policies/procedures where relevant.
• To assume responsibility for the safe and secure use of equipment 
• To provide advice or demonstrate own activities or workplace routines to new research staff or temporary researchers working on the project.
• To contribute to the production of accurate information and timely submission of the Progress Reports to the relevant bodies (e.g. funders, the Trust).
• To organise their own day-to-day tasks and activities; the post holder must be able to take significant responsibility for planning and implementation of specific elements of the research activities conducted by the Unit. 
• To have a reliable method of transporting themselves independently to the Unit’s site and willing to travel to meetings with other team members and relevant stakeholders throughout the UK, and internationally if required.
• To be aware of national developments, attend national events and undertake any necessary and relevant training to keep up to date with research developments and related issues as required.
• Comply with data management and quality assurance according to regulatory guidelines (ICH GCD and Data Protection Act 1998).
• Comply with departmental policies concerning security, safety and patient confidentiality and to ensure that procedures are carried out with safe systems of work and current legislation.
• The post holder may be required to carry out other related tasks that may not be specifically mentioned above.  The job description may be reviewed and amended at a later date. 
 

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Good Honours Degree in a relevant field (2:1 or above) or equivalent experience.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Experience of working with digital tools in a healthcare setting.
  • • Experience of conducting research or innovation projects in mental health.
  • • Experience of working with a a range of stakeholders, including service users, researchers and industry partners.
Desirable criteria
  • • Experience of working in a clinical mental health setting within the NHS.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • • Knowledge/experience of analysis and interpretation of statistical/analytical research outcomes.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • • Excellent Communication skills (written and verbal).
  • • Ability to take responsibility for planning and implementation of specific elements of research studies.
  • • Computer Literacy – advanced skills in database (eg Microsoft Excel) and word processing packages.

Other Requirements

Essential criteria
  • • Reliable method for traveling independently across the UK to support national meetings and digital tool implementation projects.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardWe are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyHSJ Best places to workDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeWe offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerGM Good Employment Charter

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Heidi Tranter
Job title
Research Associate GM Digital RU
Email address
[email protected]
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