Job summary
- Main area
- Research and Development
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed term: 24 months (from start of contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 354-CO-219389(F)
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Specialist Community Disability Service, Wellington House
- Town
- Brighton
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 07/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Research Associate
NHS AfC: Band 6
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.
Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
We are really pleased to offer this excellent opportunity to contribute to a SPFT-sponsored research project as a Senior Research Associate.
You will be a key member of a diverse research team working on an exciting NIHR-funded research project focusing on the power of first-person narratives created by people with intellectual disabilities that describe living with mental health challenges. The aim of the project is to explore processes involved in gathering these narratives, and to explore the impact that accessing the narratives might have on other people with intellectual disabilities.
You will be responsible for recruiting research participants with intellectual disabilities and supporting them to create and access narratives. Data collection will take place in health and social care settings in London and the Southeast.
Ideally we are looking for a post-doctoral applicant, and previous research delivery experience is essential.
Main duties of the job
- Securing ethical approval for the research
- Recruitment of research participants
- Conducting interviews with research participants
- Working with research participants and an inclusive video company to create individual narratives
- Using standardised measures of wellbeing and quality of life
Managing research data in line with GDPR - Transcription and analysis of data
- Writing up and disseminating findings for a variety of audiences
- Managing the social media activities for the project
- Helping to conduct research team meetings and supporting the establishment and running of the project Advisory Group
Supporting co-researchers
Working for our organisation
You will join a supportive and friendly research team including experts by experience and researchers specialising in working inclusively with people with intellectual disabilities and people with mental health difficulties. We are committed to Inclusive Research approaches.
We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, the LGBTQI+ community, those who are neurodiverse and those with a disability as well as those with lived experience of using services as carers.
SPFT considers the professional and personal development of our staff a priority and we offer an inspiring range of opportunities for training and career progression. You will also be able to take advantage of career development opportunities offered to early career researchers by King’s College London.
The principle investigators work within Sussex Partnership and King's College London, who see the continuing professional development of early career researchers as a priority.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Experience of working with/supporting people with intellectual disabilities in a practitioner or family carer role is essential for this post. The research will be conducted using a narrative approach so familiarity with narrative and storytelling research would be a great advantage. Experience of using design and creative skills in different media would be very welcome.
You will collaborate with research team members in analysing and interpreting the data and preparing reports and academic papers.
We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, who is happy to work independently with the capacity to deliver on the core aspects of the research with good data management and record keeping. We particularly invite applications from under-represented groups and people with lived experience of using services.
You will work closely with Dr Tony Levitan (SPFT) and Dr Deborah Chinn (King’s College London), the project leads, as well as the PPI lead for the research and the project Advisory Group. You will also support the co-researchers with intellectual disabilities who will be working alongside you in this project.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Postgraduate qualification (Masters level) in a relevant discipline or equivalent research experience
- Training and/or experience in qualitative research methods
Desirable criteria
- PhD in a relevant discipline
Knowledge / Experience
Essential criteria
- An understanding of research about mental health and intellectual disabilities issues and interventions
- At least 12 months' research delivery experience in an NHS or University Institution
- Evidence of experience and understanding of research design, methodology, data collection and analysis
- Experience of multidisciplinary working and collaborating with other agencies
- Evidence of continuous personal and professional development
- Knowledge and experience of handling complex and difficult situations
- Experience in supporting people with learning disabilities, in professional role or as a family member
- Knowledge of health and social inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities
Desirable criteria
- Experience working in health and/or social care settings.
- Knowledge of inclusive and participatory research practice
- Experience using narrative research methodologies
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with experience of communicating complex information
- Highly motivated with the ability to work as part of a team and also on an individual basis.
- Excellent organisational skills with proven ability to prioritise.
- IT skills including experience of MS Office, NVivo, Excel and database systems
Desirable criteria
- Project management experience
Approach / Values
Essential criteria
- Mobility to travel across sites
- Self-motivated with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Tony Levitan
- Job title
- Senior Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07471217959
- Additional information
Alternatively, you can contact: Dr Deborah Chinn, KCL - [email protected]
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