Research Assistant

Main area Research and Development Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Fixed term: 11 months (11 months (based on the latest start date of 1st Aug - may be reduced if the start date is later Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 354-CO-21645

Site Trafford Centre Town Brighton Salary £26,530 - £29,114 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 30/06/:59

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

Do you have an interest in research?

Are you passionate about improving the care for people newly diagnosed with dementia, and their carers?

If yes, we are looking to a appoint a new Research Assistant on the DETERMIND study.

Running since 2019, DETERMIND is the largest cohort in the UK exploring and seeking to improve the post-diagnostic care pathway for newly diagnosed people with dementia and their carers in England ( ).

The DETERMIND Programme seeks to answer the following questions:

What is it that enables one family to live well with dementia and another with ostensibly the same illness and challenges to have an awful experience?

Which groups have better or worse outcomes following diagnosis of dementia and why are there inequalities in care and outcomes?

What can we learn from the experiences of people with dementia and their carers to deliver care and support that maximises quality of life for all?

As a Research Assistant you will be involved in collecting novel data and supporting the publication of high quality, internationally recognised research that has already contributed to important policy changes within dementia care research.

The post is ideal for people interested in a future career undertaking a PhD or Clinical Doctorate, and many of our previous Research Assistants have been successful in obtaining these positions post-DETERMIND.

Main duties of the job

As Research Assistant, you will be based at the Centre for Dementia Studies, University of Sussex (Falmer), although during the week you will be required to travel extensively across Sussex, Surrey and Kent to undertake home visits with DETERMIND participants.

Completing these participant visits are a key component of this role and are crucial to the success of the project and so it is likely you will be 'in the field' for a large proportion of your time.

Other key duties ill include:

• Updating the DETERMIND participant database
• Recruiting any new eligible participants to the study
• Booking in participant home visits and completing the delivery of research questionnaires.

Our researchers are encouraged to work flexibly to accommodate the wishes of DETERMIND participants when setting up home visits. This may involve earlier starts or later finishes. However, there will be opportunities to claim-back' these hours during the week.

Following the successful completion of these key responsibilities, you will be offered numerous opportunities, such as:

• Involvement in the publication of research in high impact academic journals.
• Analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data
• The systematic review of literature and the write-up of papers

Many of our previous Research Assistants have been co-authors on our publications and have been encouraged and supported to take a lead on papers in areas of interest to them.

Working for our organisation

You will be one of a small team of Research Assistants working on DETERMIND, under the supervision of the Principal Research Fellow and DETERMIND Programme Manager, Dr Ben Hicks. The programme also has researchers at recruitment sites in London and Newcastle.

The team is friendly and highly motivated to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers through research. There is a trusting and collegial atmosphere within the team and researchers have a lot of autonomy over their job role.

Many of our previous DETERMIND researchers have been supported both academically and financially to write-up and present papers at national and international conferences; offering them opportunities to network with other academics working in dementia care and develop their own research interests.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A keen desire to work collaboratively in a small team to ensure that the research is delivered successfully
• Experience working with people with dementia and their carers or other potentially vulnerable populations, and be able to demonstrate the soft skills and communication abilities to work in an empathetic and collaborative way
• Some experience delivering research measures to participants or undertaking qualitative research
• A willingness to travel to participant's homes
• Experience managing and updating databases containing participants personal information

Person specification Qualifications

• Diploma or Higher National Certificate in Research
• Hold a relevant undergraduate degree, or equivalent experience

Personal Attributes

• Mobility to travel across sites / region

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years administration experience
• Research experience
• Experience of working with people with dementia
• Knowledge of research methodologies
• Participate in & contribute to team discussions
• Database and analysis skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• 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

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.