Employer Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site St. Nicholas Hospital Town Newcastle Upon Tyne Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 02/06/2026 23:59
Higher Research Assistant
Band 5
Hello!
We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.
Opportunities for you
Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.
We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.
* Cultural diversity staff network
* Disabled staff network
* LGBT+ staff network
We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:
* Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Network
* Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
* Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group
We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.
We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?
Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Research Assistant to join the CNTW Research Delivery team to support the delivery of two NIHR Portfolio Studies focused on neurostimulation. The post is for 36 months and responsibilities will be split between each study.
The first study focuses on bipolar depression. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that uses a very small electrical current applied through the scalp and has shown promise as a treatment for depression.
Participants must meet specific eligibility criteria, which will be assessed by the research team. People who do not meet the study criteria or for whom tDCS is not suitable will not be able to take part.
The second study focuses on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a form of non-invasive brain stimulation which doesn't need an anaesthetic and is administered in clinic. rTMS could represent a treatment option for adolescents with depression who have not recovered after an anti-depressant and psychological treatment or do not want those treatments. The successful applicant will be involved in the delivery of the rTMS intervention as well as supporting with wider research activities.
A total of 50 adolescents with depression aged 14-19 will be recruited. As such, experience of working with children and adolescents is desirable.
Main duties of the job
Under the supervision of senior colleagues, the post holder will support the research team to facilitate recruitment of participants into these two studies and support study delivery. This will involve providing relevant information to patients about the studies and ensuring the trials are undertaken in accordance with good clinical practice and regulatory standards. The Higher Research Assistant will need to have good communication skills and be willing to work across organisational boundaries. Daily activities will involve data collection, participant identification, screening, coordination of the wider research team, administrative support in addition to interventional delivery.
Working for our organisation
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
CNTW is one of the leading research active mental health trusts in England and offers the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of clinical research across specialities.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The ideal candidate should have experience in research. They should have the ability to organise and manage multiple interlinked components of the project and their work. They will need to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills and be able to conduct interviews and assessment with potentially vulnerable individuals. Most importantly, they will need to be enthusiastic about the research area and have a high level of motivation and commitment.
The post would be suitable for a psychology or health sciences graduate with post‑graduate clinical research experience and ideally some experience of independent execution of research work as well as an interest in further developing their research and academic skills.
The post holder should have a general understanding of the often‑complex mental health symptomatology and needs of the service users and carers the service comes into contact with. The post holder should also have knowledge of the principles of confidentiality and risk assessment in a mental health context.
Previous experience of working with individuals with mental health problems is desirable.
Closing date : 2nd June 2026
We welcome your application.
Person specification
Education and Qualification
* 2:1 or higher degree in psychology or a health sciences related degree.
* Eligible for an honorary NHS research contract including satisfactory CRB clearance.
Knowledge and Experience
* Broad familiarity with clinical assessment of symptoms in people with mental health problems.
* Previous experience in administering psychological assessments with good level of practical skill.
Skills and Competencies
* Able to deal with public and colleagues in a pleasant and polite manner at all times.
* The ability to work independently and use one’s initiative, with strong organisational skills.
* Ability to engage with patients with a mental health diagnosis.
* An ability to work effectively across a range of clinical and academic research settings.
* Mobile and able to travel independently without loss of efficiency.
Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.
Please ensure to check out all of the supporting documents linked to this advert, for useful information about working for us, information from our Chief Executive and much more.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
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