Research Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 4
Main area research Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Fixed term: months (n/a) Hours Part time - hours per week Job ref -MED-4- Site Kingsway Hospital Town DERBY Salary £, - £, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing //6 :
Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.
We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.
Job overview
These two Research Assistant posts offer an excellent opportunity to contribute to the Derby site of the Multicentre Study of Self‑Harm in England—one of the longest‑running and most influential self‑harm research programmes in the country.
The Derby site is one of three centres delivering this Department of Health and Social Care–funded study, working in close collaboration with the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester. Together, the centres collect, validate, collate and analyse data on self‑harm presentations across six hospitals in the three cities.
The study focuses on four key research domains: epidemiology and trends, clinical management, patient outcomes (including repetition and mortality), and pharmaco‑epidemiology. Findings from this work are widely disseminated, published in leading scientific journals and used to inform service development and national policy through organisations such as the NIHR, NICE and the Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategies.
Main duties of the job
The Research Assistants will play a key role in data collection and management for the Derby site of the study. Working under the guidance of the Liaison team/Multicentre Study of Self-harm Research Project Manager, the post holder will be responsible for collecting, validating and managing self-harm presentation data from the patient record systems of Derbyshire Healthcare (CAMHS and adult Liaison services) and the Emergency Department of the Royal Derby Hospital.
The successful candidate will have attained or be working towards an undergraduate degree in Psychology or related subject, be proficient in using Excel and SPSS for data cleaning and management, have excellent attention to detail, a strong understanding of the legal and ethical requirements of working with confidential data and be able to demonstrate outstanding communication and time management skills.
This role involves working across two teams: the Research and Development Team, based at Kingsway Hospital, and the South Liaison Team based at the Royal Derby Hospital. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly between these locations in line with project priorities and service needs.
Working for our organisation
The Research and Development team are based at Kingsway Hospital and run a wide range of NIHR research, embedded research and evaluation studies, knowledge and information services and clinical audit.
The South Liaison Team are based within the Royal Derby Hospital providing support to patients, carers and general hospital colleagues in regards to dementia, delirium and confusion, alcohol and substance misuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation, as well as other mental health concerns presenting to the hospital.
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
CQC rated us as 'GOOD’ overall, commenting on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.”
Benefits include:
1. Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
2. days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to days after 5 years & days after years’ service
3. Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
4. Generous NHS pension scheme
5. Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
6. Health service discounts and online benefits
7. Incremental pay progression
8. Free confidential employee assistance programme /7
9. Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
10. Health and wellbeing opportunities
11. Structured learning and development opportunities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for a comprehensive summary of the role's main responsibilities.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
12. Working towards or achieved undergraduate degree in relevant subject psychology, public health
Desirable criteria
13. Working towards a post-graduate degree or equivalent level in psychology or another relevant area
Skills
Essential criteria
14. Experience of using SPSS
15. Data management experience
16. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
17. Excellent interpersonal skills
18. Good understanding of ethics in healthcare and research confidentiality
19. Uses own initiative and self-motivating
20. Excellent time management
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
21. Experience of undertaking research from design to completion
22. Experience of data collection for research, evaluation or QI
23. Writing up project findings for dissemination
24. Ability to adhere to strict system specific security protocols, ethics and/or legislation
25. Interest in research AND Psychology, public health or mental health
26. Ability to travel to and between bases
Desirable criteria
27. Interest in self-harm, suicide research
28. Full driving licence
Further details / informal visits contact
NameJennifer NessJob titleLead Health Services Researcher/ Study LeadEmail information
Please contact Jenny Ness for an informal conversation about the posts. Jennifer's working hours are Monday to Thursday.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address Recruitment Team
Kingsway Hospital
Telephone option 1, option 1