Research Nurse / Clinical Research Practitioner / Assistant Psychologist
The closing date is 18 December 2025
The Research Practitioner will support the evaluation of the Ascend service, a multi‑agency pilot supporting individuals experiencing mental health challenges related to sexual assault and abuse in Stoke‑on‑Trent and Staffordshire. The role will involve collaborating with NHS, voluntary sector partners and stakeholders to assess how effectively the service meets its aims, including improving access to trauma‑informed care, addressing health inequalities, enhancing service‑user outcomes, supporting staff well‑being, and strengthening trauma‑informed practice across partner organisations. The postholder will contribute to the design and delivery of a robust evaluation framework to assess service impact, support evidence‑based practice, and inform ongoing service development.
Main duties of the job
* Support the Evaluation of the Ascend Service: Assist in delivering a structured evaluation of the Ascend service, ensuring all research activities align with the service's aims and contribute to continuous improvement for individuals affected by sexual assault and abuse.
* Collaborative Working Across Partner Agencies: Build and maintain effective working relationships with partner organisations, including NHS services and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector partners, to support integrated approaches to trauma‑informed care and joint service evaluation.
* Data Collection and Analysis: Undertake qualitative and quantitative data collection, entry, management, and analysis in line with research governance and ethical standards. Methods may include interviews, surveys, focus groups, and routine service data.
* Service Pathway Evaluation.
* Health Inequality Monitoring.
* Evaluation of Psychological Interventions: Assist in assessing the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of evidence‑based, trauma‑informed psychological interventions delivered by the service.
* Outcome Measurement and Reporting: Support the evaluation of service‑user outcomes, including reductions in trauma‑related distress, improvements in quality of life, and satisfaction with care. Assist in the development of clear, accessible reports and summaries of findings for internal and external stakeholders.
About us
As a Trust we remain bold and ambitious with plans for both service and system collaborative transformation over the coming years to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people through high quality care.
We pride ourselves on ensuring our team’s wellbeing is put first and as such provide a range of wellness opportunities including flexible working.
We are committed to the Greener NHS national ambition to becoming the world’s first ‘carbon net zero’ national health system by 2045. As part of this, sustainability is embedded in our strategy as one of our four key enablers. For 2024/2025, we have launched our "Proud to be Green" engagement campaign which is aligned to the targets set out in our Green Plan. The Trust will support you in working towards our net zero ambitions through our sustainability programme.
The Trust is committed to ensuring that a diverse workforce is representative and inclusive at all levels. We would very much welcome applications from all under‑represented groups including women, people with disabilities, people from global majority backgrounds, and those from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities.
Job responsibilities
* Work according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Trust guidelines, research governance and Research Ethics Committee guidelines, for all research studies/clinical trials.
* Assist clinical and non‑clinical staff in completing GCP training and other research related training.
* Demonstrate knowledge of trial protocols and their application in practice, alongside working knowledge of how to comply with local, national and international regulations.
* Work autonomously in all areas of practice relating to clinical research, developing the ability to assist in the planning, delivery and management of the portfolio of clinical research related to the project and Ascend service, with support from the Clinical Lead.
* Read and process research protocols, patient information, and ensure that information about clinical trials is clearly and appropriately communicated to research participants.
* Help plan, arrange, and facilitate research related meetings, liaising with internal and external staff.
* Contribute to the development of collaborations with outside agencies (e.g., Local Authority, local Universities, R & I networks, and other NHS organisations).
* Undertake screening, registration and randomisation activity of participants.
* Contribute to the development of appropriate systems, procedures and training across the Trust to support the practical success of research studies.
* Assist with processes of patient referrals, patient informed consent, baseline and follow‑up assessments and interventions.
* Provide formal research training opportunities and experience in research dissemination where appropriate.
* Help ensure smooth running and adequate cover for the full range of research studies requiring clinical support in the Trust.
* Maintain awareness of evidence base, keep up to date with research audit and understanding of Best Practice, and develop local dissemination systems.
* Use verbal and non‑verbal communication tools when communicating with patients/carers to maximise participants' understanding of research activities.
* Work towards becoming an autonomous practitioner; be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own clinical and non‑clinical activity.
* Comply with the Codes of Professional Conduct at all times.
* Be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment in line with department standards and ensure that all staff in the research team do likewise.
* Liaise with research teams and other research networks to ensure service participation in research is documented and appropriately budgeted for.
* Maintain and develop clinical skills necessary to facilitate research as determined by the research protocol.
* Facilitate the recording of service‑user recruitment and research activity (e.g., questionnaire and assessments on research systems such as EDGE and Trust systems such as Lorenzo).
* Provide information and reports on recruitment when requested.
* Do not be excluded from duties; the post holder will be expected to be co‑operative and flexible and undertake any other duties of a similar nature consistent with the responsibilities of this post.
* Postholder must sit/stand in a restricted position for a substantial proportion of working time.
* There is a frequent requirement for concentration where the work pattern is unpredictable (e.g., undertaking research consent/assessments – up to one or two hours per assessment).
* There is a frequent requirement for concentration where the work pattern is unpredictable.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Registered nurse/midwife with current NMC registration / Allied Health Professional with current registration / Clinical Scientist with current registration.
* OR Registered CRP (Academy for Healthcare Sciences) or must complete competencies to obtain registration within one year of appointment.
Experience
* Recent experience of working as a first level registered nurse (all branches), midwife, RSCN/allied health professional or clinical research practitioner within an NHS or care setting.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum, pro rata.
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