CAMHS Research Assistant

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to be a Research Assistant on a multicentre randomised controlled NIHR funded clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of stimulant versus nonstimulant ADHD medication in children and young people who are experiencing both attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and tics: “SATURN” (Stimulant medication for ADHD and Tics – Understanding Response versus Non-stimulants).

This post is based at the Service for Complex Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND) Neuropsychiatry Team, a National & Specialist CAMHS within South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Trust. This multicentre study is led by Professor Chris Hollis at the University of Nottingham.

Under the supervision of the Southern Hub lead, Dr Nicoletta Adamo, and in close collaboration with the study’s Trial Manager at Nottingham University, the post-holder will be vital in the successful recruitment and assessment of participants.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who wishes to have a career in mental health / research. There is also the possibility of gaining some additional clinical experience with the clinical team. This post has arisen as the previous post holder has successfully in obtained a place on DClin Psych training.

This is a 12-months fixed-term contract. The post is full-time but we will consider candidates who wish to work part-time or job-share.

Main duties of the job

• Identification, recruitment and consent of research participants
• Conduct clinical assessments and outcome measures (including an interview measure of tics the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), in which specific training will be given)
• Follow up participants
• Data collection and entry in accordance with data protection guidelines and relevant SOPs
• Coordinate local site activities and report site performance back to the NCTU as needed
• Advertising the study and liaising with participants’ clinicians
• To undertake the necessary administration and organisation in relation to the implementation of the project, and ensure the successful conduct and completion of the project

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

One of the core responsibilities of the role is to identify and recruit participants to the SATURN trial, under the direction of their line manager and the SATURN trial team. This will involve meeting with clinicians, community mental health teams, primary care staff and service users to promote recruitment to the project.

Other key accountabilities of the role

• Carrying out trial assessments of participants face-to-face or by telephone/video conference under the direction of the Chief Investigator, Principal Investigator, Hub Lead and Trial Manager.
• Ensuring treatments, assessment, follow-ups and data collection is coordinated and processed according to protocol-defined timelines.
• Taking responsibility for local site coordination including maintenance of the site file and reporting site performance back to the clinical trials unit.
• Supporting site study set-up including assisting with preparation of local documentation and approvals, attending training and cascading of training.
• Providing on-going information and support for patients involved in the trial.
• Entering data collected onto a project database according to the study protocol and in keeping with the Data Protection Act and prepare written reports of activity as required.
• Recording and reporting adverse events/serious adverse events.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable people 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.