Clinical Research Fellow

Job overview

The Early Intervention in Psychosis service (EIS) is a community based, multidisciplinary service for all people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. This post will support embedding research into EIS in SLaM, enriching and improving the clinical care provided.

We have now received funding from UK Mental Health Mission to further support research activity within the EI services.  The post will support a new cohort study, the Early Intervention Mission, that is being funded by the Mental Health Mission, that will be looking to streamline routine outcome data collection from all people within the EIS, pioneer the use of mobile phone apps at scale for patient reported symptoms, and align with blood sample collection, for use in future genomic analysis and personalised medicine.

This post will work with Dr Katherine Beck and Prof James MacCabe, and the Early Intervention Mission leadership team to develop this work. The post will play an important role in bridging between the Psychosis Department (King’s College London) and the clinical team in order to fulfil the study research objectives in accordance with the funding.

The role will allow the development of research and clinical skills while working with people with severe mental illness. It is ideally suited to those with an interest in a clinical-academic career.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage own research and administrative activities, with senior colleagues support. • Contribute to wider project planning. • Contribute to the design of research materials and make arrangements for data gathering • Support study delivery by undertaking research activities outlined in approved study documents; facilitate the informed consent process as per legislation and the Mental Capacity Act, and develop and maintain skills, experience and competence in research processes. • Provide staff and participants with information about the purpose of studies, the resources required and be a point of contact for staff involved.  •Collect and maintain data and study documentation  in compliance with relevant regulations.  • Adhere to Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP), Research Governance Framework, national and local practices and policies •Provide written or verbal research progress reports

2.)   Providing medical input to for patients attending EI services: • Comprehensive clinical assessment including the use of structured interviews, standardise scales, cognitive assessments, physical examinations, assessment of adherence. • Production of clinical reports and maintenance of clinical databases. • Explaining treatment options to patients and carers. • Communicating with GPs, CMHTs, and secondary physical health services.

3.)     Autonomous Working • Prioritise work in an effective manner •  Work effectively and independently seeking advice where appropriate

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities (and as above):

1.)

• Manage own research and administrative activities, within guidelines provided by senior colleagues • Contribute to wider project planning, including ideas for new research projects • Contribute to the design of research materials and make arrangements for data gathering • Gather, analyse, and present qualitative and/or quantitative data from a variety of sources •  Run day-to-day administration of the research project •  Represent the research group at external meetings/seminars • Support study delivery by undertaking research activities outlined in approved study documents; facilitate the informed consent process as per legislation and the Mental Capacity Act, and develop and maintain skills, experience and competence in research processes. • Provide staff and participants with information about the purpose of studies, the resources required and be a point of contact for staff involved.  •Collect and maintain data and study documentation and ensure that all data collected, stored and used is done so in compliance with relevant statutory instruments, national and local guidelines and regulations  • Adhere to Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP), Research Governance Framework, national and local practices and policies •Provide written or verbal reports regarding the progress of the research to the research team