Research Assistant Psychologist

Job overview

We are seeking a Band 4 Research Assistant Psychologist to join the Research & Innovation Team to support a new NIHR funded research project called ‘Improving Social Recovery in Psychosis (ISRIP) trial’ in NSFT.

The ISRIP trial is a definitive randomised controlled trial with an embedded process evaluation. The trial aims to test the clinical and cost-effectiveness of Social Recovery Therapy, a psychological intervention designed to support people who have experienced psychosis to engage in more structured activities that they find meaningful.

The successful candidate will be expected to hold an upper second class honours degree, or higher, in Psychology and have experience of working with people with mental health problems. The postholder will also have excellent engagement and interpersonal skills and have a good understanding/knowledge of managing risk.

This role offers a valuable opportunity to gain relevant research experience, making it particularly well suited to those wishing to strengthen their applications for Clinical Psychology Doctorate training.

The post will be based at Wedgwood House, Bury St Edmunds and the expectation is that the postholder will travel independently to participants homes and clinical team bases when required primarily in Suffolk and at times Norfolk, with potential travel occasionally further afield.

Main duties of the job

You will be helping to support the delivery of a high quality NIHR research project. On a daily basis you will be responsible for all aspects of the research process including but not limited to: engaging with clinical teams, assessing participant suitability for the studies, screening and recruiting research participants, obtaining informed consent, performing study procedures, working with research teams and managing study data. A crucial aspect of the role is to provide a holistic and person-centred care approach to participants and their family supporters in a respectful, empowering way.

It is essential that you can independently plan and prioritise your workload to meet performance targets and deadlines. It is important that you have had experience of working in a clinical or research setting similar to the areas you will be working with in these studies. A high level of communication skills, both written and oral is essential as well as the ability to be competent in IT systems (e.g. outlook, word), clinical or other record systems relevant to the role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Interview dates are yet to be set; you will be contacted via email and invited to book a time. These emails may go to your SPAM, so please keep checking all your emails if applying.

Please note this is a part time, temporary position funded until 1st March 2029.

For an informal chat about this post, please contact Kathryn Janes (Research Manager) or Bonnie Teague (Head of Research) by emailing Research@nsft.nhs.uk.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties 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.