Research Assistant

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Research and Innovation, Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR) unit at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Applications are invited for a Research Assistant role to work across various CPCR projects. The CPCR team conduct a variety of research projects focused on improving patient experience and quality of life.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to join CPCR to assist with project related activities. Responsibilities include assisting and facilitating data collection, data analysis and preparation of reports/publications.

Applicants should hold a good degree in nursing, allied health, psychology or other scientific-based subject. An understanding of project work and evidence of high-quality delivery to deadlines are essential.

We are looking for an individual with excellent organisational and communication skills, who can work well both in a team and using their own initiative.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will support research project activities within the Christie Patient Centred Research (CPCR) team. CPCR lead a wide range of research projects exploring patient experience & quality life. Duties will include data collection & analysis, dissemination, administrative functions and literature reviews.

The primary aims of the post are to:

• Support the day-to-day running of CPCR projects
• Provide support to the Post-doctoral Research Fellow
• Contribute to publications and project reports where required

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning and Organisational

• Assist in delivery of stated objectives for CPCR projects.
• Work with CPCR team members to meet project milestones
• Actively participate in committees and meetings as required.
• Ensure that all projects adhere to Good Clinical Practice guidelines.

Project Facilitation

• Facilitate Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) activities for project development and ongoing PPI input.
• Facilitate data management including data collection, entry, validation and analysis.
• Liaise with project leads and staff to facilitate project maintenance and delivery of project milestones.
• Assist with report writing and manuscript preparation.

Equality and Diversity

• Carry out all duties in a way that supports equality and values diversity.
• Promote and support equality in access to research and value diversity ensuring the service provided meets the needs of all service users.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Planning and organisational tasks / duties

• Assist in delivery of CPCR studies including recruiting participants from a clinic setting.
• Work with CPCR team members and project leads to facilitate project maintenance, delivery of project milestones, scheduling study meetings as required for each study and present updates at monthly team meetings.
• Use own initiative to organize, plan and complete necessary tasks.
• Maintain attention to detail when completing study documents, data entry and analysis.
• Is responsible for ensuring own professional knowledge is regularly updated and keep abreast of relevant developments, making effective use of learning opportunities and actively promoting the workplace as a learning environment.
• Assist in the conduct of quantitative and qualitative research processes, project management and ability to work autonomously in all research projects.
• Use relevant computer software including Microsoft Word and research software as appropriate for each project for example use of NVIVO to assist in qualitative analysis or ‘r’/’SPSS’ to assist with quantitative analysis.
• Propose policy or service changes applicable to the conduct of research within CPCR.
• Assist with report writing and manuscript preparation.

Patient / service user related tasks /duties

• Facilitate Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) activities for project development and ongoing PPI input; including contacting patients face to face or via telephone and email, scheduling PPI events and actively managing these.
• Take formal minutes in meetings (for example in trial steering group committees for national trials with more than 15 members of all levels of experience) and notes during data analysis conversations and at other stages to keep a log of decision making throughout the research process.
• Provide a supportive environment when conducting participant interviews and other research meetings with research teams including internal and external research team members (e.g. for industry sponsored research studies).
• Discuss personal and sensitive information with research participants and the ability to respond appropriately and empathetically.
• Follow risk assessments and distress policy to ensure the comfort and safety of participants and themselves is paramount, escalating any concerns to senior team members.
• Attend clinics in person to facilitate research study recruitment.

Responsibilities for information resources

• Facilitate data management including data collection, entry, validation and analysis: Adapt, design information systems to meet the specifications of others.
• Responsible for the operation and data input for one or more information systems for department/service/sponsor preference, for example (but not limited to) the local research study management system (e.g. RPEAK), electronic patient records systems (e.g. CWP), spreadsheets for data entry, visualisation and analysis (e.g. excel), online questionnaire and data management systems (e.g. qualtrix, redcap). Multiple systems will be used on a daily basis.
• Introduce, adapt and improve information systems for CPCR and relevant studies e.g. developing and implementing systems to input, store and disseminate information used in statistical/data analysis and information relevant to the smooth running of research studies.
• Responsible for one or more information systems for collection of statistical/epidemiological information, such as Excel, R, SPSS.
• Undertake basic statistical analysis such as comparisons, frequencies, mean and standard deviation, conduct qualitative data analysis using NVivo software to store, manage, analyse and synthesise the data.
• Assist in cleaning data and preparing data for more complex analysis and assist senior members of the team in qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• Apply a range of facts and theoretical evidence to situations requiring analysis. Manages statistical/analytical queries, assessing whether analyses are robust e.g. investigating data anomalies identified during analyses, instigating corrective action as required.
• Synthesise, analyse and interpret research findings.
• Apply and adhere to research Governance policies and procedures: for example, is able to ensure that all projects adhere to Good Clinical Practice guidelines, GDPR and contributes to audits when required.

Responsibilities for human resources

• Actively participates in committees and meetings as required.
• Provide and receive complex or sensitive information.
• Communicate with all levels across the organization and within Research and Innovation on a regular basis.
• Communicate with research participants and patients which will include emotional and distressing topics.
• Facilitate interviews with patient/family study participants which will mean exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances on a regular basis due to the nature of work undertaken by CPCR.
• Carry out all duties in a way that supports equality and values diversity. This responsibility includes actions in relation to all internal and external stakeholders and research sponsors.
• Facilitate the promotion and support of equality in access to research and value diversity ensuring the service provided meets the needs of all service users.
• Responsible for promoting the work and reputation of the Trust and supporting its wider activities.
• Responsible for ensuring that personal, professional and corporate essential training requirements for self and staff under line management are met.
• Proactively engage in the PDR process ensuring that preparation work, objectives and personal development needs are identified and met.
• Demonstrate the Christie values and behaviour, being accountable for their own attitude and behaviour.

Responsibility for financial resources

• Liaise with senior staff members and the finance department to manage the project budget and any participant expenses.

Teaching

• Can work with CPCR team to support any new members of staff and provide training on specific tasks.
• There may be occasions where the research assistant will provide training to other clinicians regarding a particular element of the research study, such as the use of medical devices being used in research projects or qualitative research techniques.

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.