Research Assistant

Job overview

This post will provide a dynamic, driven individual with an exciting opportunity to join an innovative team that works towards improving people’s lives through high quality workforce development and evaluation programmes. Our multi-professional team provide a high performing and fast paced yet supportive environment in which the post holder will be supported to develop professionally while contributing actively to the goals and mission of Maudsley Learning.

The post holder will be responsible for supporting the Maudsley Learning research and development agenda, and the co-ordination and delivery of our workforce development programmes that aim support better health for all.The post holder will also be highly organised and able to manage multiple competing priorities and projects while delivering work to the high standards of our award-winning team. This is an unusual opportunity to join a unique team with an ambitious mission and vision for improving people’s lives through mental health education.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with the Senior Organisational Consultant at Maudsley Learning, supporting ongoing and developing new activities relating to the research agenda. This will include contributing to research projects at all stages of development, from conception to publication in peer reviewed scientific journals.

The post holder will use and build their academic research skills and have the opportunity to apply the principles of psychology to their work, as well as further opportunities from working at the UK’s largest mental health provider. Involvement in writing and submitting research and educational grants under direction from the Head of R&D will be required, alongside close collaboration with other Research Assistants in our team.

The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of workforce development and consultancy projects, under the supervision of the Senior Organisational Consultant, and working with the Faculty team and Director of Operations, at Maudsley Learning. This will involve collaboration and engagement with our multi-disciplinary team of mental health experts, as well as the application of project management, stakeholder engagement, and applied evaluation skills. Preparing for and supporting the delivery of training programs, as well as their evaluation and activities relating to research and development will also be undertaken.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Supporting the Research and Development Department and programmes, including commissioned research, educational evaluation projects, routine evaluation of training programmes, delivery of workforce development and consultancy projects, and the application of research methods expertise to other projects. Responsibilities as follows for the workstreams outlined below and other duties as specified:

• Contribute to the development of an innovative research agenda, with the clear objective of publishing impactful scientific research.
• Support with research projects such as literature searching, data collection, management and analysis, preparation for publication.
• Manage evaluation projects involving, for example, data collection, analysis and writing up of training scoping and quality assessment work.
• Prepare academic, practical, educational and project report documents to be published, with according to authorship.
• Utilise multiple research methodologies, including mixed-methods approaches and comparison studies.
• Assist with gaining research funding to support the expansion of the research and evaluation agenda and activities within the team.
• Input to submissions for ethical approval for research projects as appropriate.
• Support colleagues to understand and be involved in the research process, supporting their ideas and building their research skills.
• Help to translate learning from the research and evaluation process to trainers and clinical educators to support improved delivery of courses.
• Submit and present research findings at relevant meetings and conferences as required
• Using research and evaluation methods to help trainers with quality assurance processes to maintain high standards.
• Work with key internal stakeholders and Maudsley Learning staff to organize and deliver workforce development programmes that support mental health and wellbeing.
• Manage the organisation and delivery of projects, including project planning, monitoring and reporting.
• Develop subject matter expertise in workforce and organisational change and development to support delivery of our consultancy services.
• Manage applied evaluation and data projects as part of service delivery to clients, using high level skills in data collection and analysis to develop insights.