Research Manager

Job overview

Sheffield Health & Social Care Foundation Trust’s (SHSC) Research Development Unit (RDU) provides oversight for the development and delivery of research within the Trust and is commissioned by SY ICB to provide a research management and governance service to Primary Care in Sheffield.

SHSC has also been awarded funding through the National Institute Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Mission, Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) to set up and deliver a Sheffield Mood Disorders Research Clinic.  This is part of a nationally co-ordinated network of research-focused mood disorder clinics that act as hubs for the delivery of clinical studies in mood disorders.

This post has been developed to support the set up and delivery of Mood Disorders Research Clinic and provide leadership for primary care, engaging with general practices and supporting delivery of high-quality primary care research across Sheffield.  We anticipate referrals from primary care to the Mood Disorder Research Clinic so this is an exciting post that will interface and support collaborative working across mood disorders and primary care.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead a brand-new service. The post holder will be responsible for setting up and delivering the Mood Disorders Research Clinic, providing research support to primary care in Sheffield and providing line management to members of the Mood Disorder Research Clinic Team.

Main duties of the job

• The Research Manager will be responsible for set up and delivery of Mood Disorders Research Clinic including recruitment to the Mood Disorders research cohort.

• The Research Manager will support delivery of research within primary care across Sheffield

• On-going performance management and monitoring against delivery and performance metrics.

• The role will include the supervision and direct line-management of other staff in the Mood Disorder Research Clinic under the direction and supervision of the Deputy Director for Research.
• Identifying potential new studies in collaboration with the Research Development Unit for recruitment from the Mood Disorders Cohort (including commercial research)
• Supporting set-up and delivery of studies in primary care and within Mood Disorders Research Clinic monitoring the progress of recruiting studies according to recruitment targets, working closely with Research Development Unit

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Coordinate set up and delivery of Mood Disorders Research Clinic with  support from the Clinical Lead and Deputy Director: Research

Develop research capacity and capability across all professions within primary care.  Working with GP practices, Primary Care Networks, Primary Care Sheffield, community pharmacies and other NHS organisations working into primary care develop ability and opportunities to initiate and participate in primary care research studies

Support primary care with recruitment to portfolio studies, where applicable, and provide advice and expertise in relation to research delivery. Work with the practices to support and identify requirements for confirming capability and capacity to deliverSupport other members of the primary care RM&G service in SHSC and provide leadership and guidance

Generate guidance and documentation to support research set up and delivery within primary care

Lead on recruitment to the Mood Disorders research cohort in accordance with the research protocol

Support accurate target setting and planning milestones for the effective delivery of the Mood Disorders Research Clinic

Complete the quarterly and annual Key Performance Indicator reporting templates to capture the Mood Disorders Research Clinic’s performance towards its goals.

Provide written reports on performance management and updates in research delivery as requested by the Deputy Director and Clinical Lead for the Mood Disorder Research Clinic.

Ensure recruitment is recorded on EDGE (local portfolio management system) to ensure accuracy of data and monitor performance against targets

Ensure the necessary REC/HRA approvals and other regulatory approvals (e.g. MHRA, GTAC) are in place for recruitment to primary care studies, the Mood Disorders cohort and any subsequent studies the cohort participate in.

To identify potential participants from the Mood Disorders research cohort for participation in NIHR adopted studies according to specific protocols and guidelines, and to assist staff in providing information so that service users may make informed decisions about their participation, including commercial trials.

To provide verbal and written information and support to research participants and their carers for the duration of their involvement in the Mood Disorders Research Clinic, and to assist participants with the completion of questionnaires as necessary including informed consent as per research cohort protocol.

Working with Research Development Unit arrange referral routes or PIC agreements to enable wider recruitment into the Mood Disorders research cohort – including primary care, other NHS organisations and community groups as applicable.

Develop a recruitment strategy aimed at improving recruitment from underserved communities and groups.

Recruit a group of PPIE representatives. Coordinate quarterly PPIE meetings where the PPIE voice can contribute to the design and delivery of the Mood Disorders Research Clinic.

To attend multidisciplinary Mood Disorder Clinic team and meetings with primary care to support research delivery

Ensure the Mood Disorders Research Clinic is running smoothly and identifying areas for improvement, escalating any concerns to the Deputy Director: Research and the Clinical Lead.