Research Support Worker

Job overview

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to appoint a Research Support Worker/Assistant Psychologist in Mental Health Research, to work in close partnership with the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research at Lancaster University, in the delivery of an NIHR funded trial Mouth Matters in Mental Health Study

The post starts in April 2026. The support worker would receive training and supervision to deliver a ‘link work intervention’ offering practice and motivational support to people with severe mental health difficulties around attending a dentist. This is an excellent opportunity to develop research and clinical skills, and work with a multidisciplinary research team that includes clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and dentists. The post-holder will receive clinical supervision and training from experienced clinical academics (e.g. Clinical Psychologists) working in the field of mental health research. The position is 1 FTE for 33 months (renewed every 12 months subject to funding) and could be a secondment or fixed-term contract.

All research through Spectrum is conducted with people with lived experience to ensure that it is focused on priorities relevant to them. The Spectrum team takes an active approach to implementation to influence practices through working at national policy levels as well as training clinicians.  See https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/health-and-medicine/research/spectrum/

Main duties of the job

We are looking to appoint a motivated Research Support Worker to work on the exciting NIHR funded Mouth Matters in Mental Health Study. People with severe mental health difficulties (e.g. psychosis, bipolar disorder) often experience poor oral health and find it difficult to attend the dentist. This project aims to improve access to dental services in people with severe mental health difficulties. Our ultimate aim is to reduce health inequalities in people with mental health difficulties.

The support worker would receive training and supervision to deliver a ‘link work intervention’ offering practice and motivational support to people with severe mental health difficulties around attending a dentist. This is an excellent opportunity to develop research and clinical skills, and work with a multidisciplinary research team that includes clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and dentists. The post-holder will receive clinical supervision and training from experienced clinical academics (e.g. Clinical Psychologists) working in the field of mental health research. The position is   1 FTE for 33 months and could be a secondment or fixed-term contract. We are keen to support the ongoing career development of the post holder. The post starts in April 2026.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role.