Senior Research Assistant (OA bipolar group)

Job overview

Older adults with bipolar disorder experience a range of complex and often under-recognised needs, including cognitive difficulties, physical and mental health comorbidities, reduced social support and difficulties with psychosocial functioning. This research project aims to address this gap by co-producing a group-based psychosocial intervention for older adults with bipolar and their carers.

The research is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Programme for Social Care (RPSC). It is a collaboration between Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Manchester. The project’s Lead Investigators are Dr Elizabeth Tyler and Professor Steven Jones.

The post holder will be based with the Research and Innovation Department at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, which hosts a number of large mental health trials and other research studies. The post holder will also have close links with the University of Manchester, School of Health Sciences where the Lead Investigator is based.

We strive to be an inclusive research unit, and we welcome applicants from a diverse range of communities to apply for the post, including people from diverse ethnic communities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and/or who identify as having a disability or as being neurodivergent.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to have proven and substantial experience in conducting research; for example, by having previously assisted in the running of a funded research study and/or a postgraduate (Masters or PhD) study. The post-holder will contribute to a four-stage programme of research:

• Systematic review: Lead a systematic review of existing psychosocial interventions for people with bipolar, their carers, and older adults with bipolar disorder, to inform intervention development.
• Qualitative interviews: Lead participant recruitment and conducting qualitative interviews with older adults with bipolar and carers to explore their experiences, needs and preferences. The postholder will contribute to the qualitative analysis of interview data.
• Co-production: Supporting the facilitation of co-production groups involving older adults with bipolar, carers and professionals to develop and refine the intervention. The postholder will contribute to the qualitative analysis of co-production data and its integration into intervention development.
• Intervention refinement: Contributing to the final review and refinement of the intervention, ensuring that the perspectives of people with lived experience, carers and professionals are incorporated.

The postholder will contribute to participant recruitment, systematic review activities, qualitative data collection and analysis, co-production sessions, intervention development and dissemination of research findings.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

Staff benefits

• Pay Enhancements
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
• Excellent pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Wellbeing programme
• Blue Light Card Discounts
• fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable people 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.