Job description

The postholder will take a lead role in delivering King’s Improvement Science (KIS) research and evaluation projects within the Centre for Implementation Science (CIS), utilising their mixed-methods (ideally qualitative and quantitative) expertise.   

The role includes planning, coordinating, executing, and reporting on improvement/implementation science research projects in health and social care settings, and delivering teaching and training.  

The postholder will work alongside members of the KIS team and under the guidance of the KIS Co-Investigator, KIS Programme Manager and KIS Principal Investigator. The post-holder will also work collaboratively with funders, NHS staff, public members and other stakeholders to plan and deliver high-quality, applied research aimed at improving health or social care services.  

The current portfolio of KIS research includes (but is not limited to) an evaluation of a King’s Health Partners (KHP) wide staff support and wellbeing programme, a project examining implementation, effectiveness and experiences of remote working within mental health Trusts in south London during the COVID19 pandemic and an evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of a novel remote monitoring model in rheumatoid arthritis outpatient services across south-east London. The post-holder will be required to take a leading role across multiple projects, with support from other members of the team. Project topics are agreed with the funders in accordance with their priorities.    

KIS is a KHP supported research programme aimed at enhancing how quality improvement activity is carried out across major south London health care providers. Established in 2013, KIS comprises an interdisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in improvement and implementation sciences, evaluation, patient and public involvement (PPI), and economics, and a core team of managers and communication professionals. For information about the first phase of KIS work (2013-2018) please see:   http://www.kingsimprovementscience.org  

In the second phase of KIS work (2019-2024), the programme is led by Professor Nick Sevdalis. The KIS programme is supported by KHP (£2.5M in total) and aligned to the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London as co-funded research infrastructure. The KIS programme continues to support scalable projects and programmes that improve care delivery and outcomes across KHP organisations, as well as develop methodological research to further advance the sciences of improvement and implementation and thus achieve better patient experience and outcomes of care more rapidly within the NHS. 

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 15 months in the first instance.  

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

•        Work effectively with members of the KIS team and other collaborators to deliver research and evaluation activities and outputs  

•        Coordinate project work to include some organising and servicing of project meetings  

•        Take a lead role in research planning and delivery, providing methodological and project management expertise 

•        Collect and analyse qualitative and/or quantitative data, utilising mixed-methods approaches 

•        Disseminate findings from projects through writing papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and presenting research at local, national and international meetings 

•        Contribute to the development of the improvement/implementation science knowledge base through an original portfolio of research – it is critical that the post-holder can work within and contribute to a highly-driven, high-achieving academic environment of significant reputation   

•        Contribute to and attend appropriate meetings and events, as required 

•        Communicate regularly and effectively with relevant colleagues and stakeholders from King’s College London/Health Service & Population Research Department/Centre for Implementation Science, King’s Health Partners (KHP) and other stakeholders 

•        Deal with problems effectively as they arise 

•        Contribute to decisions affecting the team 

•        Demonstrate appropriate time management techniques 

•        Ensure compliance with protocols, guidelines and research governance 

•        Demonstrate initiative, autonomy and self-motivation 

•        Seek help and guidance where necessary 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

1.      Upper second or above first degree (BA, BSc or equivalent) and PhD in behavioural, social, management or health sciences, or in a discipline with a health-related orientation 

2.      Postgraduate level training in qualitative research methods 

and experience of conducting and reporting qualitative research 

3.      Postgraduate level training in quantitative research methods and experience of conducting and reporting quantitative research  

4.      Experience of conducting evidence syntheses (e.g. systematic reviews, meta-analyses) and evidence appraisal 

5.      Experience of working in health or social care services (as a healthcare professional or researcher) and working collaboratively with healthcare professionals and patients / service users / family members 

6.      A good peer-reviewed publication record, commensurate with level of experience 

7.      Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills with proven ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships both within and across organisational boundaries, report writing and presentation skills  

Desirable criteria 

1.      Experience of evaluation, quality improvement, or change programmes within healthcare provider organisations 

2.      Previous work experience in the fields of improvement science research or implementation science research 

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6. 

Further information

Shortlisting and interviews will take place between January and February 2022. 

This post allows for some flexibility in working hours and patterns. Providing the context of the COVID-19 pandemic allows, the post holder will be expected to work from our offices in Denmark Hill, south London for around 40-60% of their time, and may be required to attend meetings with partner organisations across London. The post holder will be able to work remotely from home for the remainder of their time if they wish to do so.  

Please note this role is eligible for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa.