Research Assistant/Research Associate

Job ID: 032465 Salary: £32,676-37,297/Grade 6 £38,304-£45,026, including London Weighting Allowance Posted: 16-Sep-2021 Closing date: 07-Oct-2021
Business unit: Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine Department: Department of Women & Children's Health Contact details: Doctor Abigail Easter, abigail.easter@kcl.ac.uk
 St Thomas' Hospital   Research

 

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Job description

We are seeking to appoint a Research Assistant or Research Associate in Maternity and Perinatal Mental Health to the Department of Women and Children’s Health in the School of Life Science.  

 

The post holder will join an established team of clinicians, social scientists and health service researchers in the Maternal Health Systems and Implementation Research Group led by Professor Jane Sandall in the Department of Women and Children’s Health. The Department has an international reputation for research and expertise in maternal and newborn health and care.

 

The post-holder will play an integral role within the ongoing programme of work in the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London’s Maternity and Perinatal Mental Health Research Theme. The ARC South London is one of 15 NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) funded Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) across England, each conducting applied research in their region that addresses the needs of local people and systems. The 

Maternity and Perinatal Mental Health Theme, led by Professor Jane Sandall, Professor Louise Howard and Dr Abigail Easter, aims to have a positive impact on women and families in the local community by increasing the detection, monitoring and healthcare management of women at risk of severe morbidity and mortality during the perinatal period.

 

The purpose of this role is to contribute to delivering the medium and long-term objectives of the perinatal mental health workstream within the Maternity and Perinatal Mental Health Research Theme. The post-holder will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the perinatal mental health research projects, including accessing and statistical analysis of local and national sources of routine healthcare data, producing research outputs, stakeholder engagement and dissemination.

 

The position is open to Research Assistants (BSC/MSc) and Research Associates (post-doctoral).

 

This post will be offered on a  fixed-term contract for 24 months 

This is a full-time post

  Key responsibilities

•         To work with the ARC South London Maternity and Perinatal Mental Health theme to meet the medium- and long-term objectives of the research programme  

•         To manage and undertake statistical analysis of large local and national datasets of routinely collected electronic healthcare data 

•         To conduct and analyse qualitative data from interviews and focus groups with women and healthcare professions in the field of perinatal mental health and health inequalities 

•         To provide methodological expertise as required  

•         To disseminate findings from the project, in collaboration with the project leads and partners, through writing papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and presenting work at conferences  

•         To produce other written outputs, including reports, policy briefs and meeting documentation 

•         Engage with key stakeholders including service delivery partners, maternity and mental health clinicians and service users 

 

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 (Grade 6) 

Qualification/Training

•         A PhD and with a track record in a relevant health-related topic (for example, psychology, mental health, maternal health services research, health informatics) with a strong track record in a range of research methods. 

 

Skills and Experience

•         Experience and/or strong interest in women’s or perinatal mental health research  

•         Experience of collecting, managing, and analysing large datasets from healthcare settings (quantitative)  

•         Ability to write succinctly and with clarity for diverse audiences  

•         Ability to provide effective project administration 

•         Ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including healthcare practitioners, commissioners, policy makers and service users 

 

Knowledge

•         Excellent working knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint  

•         Excellent working knowledge of statistical analysis software (e.g. SPSS, STATA or similar) 

•         Excellent knowledge of research methods and application to healthcare setting 

 

Competencies

•         Strong time and personal management skills  

•         Ability to work both independently and as part of a team  

 

Desirable criteria (Grade 6) 

Skills and Experience

•         Experience in applying for national routine healthcare data (e.g., NHS Digital, Hospital Episode Statistics) and data management ethics and governance procedures 

•         Experience in collecting and analysing interview and focus group data (qualitative) and use of qualitative software (e.g. NVIVO) 

 

Knowledge

•         Knowledge of maternity and perinatal mental health research and policy 

•         Knowledge and understanding of healthcare informatics  

 

Essential criteria (Grade 5) 

Qualification/Training

•         Higher (upper second or above) undergraduate degree (BA, BSc or equivalent) in psychology or health sciences,  or in a discipline with a health-related orientation  

 

Skills and Experience

•         Experience and/or strong interest in women’s or perinatal mental health research  

•         Experience or training in collecting, managing, and analysing large datasets from healthcare settings (quantitative)  

•         Ability to write succinctly and with clarity for diverse audiences  

•         Ability to provide effective project administration 

 

Knowledge

•         Excellent working knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint  

•         Good working knowledge of statistical analysis software (e.g. SPSS, STATA or similar) 

•         Knowledge or understanding of research methods and application to healthcare setting 

 

Competencies

•         Strong time and personal management skills  

•         Ability to work both independently and as part of a team 

 

Desirable criteria (Grade 5) 

Qualification and Training

•         Postgraduate degree (MSc, MA or equivalent) in psychology or health sciences,  or in a discipline with a health-related orientation 

 

  Skills and Experience

•         Experience in applying for national routine healthcare data (e.g., NHS Digital, Hospital Episode Statistics) and data management ethics and governance procedures 

•         Experience in collecting and analysing interview and focus group data (qualitative) and use of qualitative software (e.g. NVIVO) 

•         Ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including healthcare practitioners, commissioners, policy makers and service users 

 

Knowledge

•         Knowledge of maternity and perinatal mental health research and policy 

•         Knowledge or understanding of healthcare informatics 

 

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.