Job description

This post is an exciting opportunity to coordinate a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a co-produced online peer support and psychoeducation platform tailored to address the psychosocial needs of people living with long-term conditions (LTC). Online support groups are accessible and low-cost and could offer a way of bridging the gap in care for people experiencing emotional distress in the context of chronic illness. We have partnered with people living with LTC to develop the platform and test its usability (www.quahrc.co.uk/online-peer-support-for-preventing-comorbid-depression-in-people-with-long-term-conditions). 

This role involves co-ordinating the next stages of this work to conduct a feasibility RCT of a peer support platform for people with LTC and subthreshold depression (SUBD). The proposed RCT will be an essential step to the next stage of evaluation. The post-holder will be responsible for coordinating: 1) the trial set-up 2) recruitment 3) implementation of a feasibility RCT of the prototype platform. The post holder will also have the opportunity to contribute to developing new research avenues, including evaluation of the intervention and exploration of future collaborations with colleagues across the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and elsewhere, including the IMPARTS team (https://imparts.org).

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 24 months.This is a full-time post.

Key responsibilities

Key Objectives:

• To organise and manage the successful delivery of a feasibility RCT examining a co-produced peer support platform for people with LTC and SUBD
• To coordinate delivery of the project objectives and facilitate effective communication and collaboration between stakeholders
• To seek relevant literature, critically appraise and summarise research on peer support and e-health interventions
• To recruit people with lived experience of LTC and SUBD for participation in a RCT
• To facilitate semi-structured interviews in collaboration with other team members experienced in qualitative research
• To carry out quantitative analysis of data collected pre and post RCT, with support of study statistician
• To establish and maintain good working relationships with multiple stakeholders including software design partners and charity bodies
• To work on finalising the final online platform prototype, implementing findings from recent usability testing data
• To oversee successful patient and public involvement, integral to the co-production of the platform and its trialling
• To support the Principal Investigator in developing a study protocol and ethical application anested qualitative study to evaluate the acceptability of the peer support platform and the feasibility of a full-scale randomised controlled trial
• To support additional funding applications for follow on multi-centre trials
• To assist and/or lead writing up of project reports and papers for publication in collaboration with other team members
• To present project progress and results at internal/external meetings/seminars/conferences.
• To ensure project documentation is organised and maintained to a good standard, including management of data under GDPR
• To oversee communication of the research (including blog posts, social media etc.) as appropriate

Communication & Networking:

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders including IT partners, voluntary sector organisations, and the project Expert Advisory Group
• Proactively make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding across multiple disciplines and sectors
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with clinical services and IT stakeholders
• Collaborate with others in writing for publication
• Present to a wide range of audiences at seminars, conferences and meetings
• Organise regular project meetings and workshops

Decision Making, Planning and Problem Solving:

• Contribute to the planning of research proposals and papers for publication
• Contribute to collaborative decision making with colleagues
• Prioritise and manage own workload to meet deadlines
• Attend and contribute to departmental meetings and seminars
• Contribute to other studies and departmental activities as time allows

Analysis & Research:

• Conduct quantitative analysis and assist in the interpretation of results
• Write (under supervision/in collaboration) reports and papers for publication in peer reviewed journals
• Use initiative and be proactive about learning new research methods
• Conduct literature searches, collate literature and produce literature reviews
• Form excellent working relations with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels
• Collaborate with team members on data analysis and writing for publication
• Attend and contribute to team meetings
• Actively participate as a member of the department, undertaking general tasks to support team activities

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  

• A degree in health or social science 
• Experience of quantitative research/mixed-methods research including data analyses  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a range of professionals 
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate projects/research trials 
• Excellent presentation, writing, accuracy, organisational and all-round IT skills 
• Good understanding of data confidentiality 
• Experience of patient and public involvement/recruitment and/or co-production 
• Ability to work to deadlines, team player, conscientious and dedicated
• Proactive and able to use initiative 
• A keen interest in developing health interventions and an awareness of the interplay between physical and mental health 

Desirable criteria 

• MSc in a health-related subject 
• An interest in developing a research career in a health-related area  
• Ability to use NVivo, STATA/SPSS/R 
• Track record of publishing papers 
• Experience of qualitative/mixed-methods research including data analyses/facilitating focus groups/semi-structured interviews 

Further information

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.