Research Assistant

The post holder will have a vital role in the delivery of a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded research project, GOTHIC2: A 3-arm multi-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial of glycopyrrolate or hyoscine hydrobromide for the treatment of clozapine-induced hypersalivation. The post holder will travel to mental health clinics throughout the region to discuss the GOTHIC2 trial with community mental health service users, and recruit patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who are taking clozapine. The post holder may also collect data for the project in the clinic or participant's home, involving the CANTAB neurocognitive battery, PANSS and a range of other measures. Maintaining good working relationships with service users, carers, clinic staff will be key to the success of the project. The successful candidate should be organised, capable of independent work, with strong interpersonal skills and a good awareness of mental health
difficulties. The post-holder will be based at Maudsley Hospital, working alongside a vibrant research team. The post holder will work collaboratively with, and be supported by, the study Co-Chief Investigator and SLAM PI (Prof MacCabe), the CI of the study (Dr Inti Qurashi, Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust), the Trial manager, (Julie Perry, Liverpool Clinical Trials Unit, University of Liverpool) and the GOTHIC2 study team, research and delivery staff and clinical services to assist with the successful delivery of the study., 1. To assist in the set-up and facilitation of the research project.
2. To maintain and manage an external database of quantitative data
3. To approach potential research participants using a variety of communication formats, to engage them in the research study.
4. To carry out any relevant psychometric test materials and interviews whilst ensuring the safety and comfort of participants and yourself.
5. Where indicated, to follow-up research participants at agreed intervals.
6. To be aware of the psychological/ emotional needs of research participants, responding and reporting appropriately.
7. To ensure that research procedures are carried out according to the approved protocol and the UK policy framework for health and social care research.
8. To conduct reviews of electronic patient clinical notes, extracting and coding data for research purposes.
9. To score relevant tests, anonymise and enter data into the study database.
10. To ensure safe storage of paper data.
11. To help with the production of interim progress reports for the project funder and ethics
committee.
12. To help notify the local research governance committee of any ongoing changes to the project.
13. To assist in the preparation of manuscripts for publications using the study data.
14. To travel independently to engage the participation of others in the research (travel expenses will be reimbursed).
15. The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties and responsibilities within the framework of the post.

Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
In this role you will be working with Prof James MacCabe's research team at the Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience King's College London. Prof MacCabe is the academic director of the Psychosis Clinical Academic Group which is responsible for research and clinical services in psychosis throughout Kings Health Partners. His research focusses on treatment resistant schizophrenia and GOTHIC2 is one of several clinical trials currently under way in this area. You will also be part of a wider GOTHIC2 study team based at several trusts around the UK and coordinated from Merseycare NHSFT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To assist in the set-up and facilitation of the research project.
2. To maintain and manage an external database of quantitative data, anonymise data, input data into the database and keep it up to date.
3. To approach potential research participants using a variety of communication formats, in order to engage them in the research study.
4. To carry out any relevant psychometric test materials and structured/ semi-structured
interviews whilst ensuring the safety and comfort of participants and yourself.
5. Where indicated, to follow-up research participants at agreed intervals.
6. To be aware of the psychological/ emotional needs of research participants, responding and reporting appropriately.
7. To ensure that research procedures (including consent processes and follow up) are carried out according to the approved protocol and the UK policy framework for health and social care research.
8. To conduct reviews of electronic patient clinical notes, extracting and coding data for research purposes.
9. To score relevant tests make data anonymous and enter data into the study database.
10. To ensure safe storage of paper data.
11. To help with the production of interim progress reports for the project funder and ethics
committee.
12. To help notify the local research governance committee of any ongoing changes to the project.
13. To assist in the preparation of manuscripts for publications using the study data.
14. To travel independently in order to engage the participation of others in the research (travel expenses will be reimbursed).
15. The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties and responsibilities within the framework of the post.
Career Progression pathways and development opportunities:
We are committed to get the very best out of our staff and support staff in their career aspirations. We have career pathways available, where you will be able to develop your skills and build on your experience to progress into other roles across different specialties. For this role, we offer career pathways to further progtression as a researcher. In addition, we offer ongoing training and development in the field of psychosis research
The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:
+ Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
+ Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
+ We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity
Please note:
+ That all applications for this post will need to be made online
+ That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
+ That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
+ That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
+ That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
+ That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
+ That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
+ That we are a smoke-free Trust
SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe'

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.