Research Associate - GM Digital

at  Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

The post holder will work across a number of high-profile research projects led by the GM Digital Research Unit. For example, the Enhancing CAMHS referrals project (EN-CAMHS 2) is looking at improving the quality of referrals to CAMHS services. Another project is the Core Mental Health Data Set (CMHDS) project which aims to understand people’s views about collecting mental health information alongside physical health information. The post holder will also work across various other projects and activities within the Digital Research Unit related to digital mental health.
The research associate will contribute towards the day-to-day operation of research projects under the guidance of the Project Managers. They will ensure that daily tasks and ongoing workloads are prioritised and completed within agreed timeframes, will actively participate as a member of the multi-disciplinary study team and will prepare for, attend, and actively contribute to relevant meetings. The Research Associate will be involved in assisting the GM Digital leadership team in the design and implementation of digital mental health research projects, contribute to grant applications and submissions, contribute to the accurate collection and secure management of data, and assist with quantitative and qualitative analysis. They will conduct sensitive focus groups and digital co-design workshops with participants as well as contribute to PPIE activities hosted by the GM Digital Research Team including the Youth Connection Young People’s Advisory Group.
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 160 locations.
We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.
Greater Manchester is one of the world’s most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.
Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.
Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.

Research Grants Writing

• To assist with writing of funding applications for research

Communication and Networking

• To regularly liaise with the study collaborators and other stakeholders to identify and recruit eligible study participants;
• To assist with the promotion of the research to stakeholders;
• To contribute towards and write papers about the research in high profile reports and publications;
• To help present information on research progress and outcomes to management groups;
• To assist with the presentation of research findings at internal and external meetings, and conferences nationally and internationally; and
• To liaise with research colleagues and support administrative staff on routine matters.

Research and administrative activities to support funding bids

• To conduct and write systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses for publication and to inform future research and grant applications.
• To contribute to the development/design of qualitative and quantitative studies with the members of the team.
• To assist with the running of any pilot trials or research studies conducted within the team.
• To liaise with relevant funding bodies, research support network (e.g. NIHR Research Design Service) and R&I departments of partner organisations
• To assist with the running of any focus groups or consultation groups with service users and/or other stakeholders to inform research.
• To assist in running meetings, including production of agendas, writing of minutes and reports and taking follow-up action as required.
• To support the Lead and team members on other relevant research/administrative activities as required.

Research Management

• To populate, maintain and manage relevant and accurate databases on a daily basis, ensuring they represent a comprehensive and accurate record of the ongoing research.
• To work effectively under time-pressure in order to meet tight deadlines and project milestones
• To retrieve complex data from relevant quantitative databases and analyse research outcomes to produce summary reports on research activity for a variety of purposes.
• To implement research policies / standard operating procedures for their own work area and to be able to propose improvements to research policies/procedures where relevant.
• To assume responsibility for the safe and secure use of research equipment including digital recorders and computers where relevant.
• To provide advice or demonstrate own research activities or workplace routines to new research staff or temporary researchers working on the project.

Trust Mandatory On-going Requirements - to be met by the candidate after commencing in post, these will not be assessed at the recruitment stage

• To undertake any other reasonable duty, when requested to do so by an appropriate Trust manager.
• To understand and comply with all Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
• To understand the Trusts Strategic Goals and how you can support them.
• To understand the need to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and adhere to all principles in effective safeguarding.
• To carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with Equal Opportunities, Equality and Diversity and dignity in care/work policies and principles
• To avoid unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with the colleagues, services users, members of the public and all stakeholders.
• To access only information, where paper, electronic, or, in another media, which is authorised to you as part of the duties of your role.
• Not to communicate to anyone inside or outside the NHS, information relating to patients, services users, staff, contractors or any information of a commercially sensitive nature, unless done in the normal course of carrying out the duties of the post and with appropriate permission.
• To maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date.

Please see attached job description and person specification
Staff benefits
Pay Enhancements – 30% additional for Evenings (8pm onwards) and Saturdays and 60% additional for Sundays and Bank holidays.
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 Discount

Please refer the Job description for details