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PPI (Patient & Public Involvement) Lead Researcher
NHS AfC: Band 5
Main area Research Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Fixed term: 22 months (Funding in place for further extension beyond 22 months) Hours Part time - 15 hours per week (0.4 FTE (2 days per week)) Job ref 334-NCL-6835842-TA
Site PICuP (Psychological Interventions Clinic for outpatients with Psychosis) Town London Salary £35,964 - £43,780 Pro rata per annum inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 06/01/2025 23:59
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, Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth, and Richmond.
We are committed to providing high-quality and specialist care to our service users and are recognised for the 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 an asset to the Trust.
Job overview
This post is for Band 5 PPI Lead Researcher for a new Wellcome funded study, AVATAR3. The successful candidate will work as part of the team delivering the next stages of work in AVATAR therapy, a blended digital intervention for distressing voices in psychosis. Having tested efficacy in rigorous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and with replication emerging from independent research groups, our focus is on national and international implementation of AVATAR therapy.
In the AVATAR3 project, we will establish AVATAR therapy Implementation and Training Hubs in two distinct LMIC settings (Ethiopia and India). In parallel work, we will develop an English-language version of AVATAR therapy in which automated dialogues are delivered using Artificial Intelligence (AVATAR-AI) and test the feasibility of delivery by a non-specialist UK workforce. The study has 5 key aims:
1. To develop, through diverse stakeholder engagement, ethically responsible and culturally acceptable adaptation of AVATAR therapy across LMIC and UK sites.
2. To establish Implementation Hubs in Ethiopia and India, to deliver and train AVATAR therapy.
3. To develop and conduct user testing of AI-powered conversational agents to deliver AVATAR therapy dialogues (in English).
4. To deliver AVATAR-AI, as a blended digital therapy.
5. To test the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical impact of AVATAR-AI (UK), delivered by non-specialist mental health workers.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will work alongside colleagues in the team to develop and facilitate models of involvement across the study, including co-facilitation of Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) groups. Understanding participants' experience of AVATAR therapy is central to the UK-based and international work on the AVATAR3 project. In UK-based work, the post will involve supporting the co-design of AVATAR-AI which will involve people with lived experience of AVATAR therapy. The post-holder will also support recruitment, data collection, and analysis in the planned feasibility study, where they will co-facilitate interviews with participants about their experience of receiving AVATAR-AI therapy. The post-holder will also help to support the international adaptation work.
Working for our organisation
The post-holder will join a friendly study team and will be line managed by the SLaM Innovation and Training Lead (Dr Rebecca Kelly) and supported by the Research Workers based on the AVATAR3 project. The team ethos involves a strong commitment to inclusive involvement of Experts by Experts and a focus on ethical and responsible research innovation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
* Support Patient and Public Involvement and public engagement with the AVATAR3 study
* Support the co-design of AVATAR-AI
* Co-facilitate LEAP groups
* Support participants’ informed consent
* Conduct interviews with participants about their experience of receiving AVATAR-AI
* Collaborate with the research team to analyse interview transcripts
* Monitor and record research activities
* Effectively use supervision and contribute to team meetings
* Carry out other duties as agreed with the research team
Person specification
* Grade 4/C GCSEs in Maths and English, or equivalent. (A)
* Lived experience of psychosis. (A)
* Experience of receiving mental health services for people with psychosis. (A)
* Experience of, or feeling comfortable with, talking about their lived experience with peers and colleagues. (A/I)
* Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity and inclusion. (A/I)
* Knowledge of PPI and co-production. (A/I)
* Well-developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex information to clients, families, and colleagues. (A/I)
* Skills to support people who may be distressed and vulnerable, and manage risk appropriately, with support from a supervisor. (A/I)
* Ability to work effectively with a team and independently, including recognition of strengths and limitations, seeking advice when needed. (A/I)
* Good time management and organisational skills.
* Undergraduate degree in a subject related to science or healthcare. (A)
* Experience of conducting research interviews with people with lived experience of psychosis. (A/I)
* Experience of analysing and writing-up qualitative (e.g. interview) research studies. (A/I)
* Experience of blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or any other public engagement activities that have promoted research through PPI. (A/I)
The Trust is committed to providing services that embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, and 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.
Please note:
* All applications for this post will need to be made online
* 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
* The closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should a sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
* 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
* If you have not heard from us within three weeks from the closing date, your application has not been successful
* Priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
* 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
* 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.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
The post-holder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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