Position Details
Department of Applied Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,296 to £34,866 with potential progression once in post to £39,105
Grade: 6
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to January 2028
Closing date: 18th March 2025
UK and International travel may be required for this role
Background
The Department of Applied Health Sciences is looking to appoint a versatile mixed-methods Research Associate with experience of mental health research to evaluate children and young peoples’ NHS services.
Peer support, using the lived experience and skills of people with a history of mental health problems to help people in similar circumstances, is being increasingly used in mental health services. Peer support is widely regarded to improve children’s hope for recovery, empowerment and access to mental health services. However, peer support does not appear to work for everyone equally.
In collaboration with Forward Thinking Birmingham NHS mental health services, colleagues in the Institute for Mental Health and other partners, our research aims to evaluate how peer support for children and young people in mental health services works for different people in different circumstances. In doing so, the post holder would create knowledge to develop and adapt interventions to improve patient care.
This post is supported by a recently funded National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Advanced Fellowship.
Role Summary
This role provides an opportunity for a passionate mental health researcher to:
* Work closely with NHS mental health services and other partners to evaluate and improve children and young peoples’ mental health peer support
* Deliver innovative mixed methods research through data collection, analysis and publication
The post holder will have contact with service users in mental health services including though not limited to early intervention psychosis and specialist eating disorder teams; mentorship from consultant psychiatrist/clinical psychologists; opportunity to learn advanced research methods; and support to develop proposals for further research funding applications.
Main Duties
* Collect research data through a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods such as literature review, patient reported outcomes, observations, and interviews with service users
* Analyse and interpret data
* Facilitate meetings with service users, staff and other stakeholders to develop and implement interventions to improve patient care
* Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for peer reviewed journals and conferences
* Disseminate research progress and findings directly to the public at local events and via traditional and social media
* Engage with patient and public involvement partners in designing and delivering research activities
* Contribute to teaching activities
* Contribute to writing bids for further research funding to support a developing research programme in mental health research (the post holder will also be encouraged to apply for a Fellowship)
* Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
* Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research, and contribute to departmental administration
* Promote equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture
Person Specification
* Honours degree relevant to mental health or equivalent demonstrable experience in relevant discipline
* Knowledge and preferably experience of mixed methods evaluation in mental health or applied health research including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
* Knowledge of and preferably experience of designing and implementing interventions with service users and healthcare professionals
* Experience of working with mental health professionals and services users including children and their parents in mental health or related settings
* High level analytical capability
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information and ideas clearly
* Experience of contributing to research project management
* Experience of academic writing, preferably including for peer reviewed journals
* Experience of presenting research progress and findings at academic conferences and/or directly with the public or other relevant audiences
* Capable of organising own workload and using initiative to work efficiently under pressure
* Experience of working in a team
* Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
* Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly
DBS required
The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS clearance prior to appointment.
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