Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Post Number: /
Job Description
School/Department: / Research Design Service South Central (RDS SC),
School of Medicine
Post Title: / Research Fellow (0.4 FTE)
Please enter Level under appropriate Career Pathway / ERE / TAE / MSA / CAO / R.Nurse / Clinical
4
ERE Category / Academic Posts / Non-Academic Posts
Academic
(mixed) / Research
only / Teaching
only / Enterprise / Education Development
Posts Responsible to (and Level): / Deputy Director, RDS SC (ERE, Level 5)
Posts Responsible for (and Level): / N/A
Job Purpose:Provide advice and support to health and social care researchers. To provide appropriate resources in relation to the design of health and social care research. To support researchers with reviewing of literature in preparation for submission of research grant proposals. To assist in preparing and delivering educational resources for researchers, RDS SC Research Advisors, patients and the public.
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities:
1. Research Support:
To provide research support and advice to health and social care researchers. This will include:
  • Provide support for the preparation of grant applications with health and social care researchers;
  • Consult with researchers regarding the design, conduct and reporting of health and social care related studies;
  • Advise researchers seeking research funding by participating in the multi-disciplinary Research Design Advisory Panels;
  • Provide consultancy locally and at sites, including NHS Trusts, across the South Central Strategic Health Authority;
  • Identify sources of research funding;
  • Signpost researchers to appropriate advice/support outside of RDSSC;
  • Facilitate partnerships to support researchers and improve the effectiveness of RDSSC.
2. Training:
  • To develop resources to assist in health services research design.
  • To contribute to the design, delivery and assessment of seminars, master classes and courses provided by the RDS SC;
5. Other Duties:
  • Support links between the RDS SC co-ordinating centre, it’s partners at other RDS SC sites and stakeholders;
  • Assist the RDS SC team in organising events and delivering promotional activities such as “road-shows”;
  • Assist the Deputy Director with PPI and qualitative research working groups and activities as appropriate
  • Keep records of activities using the RDS SC database
  • To contribute to the development of the RDS SC Standard Operating Procedures
  • To contribute to the RDS SC reputation for excellence by providing a consistently high standard of work.
/ % Time
75%
15%
10%
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)
  • Responsible to the Deputy Director of the RDS SC
  • To participate in the design of research studies as a member of the Research Design Advisory Panel
  • Liaise with Research Advisors within the three RDSSC sites to provide support for health services research design
  • Support researchers across SHA in carrying out literature reviews to inform research grant proposals
  • Promote the RDS SC and its activities to external bodies and research, for example, through road shows.
  • Foster strong links with individual, groups and institutions that may assist researchers supported by RDSSC.

Special Requirements:
The post may involve non standard hours of work from time to time, in order to complete tasks to short deadlines. The post holder must be willing to travel to other sites of the RDS SC and to other organisations and groups, as specified by the RDS SC Director.
Person Specification
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
BSc/MSc in health related discipline with research component
PhD in applied health research, with use of qualitative research methodology
Sound knowledge of health services research with relevant work experience
Experience of completing systematic reviews and/or qualitative evidence syntheses settings
Experience of planning and carrying out qualitative research in health or social care
Experience of planning and delivering training and education to health care staff
Experience in the writing of grant proposals
Publication in peer reviewed journals
Familiar with critical appraisal and the application of evidence in practice
Familiar with NIHR funding streams
Experience of working in the NHS / X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / Application and interview
Planning and Organising:
Excellent time management skills to handle a varied workload and work to tight deadlines
Proven project management skills
Ability to work with minimum supervision
Excellent organisational and administrative skills
Ability to keep records of advice and support provided
The ability to formulate own work objectives, self monitor and identify own continuing professional development needs
Excellent written and oral communication skills / X
X
X
X
X / X
X / Application and interview
Problem Solving and Initiative:
Ability to contribute to research proposals, reports and papers to a tight deadline
Take initiative in building good communication links with colleagues and researchers
Ability to assess the causes of problems and to identify innovative ways to find solutions
Ability to develop appropriatedesign and analytical approaches to address health service research questions
Ability to understand different ways of working among RDSSC partners and to build effective systems to ensure smooth operation of RDSSC.
Devise systematic and effective strategies for locating, interrogating and synthesising research literature / X
X
X
X
X / X / Application and interview
Management and Teamwork:
Advance planning for research proposals
Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team
Ability to proactively work with RDSSC team members to help build a strong and cohesive RDSSC.
Ability to write, manage and monitor the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures / X
X
X / X / Application and interview
Communicating and Influencing:
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.
Ability to inspire confidence and influence team members and researchers including senior clinicians and academics
Experience of giving presentations
Ability to communicate health services research and literature reviewing concepts effectively to non-experts
Good inter-personal skills
Ability to manage e-mail efficiently / X
X
X
X
X
X / Application and interview
Other Skills and Behaviours:
Confident and at ease communicating with a range of people, from patients and members of the public to academics and senior clinicians
Flexibility to learn new skills
General IT literacy skills
Experience of committee membership / X
X
X / X / Application and interview
Special Requirements:
The post may involve non standard hours of work from time to time, in order to complete tasks to short deadlines.
Enthusiasm and willingness to attend local, national and international conferences (in discussion with RDS SC Director)
The post holder must be willing to travel to other sites of the RDS SC and to other organisations and groups, as specified by the RDS SC Director. A disabled person may utilise other means of transport, if you do not own a car. / X
X
X / Application and interview

Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification

Please tick one of the following statements:

This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU (if ticked, no further information needs to be supplied) / ✓
This post has some hazards other than routine office e.g. more than use of VDU

Please tick all those that apply, and put N/A if not applicable

Environmental Exposures / O* / F / C
Outside work N/A
Extremes of temperature (eg fridge/ furnace) N/A
Potential for exposure to body fluids N/A
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) N/A
Exposure to hazardous substances (eg solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify N/A
Frequent hand washing N/A
Ionising radiation. N/A
Equipment/Tools/Machines used
Food Handling N/A
Driving university vehicles(e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV) N/A
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) N/A
Vibrating tools ( e.g. strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) N/A
Physical Abilities
Load manual handling. N/A
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping N/A
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing N/A
Repetitive Lifting N/A
Standing for prolonged periods N/A
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders N/A
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting) N/A
Gross motor grips N/A
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height N/A
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height N/A
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height N/A
Psychosocial Issues
Face to face contact with public N/A
Lone working N/A
Shift work/night work/on call duties N/A

O – Occasionally (up to 1/3 of time); F – Frequently (up to 2/3 of time); C – Constantly (more than 2/3 of time) ## denotes to HR the need for a full PEHQ to be sent to all applicants for this position.

FOR SCHOOL/SERVICE USE ONLY / ResourceLink Post Number
Which post does this job report to / RDS Deputy Director
Is this post a Line Manager? / Yes / No / X
If yes, which posts directly report into it? / ResourceLink Post Number
Post 1
Post 2
Post 3
Post 4
Post 5
Post 6
Post 7
Post 8
Please add additional rows as required

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