School/Department: School of Medicine, Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
Recruitment Role Profile Form

Job Title:Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow

School/Department: School of Medicine, Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology

Salary:from £28,813 to £35,018 per annum in accordance with the EC Marie Skłodowska-Curie financial guidelines for this scheme

Job Family and Level:Research and Teaching Offscale

Contract Status:This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for a period of 36 months

Hours of Work:Full time – 36.25 per week

Location:Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham

Reporting to:Professor Martin Orrell

Purpose of the New Role:

The role is to conduct research and data analysis in Dementia field and to participate in a European network and training programme. As part of a research team, the successful candidate will plan and carry out research aimed at adapting Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) to a tablet system with people with Dementia, as well as undertaking appropriate training development.These efforts will be pursued in the framework of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network “INDUCT” (Interdisciplinary Network for Dementia Utilising Current Technology). The overarching research goal of the INDUCT project is to improve of the usability of technology in dementia care and by evaluating its effectiveness and implementation issues.Thisis an interdisciplinary, inter-sectorial, and international consortium involving 8 countries, 4 international organisations, key sectors and the right range of disciplines.It is expected that the role-holder will engage innetwork-wide training events, public engagement activities and international collaboration through secondments, at industrial or academic partner institutions within the UK and EU. INDUCT works with INTERDEMAcademy, a large international collaboration enabling training and development opportunities for all grades of researcher from PhD students to senior academics to develop capacity for future research in dementia care.

Background

Studies evaluating the effectiveness of specific contemporary technology have found most studies were small and uncontrolled but people with dementia could use simple electronic devices for memory support or improving performance in daily activities, and concluded that more trials were needed working on integrating and applying existing technologies in real life situations. More randomised controlled studies assessing interventions performed according to protocol are needed to give stronger statements about the effects of supportive Internet interventions and their most promising elements. This objective will be met drawing on the finding of a broad range of studiesincluding qualitative and process evaluations to identify key themes which may be associated with benefit for people with dementia and family carers, and for which outcomes.

Objectives

The objectives are to develop an interactive touch screen tablet version of CST which can be used for people with dementia and their carers, adapt it for Spain and the Netherlands, and evaluate the potential benefits. CST is abrief manualised evidence based psychological treatment for people with mild to moderate dementia which has been shown to improve cognition and quality of life. It is recommended by the 2011 (Alzheimer Disease International) World Alzheimer Report and is now in 25 countries and several languages. It is delivered with the aid of a training manual and a DVD in either a group or carer delivered format. Sessions aim to actively stimulate and engage people with dementia through game like activities, whilst providing an optimal learning environment and the social benefits of communication and interaction.

Expected Results

The ESR will develop methods for adapting CST to a computer interface and work with users and carers in Spain and the Netherlands to produce translated versions which are adapted to their cultural contexts. The evaluation will provide evidence for the effectiveness in terms of cognition and quality of life. The CST app can be produced and implemented in a variety of settings in the 3 countries lending itself to wider translations/adaptations across Europe and beyond.

Training

Two to 3 month secondments with (1) IDES a technology and service provision organisation in Spain to learn skills on computer interfaces and implementation in practice. (2) With the Alzheimer’s Disease International in Indonesia (where group CST is already practiced successfully) learning about how best to work with people with dementia and their carers across cultures to ensure that the application is easy to use and feasible.

Requirements

Applicants will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as defined by the requirements set out by the UK Border and Immigration Agency. Please visit for more information.

The successful applicant will be required to satisfy the eligibility criteria for Marie Curie Early Stage Researchers, i.e:

- Must not already hold a PhD;

- Must be within the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research career;

- Must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) within the UK for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior to their recruitment.

Main Responsibilities / % time per year
1. / To scope a research aimed at adapting Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) to a tablet system with people with Dementia in Spain, United Kingdom and Netherlands. / 10
2. / To develop an interactive touch screen tablet version of CST that can be used for people with dementia and their carers. / 20
3. / To adapt the new CST app in a variety of settings in the 3 countries (translations/adaptations) – Spain, United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and evaluate the potential benefits. / 10
5. / To implement the study, analyse the data, write it up a PhD thesis and disseminate. / 40
6. / To participate in INDUCT and University of Nottingham training and development opportunities, and contribute to the intellectual life of the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham. / 20

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications/ Education / Master’sdegree with a strong element of research methods, including quantitative methods. / Gerontology or health psychology background.
Skills/Training / Excellent command of the English language (IELTS 7.0, minimum of 6.0 in each subset)
Excellent communication (oral and written), and interpersonal skills.
Excellent IT skills ability to research effectively on the Internet and navigate new sites.
Ability to work without direct supervision; to manage own workload and meet deadlines.
Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities. / A methodical and accurate approach to work with attention to detail.
Ability to produce scientific outputs for publication in peer reviewed journals.
Ability to guide novices to engage with computers.
Experience / Extended contact with people with dementia in a professional or private capacity.
Experience of planning and executing projects within a predefined timescale.
Four years of Relevant research experience. / Experience of working in the field of dementia care.
Experience of working in a research setting.
Proven research aptitude and experience.
Familiarity with digital applications to tablet systems.
Personal Qualities / Commitment to a career in dementia research.
Enthusiasm for working cross-nationally and cross-institutionally.
Ability to work within an internationally diverse team and to attain with the requirements of the Funder.
Patience and persistence together with the ability to set and attain goals.
Willingness to travel to attend secondments, training and academic events. / Ability to speak at least one of the partner languages in addition to English.
Ability to engage people who are not confident with IT in using digital media.
Other / Willingness to adopt the Ethos and Principles of the School of Medicine.

Decision Making

i)taken independently by the role holder

Day to day activities of own research and training.

ii)taken in collaboration with others

Major decisions requiring collaborative approach to include PhD supervisor or Project ManagerDeborah Oliveira.

iii)referred to the appropriate line manager (please name) by the role holder

Major decisions requiring input from Project Manager Deborah Oliveira or Principal Investigator Prof Orrell.

Additional Information

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Miss Deborah Oliveira () or ProfessorMartin Orrell(). Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.

Applicants will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as defined by the requirements set out by the UK Border and Immigration Agency. Please visit for more information.

The successful applicant will be required to satisfy the eligibility criteria for Marie Curie Early Stage Researchers, i.e:

- Must not already hold a PhD;

- Must be within the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research career;

- Must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) within the UK for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior to their recruitment.

Further information is available at

/ The University of Nottingham strongly endorses Athena SWAN principles, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in furthering women’s careers. It is our mission to ensure equal opportunity, best working practices and fair policies for all.

Appendix 1

The University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham is a global-leading, research-intensive university with campuses in the UK, Malaysia and China. Our reputation for world-class research has yielded major scientific breakthroughs such as Nobel-winning MRI techniques, drug discovery, food technologies and engineering solutions for future economic, social and cultural progress.

Already ranked among the UK’s elite universities and global polls for research excellence, our reputation for world-class research has been further enhanced with the 2014 results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF). In addition to scoring highly in quality rankings covering major disciplines in science, engineering, the social sciences, medicine, business and the arts, it is Nottingham’s research power rankings which demonstrate the impressive volume of excellent research which is carried out. We are now ranked 8th in the UK on a measure of ‘research power’ which takes into account both the quality of research and the number of research-active staff who made REF returns, confirming Nottingham’s place in the top tier of the world’s elite higher education institutions. The main University campus is set beside a lake, in an extensive belt of woodland, parks and playing fields. The 330 acre University Park Campus is the focus of life for more than 32,000 students and houses the majority of the University’s academic schools and many of the central Services. The Jubilee campus is situated 2 miles away from the University Park, and provides extra capacity. The University Medical School is situated next to the University Park. Together with the University Hospital, it forms the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC).

University of Nottingham Medical School

Nottingham has a strong reputation for both clinical medicine and teaching. As one of the most popular medical schools in the country, it is able to select excellent students and produce and attract good junior doctors. The School of Medicine was formed following Faculty reconfiguration on August 1st 2013. The new School of Medicine comprises the Divisions of Cancer and Stem Cell Sciences, Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Clinical Neuroscience; Epidemiology and Public Health; Primary Care; Psychiatry and Applied Psychology; Rehabilitation and Ageing; Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine; Respiratory Medicine; Rheumatology, Orthopedics and Dermatology and the Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre. The School also hosts the Medical Education Centre, the Centre for Interprofessional Education and Learning, the Clinical Research Facility, the Clinical Skills Centre, NIHR design Service East Midlands, Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, PRIMIS and Medical Imaging Unit.The new School of Medicine brings together in one School staff undertaking research for the benefit of the health of patients. It includes all primary care and hospital-based medical and surgical disciplines, principally in the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital Nottingham Campuses, Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and also at the University’s main campus and at the King’s Meadow and Jubilee Campuses. Most of our School’s Senior Researchers and Teachers are also clinicians who dedicate 50% of their time to patient care within the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust & Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Trust. This close juxtaposition brings cutting-edge clinical care to our patients and clinical relevance to our research and teaching. We are closely integrated with our full time NHS clinical colleagues, many of whom are themselves leaders in research and teaching and who work closely with the University and this increases the mutual benefit from integration between the University and NHS.

Mission:Our mission is to improve human health and quality of life locally, nationally and internationally through outstanding education, research and patient care.

Priorities:

1. Teaching and learning, particularly training tomorrow’s doctors and teaching specialised postgraduates
2. Research and research training: We will perform and support the highest quality “big” research which impacts on human health and disease
3. Partnership with the NHS and other healthcare providers
4. Visibility and profile of the School of Medicine: We will do what we do better, and we will tell others about it

Ethos and principles:

1. Having people and patients at the heart of all we do: our teaching and learning, our research and our patient care
2. Contribution within the School ofMedicine and to society beyond our immediate roles; helpfulness and service
3. Openness and fairness, with particular emphasis on communication (both internal and external) and on equality and diversity among students and staff
4. Personal and group responsibility for all aspects of our work, within a culture of opportunity and reward

Our research spans 11 major themes, ranging from cancer to vascular medicine.We work closely with industry and the NHS. Our world-leading research ranges from basic and translational science through to clinical trials, epidemiology, and health services research. Our clear theme is improving human health, underpinning a vibrant postgraduate research training programme leading to PhD or DM. Many of our academics are clinicians, using their expertise to provide cutting edge specialised treatment to NHS patients; reflecting our ethos that patients are at the heart of all we do.In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework the four Units of Assessment included in the School of Medicine were among the six most improved in the whole University since RAE 2008: 82% of our research in 2014 was graded as world-leading or internationally excellent. Our research spans 11 major themes and ranges from basic and translational science through to clinical trials, epidemiology, and health services research. We work closely with industry and the NHS. Our research is underpinned by a strong postgraduate research training programme leading to PhD or DM. Our major research themes are in Cancer and Stem Cells; Child Health, Obstetrics & Gynecology; Clinical Neurosciences; Dermatology; Digestive Diseases; Epidemiology and Public Health; Mental Health; Musculoskeletal physiology and disease; Primary Care; Rehabilitation and Ageing; Respiratory Medicine; andRenal Medicine. The School of Medicine trains tomorrow’s doctors on a vibrant undergraduate medical course with a unique intercalated BMedSci, as well in a specialised graduate-entry programme built around clinical problem solving. We teach medicine and related disciplines at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. We have a dedicated clinical academic training programme and are committed to training PhD and doctoral research students and to supporting postdoctoral clinicians and scientists in their research. The School of Medicine holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics (STEMM). The award reflects our commitment to promoting equality and diversity.

Please see

Professor Tony Avery is Dean of the School of Medicine.

For further information, please see our website

Institute of Mental Health

The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) is the UK’s prime location for inter-disciplinary research in the mental health field. Directed by Professor Martin Orrell, the Institute is a partnership between two highly respected organisations, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham. Since our formation in 2006, the Institute has established a track record of success, with achievements in pioneering education provision and innovative service-facing research, taking the organisation from humble beginnings to the international stage in a short time. Our mission is to improve people’s lives through the use of ground-breaking research and pioneering educational activities. We are dedicated to improving the care and treatment of people who use our services through innovating, developing, exploiting and distributing knowledge about mental health.

Dementia Centre

The centre for Dementia is part of the School of Medicine and is located at the IMH. The centre’s mission is to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers, through high quality, useful research looking at how people with dementia spend their time and what helps them to get quality from life. Researchers within the centre will work hard to implement things that work, and will use their expertise to raise awareness in the public discourse about ageing and dementia.

INTERDEM

In1999, a multi-professional group of researchers from Europe (UK, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland) who had contributed to the international literature in early dementia, gathered at the University of Hull, UK, co-funded by the European Commission (file no: SOC97 201452 05F03). The1999meetingincluded others from the UK, Spain, and The Netherlands who had also received co-funded support for related research from the European Commission.Findings of pan-European psychosocial research in early dementia were pooled andINTERDEM, a network of research-practitioners / clinicians was thus established, with its first meeting hosted by INTRAS in Zamora, Spain in2000. The purpose of this clinical academic network was to promote research on early recognition and psychosocial intervention in dementia, to build capacity and to develop a better understanding of the experience of people with dementia and their families, throughout Europe. TheINTERDEM Academyis part of thePRIDE project(Promoting Independence in Dementia), funded by theNIHR/ ESRC(Ref ES/L001802/1WP5).This project aims to identify how social and lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk of developing dementia and disability. PRIDE’s workpackageWP5is to develop an INTERDEM Academy for the career development and capacity building of researchers in the area ofpsychosocial interventionsandtimely diagnosisin people with dementia, and supports the pathway to senior academic posts in the field.The INTERDEM Academy will enable fellowships forPhD studentsandpostdoc researchersallowing them to spend3-6 monthsin another PRIDE/ INTERDEM research centre; abiannual programmefor students/researchers of (1)seminarsto discuss their work with peers/academics, (2)expert workshops/masterclassesto develop ideas and methodology expertise, (3) academic writing forpapersandgrants.