Research Assistant

Thank you for expressing your interest in the above post, please find the following enclosures:

·  Advert

·  Job Description

·  Person Specification

Internal Candidates

Current State Hospital employees should click on the following link:

https://www.jobs.nhsscotland.com/OA_HTML/AppsLocalLogin.jsp

For details of your eESS login please contact HR on 01555 842084 or

The Vacancy Name / Number is Research Assistant (IRC11482)

If you require assistance with your application please contact HR on 01555 842084.

Human Resources

The State Hospital

Carstairs

Lanark

ML11 8RP

Research Assistant
Salary: / AFC Band 5 £22,128 - £28,746 plus £1,178 High Secure Environment Allowance per annum.
Hours:
Duration: / 0.6 wte – 22.5 Hours per week (Secondment from existing role)
Fixed Term – 12 months
Post details: / The State Hospital has invested considerable time and resource in the development of the Forensic Network Inpatient Database, with the aim of the database providing a resource for research within Scottish forensic services for many years to come. The database has been populated with the data collected within the 2013 FN inpatient census, but subsequent annual censuses have only collected info on patient whereabouts. Subsequently there remains an outstanding task of collecting and collating the data for those patients within the State Hospital who have been admitted to forensic inpatient services since November 26th 2013, and also providing data updates for those patients with a full dataset in place. In addition to providing support in data collection the successful candidate would also be encouraged and supported to utilise some of the data that they have contributed towards the collection of, to conduct a study within one of the priority areas as outlined within the research strategy.
Qualifications/
Experience: / Although direct research knowledge and experience is not essential it is desirable. Applicants will require a degree of clinical knowledge to be able to accurately collate and enter the data required within the database. You must have the ability to work on your own initiative and prioritise your workload.
Interested? / If you are interested in this positionyou mustsubmit a statement to support your consideration for the postvia the eESS website link: https://www.jobs.nhsscotland.com/OA_HTML/AppsLocalLogin.jsp
For details of your eESS login for the above link please contact Angela Slaven on 01555 842084 or .
If you require assistance with your application please contact HR on 01555 842084.
For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Jamie Pitcairn, Research and Development Manager on Ext 4355.
Closing
Date: / The closing date for applications is Friday 29th September 2017
**Please note if you do not hear from us within 4 weeks from the closing date your application has been unsuccessful**
****This post is Internal only to State Hospital Staff****
JOB DESCRIPTION

1.  JOB IDENTIFICATION

Job Title: Research Assistant
Responsible to: Research and Development Manager
Department(s): Research and Development
Directorate: Clinical Effectiveness
No of Job Holders: 1
Last Update (08/09/2017):

2.  SALARY

Salary: AFC Band 5 £22,128 - £28,746 plus £1,178 High Secure Environment Allowance per annum. Unsociable hours enhancement for shift work will not be supported. All off site travel expenses will be provided.
Hours: 0.6 wte – 22.5 Hours per week (Secondment from existing role)
Duration: Fixed Term – 12 months

3. JOB PURPOSE

The State Hospital has invested considerable time and resource in the development of the Forensic Network Inpatient Database, with the aim of the database providing a resource for research within Scottish forensic services for many years to come. The database has been populated with the data collected within the 2013 FN inpatient census, but subsequent annual censuses have only collected info on patient whereabouts. Subsequently there remains an outstanding task of collecting and collating the data for those patients within the State Hospital who have been admitted to forensic inpatient services since November 26th 2013, and also providing data updates for those patients with a full dataset in place.
In addition to providing support in data collection the successful candidate would also be encouraged to utilise some of the data that they have contributed towards the collection of, to conduct a study within one of the priority areas as outlined within the research strategy.
3. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
·  To complete catch up data collection and collation for those state hospital patients within the Forensic Network Inpatient database who have yet to have a full dataset collected.
·  To complete data updates for the existing 2013 Census patient group.
·  To support initial role out of the Database to other FN inpatient sites in line with data catch up model adopted at the State Hospital. This will entail visiting the FN sites, liaising with the local site staff and supporting data collection at those sites.
·  To utilise data collected to support a research study within one of the priority areas noted within the Research Strategy, or one of the key programmes of research to be developed as outlined below.

4. PLANNING, ORGANISATION AND SUPERVISION

The post holder’s day-to-day work will be agreed with the Research and Development Manager, Jamie Pitcairn. The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that all their work is carried out in a timely fashion and according to documented procedures and guidelines.
Line management and supervision for the RA role will be provided by the R&D Manager. Attendance at meetings for communication, planning and supervision purposes will be required.
5. ATTAINMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Essential / Desirable
Educated to degree level in a relevant subject (e.g. nursing or psychology) or with equivalent work experience. / *
Relevant postgraduate qualification. / *
Skills and abilities
Proven communication skills / *
Ability to understand and interpret existing clinical information for appropriate inclusion on the database / *
Numerate and with good IT skills, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, email and Internet / *
Initiative and ability to work independently and in a team / *
Ability to work in the discipline of a research environment / *
Ability to liaise effectively with senior medical practitioners / *
Attention to detail / *
Ability to learn quickly / *
Prior experience
Experience of work in a clinical setting / *
Experience of working with people with psychiatric illness / *
6. SYSTEMS
The post holder will be required to work with the following systems and software:
·  The Forensic Network Inpatient Database is a bespoke secure online database system and the research assistant will be expected to work directly collating data onto the system. Training on the way in which the system operates will be provided.
·  The research assistant will be required to utilise the existing RiO system as well as patient notes to obtain the data necessary for input onto the database system.
·  The use of the SPSS statistical package is likely to be required in order to support any study that utilises the data being collated, however support will be provided by the R&D Manager as required.
7. KEY CONTACTS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Key contacts for the role will include:
·  R&D Manager
·  FN Manager and office team
·  State Hospital Medical Records dept
·  Site leads and management teams of additional FN pilot sites
8. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
A separate job description will need to be signed off by the jobholder to whom the job description applies.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Head of Department Signature: / Date:
Date:
STATE HOSPITALS BOARD for SCOTLAND
PERSON SPECIFICATION: Research Assistant
Attribute / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications / ·  Educated to degree level in a relevant subject (e.g. nursing or psychology) or with equivalent work experience. / ·  Relevant postgraduate qualification.
Experience / ·  Experience of work in a clinical forensic setting.
·  Experience of working with people with psychiatric illness. / ·  Experience of working with clinical data
Skills and Abilities / ·  Proven communication skills.
·  Numerate and with good IT skills, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets.
·  Ability to work in the discipline of a research environment.
·  Initiative and ability to work independently and in a team. / ·  Ability to liaise effectively with FN site management, medical practitioners and support staff.
·  Ability to drive with access to a car.
Knowledge / ·  Ability to understand and interpret existing clinical information for appropriate inclusion on the database.
Personal Qualities / ·  Attention to detail.
·  Ability to learn quickly.