Job Description and Person Specification (HR5) /
Job Description
School/Department: / Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre, School of Medicine
Post Title: / Research Fellow in Healthcare Modelling
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): / Senior/Principal Research Fellow
Posts Responsible for (and Level): / None
Job Purpose:
The Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre (SHTAC), which is based in the School of Medicine at the University of Southampton, is a leading centre for health technology assessment and health services research in the UK. It is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) centre ofexcellence for Health Technology Assessment and is contracted to the Department of Health to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of health technologies. SHTAC has expertise in health economics/modelling, evidence synthesis, information science and epidemiology.
With continuation of our contract with the Department of Health and expansion of our grant funded research, SHTAC is looking to strengthen its multi-disciplinary research team with this and other new posts. We are looking for a person to join a growing and cohesive multi-disciplinary research team working on economic evaluations through primary research and evidence synthesis/modelling to address major policy questions concerning the use of drugs, devices, diagnostics, procedures, public health programmes and other health interventions and on research on methodological developments more broadly.
% Time
1. To contribute to the production of SHTAC’s health technology assessment reports (TARs) which are commissioned by the Department of Health (DH) through National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme to support decision making and policy development for the NHS. The TARs inform organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisals (single- and multiple technology appraisals) and guidelines programmes, the DH’s Policy Research Programme, National Clinical Directors, the HTA programme and others.
- To be involved in all stages in the production of technology assessment reports (TARs) including: planning, co-ordinating and managing the research; scoping of the research question and developing the research protocol; identifying and liaising with experts in the topic area; literature searching; critical appraisal of the evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness (including independent assessment of submissions by others such as technology manufacturers); synthesis of evidence; economic modelling; and writing of reports and papers for submission to peer review journals. All stages of the process are project managed using guidelines and delivered to strict deadlines and the post holder will be involved in all stages as part of a team and be required to manage associated administrative tasks.
- To be involved in representing SHTAC at meetings with stakeholders involved in the production of the TAR (NICE, clinicians, patient groups and manufacturers), NICE appraisal committee meetings and other meetings as necessary.
- To input into updating and developing the guidelines that underpin SHTAC’s research programme. The SHTAC team have the responsibility for monitoring and updating different aspects of the methods used by the team in producing systematic reviews and economic evaluations and feeding into national and international discussions on methodology for HTA.
- To attend SHTAC and researcher meetings and to attend and contribute to SHTAC’s programme of training and professional development.
- To further strengthen and develop the health economics and statistics function within SHTAC to contribute to the development of the methodology for economic evaluation, and contribute to the development of further research opportunities incorporating health economic and statistical methods.
- To contribute to the development of the SHTAC Research Strategy, helping to develop the research programme and research infra-structure, including collaborating in the development of a programme of research funded through successful grant applications.
- To assist researchers from other disciplines to appropriately incorporate elements of economic analysis and statistical analysis into the conduct of HTA.
- To pursue peer review publications in key journals and present papers at national and international conferences to disseminate research findings.
- To work with colleagues to deliver a programme of learning materials on health economics (e.g. economic evaluation, critical appraisal of economic literature, assessment of outcomes, economic modelling) and/or statistics.
- Administrative responsibilities
- In addition to those associated with undertaking the tasks identified in (1) and (2) above, the post holder would need to attend internal meetings and to undertake administrative responsibilities that improve the work undertaken by SHTAC.
- Other duties/activities as required and appropriate.
20%
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)
- Internal: Professor, Principal Research Fellows, Senior Lecturers (clinical), Senior Research Fellows, Research Fellows, Information Scientists and administrators to support research work.
- External: Academics, clinicians, health service professionals, administrators, representatives of manufacturers, peer reviewers and editors involved in the programme of research.
Special Requirements:
Travel to meetings associated with the programme of research particularly that linked with the NICE appraisal programme.
Person Specification
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
- A Degree
- A Masters level qualification in a relevant subject (such as health economics/statistics/operational research) or relevant experience in modelling
X / Application
Application & Interview
- A PhD in health economics
- Knowledge of methodology of health technology assessment
Application & Interview
- Excellent IT knowledge/skills, including Word, Excel, Reference Manager, Powerpoint.
- Demonstrable skills and experience in spreadsheet modelling or producing economic evaluations
- Knowledge of, and/or demonstrable skills in
- Knowledge of, and/or demonstrable skills in evidence synthesis
- Knowledge of, and/or demonstrable skills in meta-analysis
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to write concisely and clearly on technical subjects and prepare reports quickly
- Presentation skills
- A proven track record in delivering research projects to deadline and quality
- Publications in peer reviewed journals
- Previous experience in an HTA unit
- Programme of personal research in HTA or health services research
- Knowledge of, and/or demonstrable skills in, medical statistics
Planning and Organising:
- Project management skills
Problem Solving and Initiative:
- Familiarity with critical appraisal and/or statistical analysis
Management and Teamwork:
- Personal time management skills
- Able to contribute to Academic Unit management and administrative processes
- Work effectively in a team, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of others to help teamwork development
X
X / Application & Interview
Application & Interview
Application & Interview
Communicating and Influencing:
- Ability to work with people from a wide variety of academic disciplines and other backgrounds
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Able to present research results at group meetings and conferences
- Able to write up research results for publication in leading peer-reviewed journals
X
X / Application & Interview
Application & Interview
Application & Interview
Other Skills and Behaviours:
- Understanding of relevant Health & Safety issues
- Positive attitude to colleagues
X / Application & Interview
Application & Interview
Special Requirements:
- Able to attend national and international conferences to present research results
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 / COutside work / NA
Extremes of temperature (eg fridge/ furnace) / NA
Potential for exposure to body fluids ## / NA
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) ## / NA
Exposure to hazardous substances (eg solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify …………………………………………………………. ## / NA
Frequent hand washing / NA
Ionising radiation. / NA
Equipment/Tools/Machines used / NA
Food Handling ## / NA
Driving university vehicles(e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV) ## / NA
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) ## / NA
Vibrating tools ( e.g. strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) ## / NA
Physical Abilities / NA
Load manual handling. / NA
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping / NA
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing / NA
Repetitive Lifting / NA
Standing for prolonged periods / NA
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders / NA
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting) / NA
Gross motor grips / NA
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height / NA
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height / NA
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height / NA
Psychosocial Issues / NA
Face to face contact with public / NA
Lone working / NA
Shift work/night work/on call duties / NA
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 NumberWhich post does this job report to
Is this post a Line Manager? / Yes / No
If yes, which posts directly report into it? / ResourceLink Post Number
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