Job Description

Job description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and resourceful graduate to assist our research programme manager to run an exciting new five-year research programme: Improving Communication with Adults with Learning Disabilities (ICALD).

Based at Evelina London Children\'s Hospital and sponsored by South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLAM) in collaboration with KCL, ICALD is a multi-disciplinary and cross institution programme of research bringing together psychology, psychiatry, speech and language therapy, economics, statistics and social sciences. We want to learn from individuals with learning disabilities, their families and from staff working in social care what they would find helpful in improving the use of communication strategies for people with very little or no speech in the context of their home. This information will help us to improve staff training and provide the right support after the training. All stakeholders such as people with learning disabilities, families, care staff and professionals providing training and therapy will be actively involved in ICALD from start to finish.

The post-holder will provide day-to-day support for the ICALD programme across the 5 inter-related work packages alongside the chief investigator and the programme manager to ensure that all of the components of the study are delivered efficiently. They will need the ability to manage competing priorities to strict deadlines. Adults with Learning disability will be actively involved in ICALD at all stages of the study. The successful applicant must be willing to work effectively in a collaborative environment.

The post-holder will be employed by the Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King\'s College London and will report to the ICALD Project Manager.

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract until 31st May 2028.

Key responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day support to the programme manager across the 5 work packages. The post-holder will liaise closely with staff at KCL to ensure smooth running of the project.
• Support the Programme Manager, Research Associates and Investigators in the delivery of all work packages.
• Work closely with the research team on to ensure that liaison with collaborating sites is effective and timely.
• With the direction of the programme manager to ensure that administrative tasks such as ordering materials, arranging meetings are well-organized.
• Deputising for the programme manager to ensure that all study participants get a rapid response to queries addressed to the research team
• Assist with participant recruitment to ensure timely recruitment to targets.
• Where required to support research staff to collect data from participants through e.g., interviews, administration of online questionnaires and app usage data.
• To assist the programme manager in providing regular updates to the Co-Investigators and Programme Committees.
• Ensure data confidentiality, work within the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and other regulatory bodies.
• Undertake any training courses necessary to assist in delivery of the work package objectives.
• Assist in writing up findings for funder reports and publication.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria * Undergraduate (or conversion) degree in psychology, health data science, health-related or other relevant subject.

• An understanding of the challenges facing adults with Learning Disability (and possibly autism) living in a range of residential contexts
• Rigour and accuracy in managing and analysing data.
• Knowledge of guidance relating to data confidentiality / security in research.
• Demonstrated interest in at least one of the following areas: qualitative thematic analysis; analysis of derived from mixed methods research; development and/or validation of novel self-reports measures.
• Experience of working on a project delivered on time and to target.
• Evidence of research-related computing skills: word processing, Endnote, packages to support data analysis.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a larger team.
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality.

Desirable criteria * Postgraduate qualification in psychology, health data science, health-related or other relevant subject - or equivalent experience

• Interest in helping to develop a novel integration of qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
• Expertise in working with individuals and families of people with learning disabilities.

Further information

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.

Interviews will be via video link. Prior to the interview candidates will be sent a brief task using an excel spreadsheet. The task should be completed within a 30 minute period and returned to the team via email. Additional instructions will be provided with the invitation for interview.

Times Higher Education