Job description
The post-holder will join a dynamic forward-thinking CAMHS CSU that contributes to strategic developments and innovation across Greater Manchester and beyond. The Assistant Psychologist in Research will support the delivery of the “BAY: Behavioural Activation for Young people with depression in specialist child and adolescent mental health services” research study (NIHR132808). The study aims to examine the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of an intervention called Behavioural Activation (BA) and treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU + psychoeducation (PE) in newly referred depressed adolescents in specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Training will be provided covering all trial activities including the trial protocol, screening and recruitment, trial database data entry, participant randomisation and data collection procedures.
You will be expected to work independently according to an agreed plan and under supervision within the Trust’s R&D framework and with the Principal Investigator for the study.
Promoting the trial to staff and service users
Managing enquires from potential recruits and/or their advocates
Developing and maintaining good links and relationships with clinicians and admin staff working in the CAMHS team where referrals are received.
Using judgement to review the patient notes of newly accepted referrals that come into the service for eligibility into the BAY trial.
Posting or emailing the Participant Information Packs (which include an expression of interest form, the relevant Participant Information Sheets, The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire and a copy of the consent/assent forms) to potentially eligible patients.
Arranging appointments to take consent and complete baseline measures with patients. Following this, updating the trial database to confirm consent.
Liaise in a sensitive manner with participants and signpost/liaise with clinicians/PI according to the trial protocol, if participants are struggling with their mental health
Liaise with appropriate multi-disciplinary team members regarding recruitment and support of research participants.
Ensure all trial activities are undertaken in adherence with the study protocol.
Supporting the reduction of attrition by carrying out telephone calls to chase-up missing outcome measure data.
Collecting data from patients notes regarding the treatment as usual they have received during the trial
Undertake qualitative interviews with parents and the young person/child
Inputting of data
MFT is England’s largest NHS Trust with a turnover of £2.5bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We’re creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.
Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you’ll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.
We’ve also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our brand-new Electronic Patient Record system which we’ve launched in September 2022.
We’re proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What’s more, we’re excited to be embarking on our new Green Plan which will set out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.
At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading. So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the ‘Candidate Essentials Guide’that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how ‘we care for you as you care for others’. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the ‘NHS England’ website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team [email protected].
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!