Job Description and Person Specification Last updated: <date> JOB DESCRIPTION Post title: Academic Unit/Service: Faculty: Research Fellow Primary Care & Population Sciences Medicine Career Pathway: Education, Research and Enterprise (ERE) Level: 4 *ERE category: Posts responsible to: Research pathway Chief Investigator REDUCE programme (Professor of Primary Care, PCPS) Posts responsible for: Post base: Office-based/Non Office-based (see job hazard analysis) Job purpose This post is funded through a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grant for Applied Research (PGfAR) led by the Chief Investigator Professor Tony Kendrick, entitled REviewing long term anti- Depressant Use by Careful monitoring in Everyday practice (the REDUCE programme). It is offered at fulltime equivalent for nine months in the first instance, with the possibility of extending it to 12 months. It is a collaborative programme between the Universities of Southampton, Liverpool, York, Hull, and UCL, together with staff at the Solent NHS Trust involved in the administration, monitoring, and hosting of the grant. The purpose of this post is to carry out qualitative research with patients taking long-term antidepressants, or withdrawing from antidepressants, and general practitioners (GPs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and primary care mental health workers (PCMHWs) involved in supervising patient withdrawal, in general practices in the Southampton area. The post holder will be expected to function largely autonomously, and take responsibility for carrying out practice visits, individual patient interviews, and focus groups with clinical staff, with the support of the Chief Investigator, the Programme Manager, and the rest of the study team. The post holder will be expected to follow research protocols and study procedures, liaise effectively with research collaborators, and assist with any other research-related tasks that may be agreed with the Chief Investigator. Key accountabilities/primary responsibilities % Time 1. To conduct liaison visits to the practices regularly throughout the course of the study 20 % 2. To provide assistance to participating practices to search their electronic medical records to identify patients meeting the study inclusion and exclusion criteria. 3. To carry out qualitative interviews with patients, and focus groups with practitioners, and contribute to the analysis of those interviews. 20 % 50 %
Key accountabilities/primary responsibilities % Time 4. To report regularly on progress to the study group. 5 % 5. To assist the Chief Investigator, Programme Manager, and study team in writing reports on the research, presentations for dissemination, and papers for publication. 5 % Internal and external relationships Internal: Working closely with the study team including academic GP, sociology, statistical, psychology, health economics, and administrative colleagues. External: Working with NHS practices, patients with depression, patient representatives, and study group members in Liverpool, London, Hull and York. Special Requirements To be able to travel to carry out practice visits and patient interviews and clinical staff focus groups. Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given. Fellow 2
PERSON SPECIFICATION Criteria Essential Desirable How to be assessed Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience: PhD or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in a health related area C.V. C.V. Experience of qualitative research including data collection through individual interviews, and analysing qualitative data Experience of running focus groups view Experience of working in or with NHS general practices Experience of working in a mentalhealth related area, and knowledge of mental health issues view view Planning and Organising: Able to organise own research activities efficiently, independently and to a high standard Reference s Attention to detail in following gold standard research procedures, and in the general day-to-day coordination of research Able to efficiently and timely complete research-related projects. Reference s Fellow 3
Problem Solving and Initiative: Able to identify relevant theoretical and methodological issues, and use in-depth knowledge and initiative to address them Able to develop understanding of complex problems within applied health care settings Management and Teamwork: Work effectively in a team understanding the strengths and weaknesses of others to help teamwork development Communicating and Influencing: Excellent written, oral and communication skills and be able to pay meticulous attention to detail in preparing assessment materials Able to explain the research procedures clearly to patients and clinical staff Able to help write up research results for publication in leading peerviewed journals / Able to help present research results at group meetings and conferences / Fellow 4
Other Skills and Behaviours: Special Requirements: Able to critically analyse own research Understanding of relevant Health & Safety and ethical issues and evidence of high level of professionalism at all times. / Interview /reference s Fellow 5
JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS Is this an office-based post? Yes No If this post is an office-based job with routine office hazards (eg: use of VDU), no further information needs to be supplied. Do not complete the section below. If this post is not office-based or has some hazards other than routine office (eg: more than use of VDU) please complete the analysis below. Hiring managers are asked to complete this section as accurately as possible to ensure the safety of the post-holder. ## - HR will send a full PEHQ to all applicants for this position. Please note, if full health clearance is required for a role, this will apply to all individuals, including existing members of staff. ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES Occasionally (<30% of time) Frequently (30-60% of time) Constantly (> 60% of time) Outside work Extremes of temperature (eg: fridge/ furnace) ## Potential for exposure to body fluids ## Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) ## Exposure to hazardous substances (eg: solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify below: Frequent hand washing Ionising radiation EQUIPMENT/TOOLS/MACHINES USED ## Food handling ## Driving university vehicles(eg: car/van/lgv/pcv) ## Use of latex gloves (prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) ## Vibrating tools (eg: strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) PHYSICAL ABILITIES Load manual handling Repetitive crouching/kneeling/stooping Repetitive pulling/pushing Repetitive lifting Standing for prolonged periods Repetitive climbing (ie: steps, stools, ladders, stairs) Fine motor grips (eg: pipetting) Gross motor grips Repetitive reaching below shoulder height Repetitive reaching at shoulder height Repetitive reaching above shoulder height PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES Face to face contact with public Lone working ## Shift work/night work/on call duties Fellow 6