Requisition ID: 25945
Location:
Newcastle, GB
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Part Time
Posted Date: 2 Sep 2023
Salary:
Research Assistant: £31,396 to £32,982, pro rata
Research Associate: £33,966 to £39,347, pro rata
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Closing Date: 29 September 2023
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant or Associate with strong research skills in applied health and care research and public engagement to join our newly-established NIHR Patient Safety Research Collaborative (PSRC), based in our School of Pharmacy.
You will work with the Leads of Public Engagement and Involvement/Engagement (PPIE) and the Director to help develop and deliver an evidence-based PPIE strategy. You will be expected to conduct high quality applied research on the principles, processes and outcomes of public involvement and help build capacity and capability in this field.
Key activities will include:
• Helping to develop and deliver a PPIE strategy for NIHR Newcastle PSRC.
• Conducting research on Public Involvement including the theory, best practice, process and outcome evaluation of public involvement/engagement.
• Building capacity and expertise NIHR Newcastle PSRC and its research themes.
• Managing, monitoring, reporting and evaluating activities and associated learning, including capturing impact case studies.
• Influencing policy and practice by collaborating with key stakeholders in the local and national health economy.
• Working collaboratively with other NIHR infrastructure PPI/E leads to support a coordinated PPIE approach.
• Working collaboratively with PSRC theme leads and researchers.
This post is 0.6 FTE, fixed term until the end of March 2028, aligned to NIHR funding.
For informal enquiries contact: Professor Sheena Ramsay (sheena.ramsay@newcaslte.ac.uk) or Olivia Grant (Olivia.grant@ncl.ac.uk).
For informal enquiries about the Newcastle PSRC contact: Professor Andy Husband PSRC Director on andy.husband@newcastle.ac.uk
Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here.
Find out more about our Research Institutes here.
For more information about the School of Pharmacy, please visit here.
Key Accountabilities
• support development and delivery of PPIE strategy for Newcastle PSRC, whilst applying high quality applied health and care research, knowledge mobilisation, implementation, and capacity building.
• Conduct high quality research on the theory, practice, processes and outcomes of public involvement/engagement.
• Utilising appropriate research methodologies including Applied Health research, Implementation science, co-production and knowledge mobilisation methodologies.
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research in public engagement, with advice and support from Theme leads and others where required.
• Contribute ideas, and identify opportunities for developing, enhancing and embedding PPIE across health and care system.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with external networks locally, regionally and nationally to build engagement with public/patient groups/organisations.
• Build strong collaborations and work closely with leads and researchers on public involvement/ engagement in other NIHR infrastructure regionally (e.g. VOICE, Creating Connections, Applied Research Collaboration, School for Public Health Research).
• Work with PSRC themes and researchers to build a culture of PPIE.
• Work with PPIE leads and PSRC management group to enable effective communication of PPIE activities and dissemination.
• Plan and deliver activities for building capacity and training in public involvement/engagement for public members and PSRC researchers.
• Undertake evaluation of PPIE strategy and activities as part of PSRC and co-produce evaluation with PPIE advisory group.
• Plan and manage reporting of PPIE activities and strategy for PSRC, including annual reporting requirements of PPIE for PSRC.
• Lead write-up of high quality research outputs from public involvement/engagement for peer-reviewed publications and other forms of dissemination to different audiences (e.g. lay people, policy makers, practitioners, voluntary sector).
• Present research findings at conferences and other meetings, workshops and events as appropriate.
• Contribute to grant applications and, in time, develop own research objectives and proposals for funding.
• Build and record network of public involvement/engagement groups.
• Attend meetings and other events appropriate to the projects and give progress reports as required.
• Attend meetings and other events appropriate to the projects and give progress reports as required.
• Contribute, where appropriate, to the supervision of undergraduate and post-graduate projects and dissertations and support other teaching activities (e.g. leading seminars).
• Contribute, where appropriate, to the supervision of Research Assistants
• Participate in the activities of the Population Health Science Institute and other University research groupings as and where relevant.
• Develop an awareness of University structures, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment.
The Person – Research Assistant
Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Essential)
• Clear knowledge and experience of Public Involvement and Community Engagement principles and practices.
• Experience of working in public engagement networks and/or with experts by experience in health and/or social care.
• Evidence of successfully working on an applied health research project.
• Evidence of relevant research methodological skills, such as implementation science, applied health research, co-production, systematic reviews, qualitative research, knowledge mobilisation.
• Evidence of ability to work independently and with others in a team.
• Experience of delivering public involvement and engagement events.
• Evidence of ability to co-author peer reviewed publications.
• The ability to communicate to a range of audiences using a range of presentation approaches.
• To have relevant IT skills.
Desirable
• Evidence of ability to co-author peer reviewed publications.
• Knowledge and experience of health and social care policy relating to public involvement and community engagement.
Attributes and Behaviour (Essential)
• The ability maintain confidentiality and to handle difficult or sensitive situations.
• Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrable ability to carry out research project work within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and producing research to an appropriate standard.
• Ability to work unsupervised and on own initiative.
• Ability to meet deadlines and to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively with others.
• Ability to use initiative, prioritise and show a creative approach to problem solving.
Qualifications (Essential)
• For appointment at Assistant level, a Masters degree in applied health research or a closely related field is required.
Desirable
• For appointment at Assistant level, working towards, or having submitted, a PhD would be a significant advantage.
The Person – Research Associate
Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Essential)
• Clear knowledge and experience of Public Involvement and Engagement principles and practices.
• Experience of developing and/or working with a range of public engagement networks and experts by experience in health and/or social care.
• Evidence of ability to lead peer reviewed publications.
• Evidence of successfully working across several projects at one time.
• Evidence of ability to work independently and co-operatively with others.
• Experience of successfully designing and delivering public involvement and engagement events.
• Experience of facilitating collaborative working across multi-professional teams
• The ability to communicate well to a wide range of audiences using a range of presentation approaches.
• To have relevant IT skills.
Desirable
• Chairing skills
• Project management experience
• Knowledge and experience of health and social care policy relating to public involvement and community engagement.
Attributes and Behaviour (Essential)
• Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrable ability to carry out research project work within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and producing research to an appropriate standard.
• Ability to work unsupervised and on own initiative.
• Ability to meet deadlines and to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to work flexibly and cooperatively with others and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to use initiative, prioritise and show a creative approach to problem solving.
Qualifications (Essential)
• For appointment at Associate level, a PhD in applied health research or a closely related field is required.
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 25945