Job overview

This post provides a unique opportunity for someone resident in the UK to work alongside world leaders in spinal cord injury research and contribute to the first international study looking at rehabilitation outcome and length of inpatient admission. We are seeking someone with strong qualitative and quantitative research knowledge, project management and supervision skills who can produce high-quality publications from this research.

The ideal candidate will have a doctoral qualification in Clinical or Health Psychology, or clinically relevant PhD, have experience of conducting independent mixed methods research, including coding and analysing complex data sets. 

The postholder will support the NSIC Psychology Team to deliver research funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The grant is led by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago. Other psychology collaborators work in Australia, Canada, Netherlands, sites in the USA, alongside the NSIC. The total grant is $4.2 million. The NSIC is partnering with 8 spinal cord injury centres in England, who are Patient Identification Centres, user charities and professional groups for recruitment. The contract is fixed term as the grant is re-awarded annually, the overall project is scheduled to run until September 2028. The NSIC Psychology Team have several other research partnerships and current grant applications being reviewed, further hours may become available in due course

Main duties of the job

The project commenced 18 months ago, and the current post holder is relocating abroad and is unable to continue.  Phase one of the project involved people with spinal cord injury, their care partners and rehabilitation professionals, with representation being sought from across the 8 NHS England commissioned spinal cord injury centres.

The post holder will be involved with focus group analysis and survey development, recruitment, delivery, and analysis. Specifically, this will involve the post holder coding alongside the clinical research assistant and international partners, the phase one focus group discussion, which will inform the survey. The second phase will involve development and piloting of the survey with people with spinal cord injury.  The third phase will involve recruiting 500 people who have experienced SCIC based rehabilitation from one of the centres in England and survey their experience and preparedness for community transition and life with injury.

The postholder will be working under the supervision of Dr Jane Duff, Head of the NSIC Psychology Service, Principal Investigator for the grant, and working alongside / provide clinical supervision alongside Dr Duff to a Clinical Research Assistant.

The post holder will need some flexibility as there will be occasional evening work due to the international nature of this research, such time can be taken back flexibly.  The postholder will need to be able to work Tuesday or Wednesdays and be resident in the UK.

Working for our organisation

Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - https://bit.ly/3DNEQfD

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
•    As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
•    We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.  
•    We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
 
Why work for us?
•    We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
•    As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
•    Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve. 
 
What do we stand for?
•    Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
•    Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
•    Our CARE values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Proposed interview date: April 2025