Research Assistant

The closing date is 23rd Nov 2025

Anticipated Interview date(s) TBC

Job summary

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton, is seeking to appoint a Research Assistant to contribute to the Mental Health Mission, with a focus on treatment-resistant affective disorders, particularly treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

This role is governed by the employment terms and conditions of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, with honorary affiliation to the University of Southampton.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the setup, delivery, and closure of research studies within the Mental Health Mission cohort. Responsibilities will include engaging with clinical teams, recruiting study participants, administering research measures, and managing associated documentation and study procedures.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

The post holder will contribute to the delivery of the Mental Health Mission objectives as part of a multidisciplinary team, with a focus on treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Core responsibilities include:

• Supporting the development and implementation of an enhanced access research clinic.
• Providing administrative support for clinic setup and integration with local mental health services.
• Engaging with local Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Partners (PPIEP) to inform the clinic's development and operations.
• Assisting in the expansion of clinic activity through funded clinical roles and the promotion of best practices in patient identification and recruitment.
• Enhancing recruitment to both industry-sponsored and academic TRD research studies.
• Contributing to the development of specialist expertise in TRD research.
• Facilitating access to innovative treatments for mood disorders.
• Supporting the dissemination of clinical and research expertise in the management of mood disorders.

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a newly established organisation, bringing together expertise from across mental health, learning disabilities, community, and physical health services. We are dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality, and accessible care to the diverse communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

With over 13,000 dedicated staff working across more than 300 sites, we place patients and staff at the centre of everything we do. Our goal is to create an integrated healthcare system that improves accessibility and ensures more consistent care for patients. By working together, we aim to improve patient outcomes, drive innovation, and meet the unique needs of the populations we serve.

Our Trust unites services from Southern Health, Solent NHS Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trusts community and mental health teams, as well as Hampshire CAMHS, originally part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This transformation enables us to deliver more seamless care across the region, ensuring that patients receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We are deeply committed to our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, and offer outstanding opportunities for career development, training, and collaborative working.

Job description

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Educated to a degree standard or equivalent experience

Experience
Essential

• Research experience
• Experience working in an NHS setting
• Experience of administrative work including data management.
• Ability to make effective use of standard office computer systems including word-processing and spreadsheets.

For help with your application, contact:

Professor David Baldwin

Pay scheme

Agenda for Change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£ to £ Yearly

Contract

Fixed Term

Duration

48 Month(s)

Working pattern

Full-Time

Reference number

348-COR-9310

Job locations

College Keep

4-12 Terminus Terrace

Southampton

Hampshire

SO14 3DT

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