Research Fellow

Evaluation of Buckinghamshire Community Mental Health System

Based in the Faculty of Health, the Peninsula Medical School is committed to three core aims: outstanding clinical education; strong social engagement; and world-class research which all feature strongly in the student learning experience. A key strength is a close relationship with NHS partners, with early clinical contact for all students. The South West offers healthcare and learning opportunities of exceptional quality; Derriford is one of Europe’s largest hospitals and the only trauma centre in Devon and Cornwall. A further strength is our scholarly approach to education, supported by the Division of Education Scholarship. The Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research is the core of research activity, providing a thriving community that conducts adventurous world-leading research with the explicit purpose of improving the health and care of the populations we serve.

The key purpose of this post is to support the delivery of a local evaluation based upon three data collection cycles, with local data collection involving different stakeholders and feedback to teams. You will actively promote opportunities for rapid learning amongst clinicians, service users, carers, community and voluntary sector partners and the wider NHS. This post is part of a national team (Universities of Plymouth and Sheffield and the McPin Foundation) working on an evaluation of the NHSE Community Mental Health Transformation Programme as key policy initiative.

You will primarily undertake qualitative research: workshops and focus groups, in depth interviews, observation work in meetings in clinical and community settings within Buckinghamshire. You will also support quantitative descriptive data analysis with supervision and support, and be involved in the publication and dissemination/utilisation of findings both locally and within a consortium of up to five pilot sites. An important aspect of this role will be working with researchers, employed in a similar research and evaluation role, in other implementer sites (Frimley and Somerset). The post will be working as embedded researchers in the Buckinghamshire health system and be part of the Community and Primary Care Research Group. It will include working from home and significant field work in Buckinghamshire. Researchers will have honorary contracts with key organisation(s) in Buckinghamshire.

You will exchange information with lead Investigators and work with the local site to devise and implement the local evaluation of the new model of community mental health care in Buckinghamshire. You will also provide, receive and present information about the project to team members/staff/peers within the collaboration and other external bodies as required. In this project, this will include building generalisable theory with researchers in other evaluation sites and the national collaboration team (based at the McPin Foundation, University of Sheffield and University of Plymouth).

You must hold an Undergraduate degree in psychology, health care or a related social science. You must also hold a Post-graduate qualification, or equivalent research/evaluation experience, in mental health, applied research or social science.

Experience of applied research/evaluation experience - data collection, data entry, data analysis, and writing up research. You must have management experience of qualitative data, and it is desirable that you also hold quantitative data management skills. Previous experience working within a multidisciplinary team, ideally with the health and social care settings is desired along with an ability to collaborate with a wide group of stakeholders.

Interviews will take place via Zoom on Friday 9 December and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted or not.

Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

**This role will require a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service Check**

This is a part-time position working 22.2 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for 17 months due to funding.

Flexible working options including job share will be considered.

We offer a competitive salary package and a generous pension and holiday scheme. We also offer a range of other benefits, including ongoing development opportunities.

The Faculty of Health holds a Silver Athena Swan Award and the University holds a Bronze Athena SWAN Award which recognises commitment to advancing women’s careers in STEMM academia.

The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our three strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute, the Sustainable Earth Institute, and the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research. As a member of our academic community, you’ll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Wor