Research Associate in Multimorbidity and Mental Health

Job Summary

The post is funded by CW+, the Charity affiliated with Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust (CWFT) Hospital, to support evaluation of an innovative acute model of care, the Best for You (BFU) programme, designed to provide a rapid, personalised response for young people (YP) aged 8-18, presenting at the paediatric emergency department of CWFT in mental health crisis. The new service aims to:

• Ensure patients are assessed and transferred into the appropriate care setting as quickly and seamlessly as possible.
• Ensure patients are supported long-term and linked with relevant community organisations and assets to support recovery.
• Deliver an evidence-based model designed for dissemination and adoption across the NHS.

Alongside the service there will be an evaluation of its effectiveness, for which the candidate will, in part, be responsible. The objective of the proposed evaluation is, using mixed methods, to analyse the implementation and impact of the new programme and understand the views of those who both deliver and receive services, with the aim of developing a generalisable model for scale up in similar NHS settings.

Duties and responsibilities

• You will be responsible for co-designing and implementing a programme of work around programme evaluation, analysing qualitative and quantitative data from young people with lived experience of acute mental health crises, their parents/carers and the clinicians caring for them.
• You will be working with the PI and multimorbidity and mental health team in designing and carrying out data analysis, writing up of results of these analysis for publication in peer reviewed journals and contributing to other forms of dissemination, such as conference presentation and research seminars.

Essential requirements

• You will hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a healthcare-related or other relevant field.
• You will have PhD-level experience of research involving qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and in healthcare service evaluation, and a strong interest in the care of young people, particularly with respect to mental health.
• Database management skills

Further Information

This position is full time, fixed term (1^st August 2024 to 28^th February 2026), and is based at our White City Campus. The opportunity for hybrid working can be discussed at interview.

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £41,694 - £44,888 per annum.

Due to funding constraints for this role, we can offer salary range only at £41,694 -£46,593. However, you will be eligible for incremental raises as per our standard pay scale for this grade.

As this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, at the appropriate level, will be required for the successful candidate. Further information about the DBS disclosure process can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs/ or by telephoning 03000 200 190. You may also wish to view the College’s DBS webpage for policy statements on the Recruitment and Employment of Ex-Offenders and the Secure Storage, Use, Retention & Disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information.

Should you require any further details on the role please contact: Benedict Hayhoe (b.hayhoe@imperial.ac.uk )

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