Research Assistant (CCP-RCT team)

About us:

The Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre is an interdisciplinary research centre that focuses on how genetics (‘nature’) and the environment (‘nurture’) interact to affect psychiatric disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, and individual differences across development.

About the role:

The CCP- RCT study is a waiting list design randomised control trial set to test the effectiveness of the existing Cannabis Clinic for Psychosis intervention for cannabis use reduction/cessation in patients with psychotic disorder.

Consistent evidence has shown that continuing to use cannabis after the onset of a psychotic disorder results in increased rates of relapses, compulsory hospital admissions and poor functional outcome. The Cannabis Clinic for Psychosis (CCP) is the first, and still the only NHS service offering an intervention to reduce/stop cannabis use to adults suffering from psychotic disorders under the care of the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation Trust (SLaM). A recent paper reviewing the outcome measures of the first 46 patients who completed the CCP intervention indicated that 73% stop their cannabis use and the remaining 27% reduced their use from daily to once a week. The latter group as well as those who stopped their use experienced a significant improvement in their clinical symptoms and a remarkable improvement in functioning, returning to school or to work. Qualitative data also suggested that patients found the CCP intervention helpful and tailored to their needs.

Nevertheless, to robustly establish the effectiveness and safety of the CCP intervention the Maudsley Charity awarded us funding to complete a waiting list randomised control trial (RCT) of the CCP intervention. The waiting list RCT design allows everyone recruited into the RCT to eventually receive the intervention.

The Research Assistant position will be full time, for 3 years, and based at the SGDP department. The successful candidate main role  will involve : 1) preparing all the documents necessary for the CCP-RCT Ethics application and follow the process to completion, 2) lead on the CCP-RCT participants recruitment and 3) data collection. These tasks will involve working across KCL and SLaM in close collaboration with the CCP clinical team and with research participants who are suffering from psychosis as well as using cannabis, referred to the CCP.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to attend regular teaching events as well as training courses available at the IoPPN and across KCL.

The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Di Forti, the KCL CTU and the CCP clinical team.

About you:

Essential criteria

1. Ability to work independently showing initiative and proactive attitude when faced with challenges, demonstrating problem-solving skills.
2. Evidence of excellent organizational and time management skills.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
4. Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and work well within a team.
5. Experience in working with people suffering from psychosis
6. Experience with data analyses in data analysis in SPSS and/or R

Desirable criteria

1. Previous experience of preparing Ethics application for research project
2. Experience of working in RCT
3. Experience of assessment and recruitment of people suffering from psychosis
4. Experience of data management

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.

Please note that this is a full-time role and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 3 years.

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