Job Title

ELFT has long been recognised as a centre of excellence for mental and health care, innovation and improvement. So it is a very exciting time for you to come and work for us. Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.Job OverviewThe role of the Research Lead is to promote and undertake research within ELFS (East London Forensic Service), encourage and support research funding applications and to promote the Forensic Service in ELFT as a research active organisation. This includes joint working and joint funding submissions with academic partners.The post holder will be required to work closely with senior managers and professional leads within ELFS, so as to help ensure that patients receive continuously improving high quality care.The post holder will participate in contributing to the research strategy for ELFS and feeding this back into clinical practice with the intention of ensuring ELFT is able to provide the highest quality care for people.A key role will be working alongside potential researchers and in partnership with academic and commercial partners to increase research activity and recruitment numbers in line with the Trust strategy. Furthermore, the post holder will ensure that results of research carried out are more broadly are fed back to clinical services to ensure best practice. Ability to demonstrate value for money in terms of investment in best practice will be essential.The role has been advertised as a Non-Medical (Band 8b) and Medical (Consultant)Main duties of the jobTo head the Research Unit in the Forensic Service in ELFSTo ensure that the strategy for expansion of the East London Forensic Services researchportfolio at ELMHT is in agreement with clinical need, the overall strategy of the R&Ddepartment and Trust priorities and strategy.To develop links between the Research Unit and the Trust Research Department.To act as Principal Investigator (PI) on appropriate studies.To invite, host and liaise with clinical trial sponsors, academics and clinical researchorganisations to promote ELFS as the site of choice for clinical trials in our area ofspecialisation.To promote good collaborative working relationships with the appropriate academic partnersand expand these. The successful candidate will be encouraged to apply forhonorary contracts at the appropriate academic institution: the Trust will support thisapplication.To supervise the junior medical staff and other MDT members who will act as subresearchers, and to lead on their appraisal and recruitmentTo lead their own programme of research consistent with the broad aims of the ELFSServices.To act as a mentor and resource for information for more junior staff of whatever discipline.To be the budget holder for the Research Unit, managing the process of allocating resources to research projects as needed.Working for our organisationOur mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.Detailed Job Description And Main ResponsibilitiesEducational and TeachingTo provide occasional teaching and training to non-medical staff within ELFS and the wider organisation. In conjunction with the ELFS Clinical Director and R&D Director, to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for providing support to staff responsible for undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education for professional staff within the mental health service to provide appropriate research opportunities.Developing research capability within forensic services: promoting, coordinating and actively developing research activity within forensic servicesTo be the contact point for the R&D Directorate and the Local Clinical Research Network (LCRN) for studies which are in the NIHR approved portfolio and which may be suitable for opening within ELFS To work closely with the Clinical Director and directorate Clinical Leads to ensure a coherent research strategy is developed, consistent with legal requirements, national policy, accepted good practice and overall Trust objectives. To consolidate and establish links with academic partners to drive forward research in line with ELFS and the Trusts research strategies. To ensure that study outcomes and the impact on clinical practice are fed back to clinical teams, and are disseminated at local, national and international forums where appropriate and inform national guidelines where relevant. To support staff within ELFS in developing and carrying out research or service delivery projects. The expectation would be that at least two projects are completed each year To lead on the development of robust research governance within the ELFS research domain, linking to the R&D office and wider Trust forums as appropriate. To involve patients as researchers in programmes where appropriate To be the budget holder for the Research Unit. To help secure funding from external partners for research activitiesOrganisational EffectivenessWorking with the ELFS Clinical Director, the Clinical Leads and Senior Management Team to set, monitor and deliver the R&D element of the Service Line business plan. To lead on research activities in ELFS. To hold an overview of the research portfolio including outcomes of studies and publications and ensuring these are fed back to the R&D office To be responsible for the line management of the Research Assistants working in the Research Unit To ensure that all studies are run in accordance with the R&D metrics, for example recruitment to time and target and study set up To liaise in a timely fashion with the R&D office to ensure that research projects are appropriately funded and safe to carry out and that the infrastructure is in place to carry out the studies by robust feasibility and risk assessment carried out in conjunction with the R&D office. To contribute to the management of risks in accordance with the Trust’s Risk Management Policy. To foster involvement of service users and carers in the research and innovation agenda, including co-production of research projects. To contribute to the general responsibility to ensure that lessons are learned from reviews, monitoring data and other services, and that changes to practice are demonstrated and monitored with action plans being taken forward in a timely manner. To ensure that an agreed number of publications are accepted in peer reviewed journals annuallyStrategic Development and LeadershipTo lead the Research Unit To lead on the design, planning and implementing systems for evaluation, monitoring and development of the service, using professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. To monitor and review the effectiveness of the work undertaken in the Research Unit To contribute to strong clinical leadership by adopting a visionary, motivational and problem solving approach. To be responsive to the corporate needs of the organisation and participate in relevant Trust wide initiatives. To represent the Research Unit to external stakeholders. To disseminate research from work that the post-holder has been involved in a way that will benefit the services provided by the Trust.WorkforceThe post holder will report to the R&D director through regular supervision, and will also report to the R&D subcommittee at the quarterly meetings. There will be a number of studies that the post holder will be expected to take PI responsibility for. The post holder will be responsible for making decisions about the appropriateness of the study for the clinical services, by taking the lead on assessing the benefit of the study to the patients and to the Trust, the risk and feasibility of the study in conjunction with the R&D office, taking into account the available infrastructure, financial gain or risk and long term strategyCommunications and RelationshipsThe ELFS research lead will work in partnership with the clinical director and research leads on other domains to promote research activity across the Trust. The post holder will work with user and carer representative groups to promote involvement in research and to disseminate the benefits of the work in which they have participated. The ELFS research lead will work in partnership with our academic partners, with our research governance partners NOCLOR and with the Local Clinical Research Network (LCRN) which is in turn part of the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and the Health research Agency (HRA). In addition s/he will work with other academic groups, with commercial research agencies, and with any governmental initiatives which the Trust has agreed or is required to support.GeneralThe post holder will be expected to be able to drive and respond to emergencies by telephone. In some instances, for certain studies, they may be asked to be available to patients taking part on trials for out of hours advice, although in most cases this will be managed by the sponsor. The agreement of objectives for the post, and appraisal, will be carried out annually by the ELFS Clinical Director in conjunction with the Trust R&D Director. This post will have no impact on the post holder’s usual on-call responsibilities. Advanced computer skills are required, specifically knowledge of information systems to manage data, for example SPMS; ability to use Excel to an advanced levelPerson specificationEducation/ Qualification/ TrainingEssential CriteriaFirst degree or equivalent experience Educated to Masters or equivalent and further specialist training to Doctorate level or equivalentDesirable criteriaDemonstrable specialist knowledge and experience of Research Governance and International Conference on Harmonisation/ Good Clinical Practice (ICH/GCP) to diploma/certificate level.ExperienceEssential criteriaExperience of working in a research/clinical environment (NHS, University or industry) in a senior post, management of staff and/ or complex systems and processes Experience in strategy and policy development (S/I) Financial planning and budgeting experience. Experience of managing complex financial budgets and relationships – e.g., Trust, academic partners, grant-making bodies Experience in project management. Experience in strategy and policy developmentDesirable criteriaExperience of staff management. Experience of working with multi professional staff. Wide experience of liaising and negotiating with senior academic, clinical and management staff in the same and partner organisations.Knowledge And SkillsEssential criteriaKnowledge of the Research Governance Framework and the processes involved with gaining NHS approval. Knowledge of statutory regulations and legal considerations regarding R&D. Knowledge of research monitoring in the NHS Expert knowledge of the principles of good clinical practice in research Excellent oral and written communication skills Excellent organisational and planning skillsDesirable criteriaKnowledge of intellectual property legislation Understanding of the NHS agenda and government Ability to use information systems to manage data; ability to use Microsoft Office suite to an Advanced level; advanced keyboard skills required to use the database tools; advanced numeracy and computer literacy Knowledge of funding issues in researchOtherEssential criteriaWork with enthusiasm and demonstrate initiative Self-motivated, with the ability to work on own initiative without supervision; ability to work under pressure balancing conflicting workloads Tenacity – sees problems through to conclusion Ability to make complex judgements, balance competing priorities and meet personal and directorate targets within a fluctuating and demanding workload Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological phenomena, and an interest in models of service delivery Able to contain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of others. Able to sit in constrained positions for a substantial proportion of working time Able to concentrate intensely for a substantial proportion of working time, during team meetings, preparing written work etc. Able to manage effectively exposure to distressing circumstances Able to manage conflict and challenges from colleagues and others Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals. Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionallyMaking Things BetterQuality Improvement is a key part of our work to improve our services and refine how we do things. We have a global reputation for our quality improvement work and we don’t stand still! So we offer a fantastic opportunity for our staff to learn, lead and contribute towards improving our services.We launched our Five Year Strategy in April 2018, which identified four main strategic outcomes to improve: population health outcomes, experience of care, staff experience and improve value. This complements the NHS Long Term Strategy and sets out our direction of travel.Our CommunityWe provide a wide range of community health and mental health inpatient services to children, young people, adults of working age, and older adults in The City of London, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Bedfordshire and Luton. We also provide psychological therapy services to the London Borough of Richmond, and provide Forensic services to the whole of North East London. We provide services in urban and rural settings, sometimes in our inpatient units, but mostly in the community close to where people live. Integrated care is key in making the best use of resources and providing effective care.Aiming HighWe were rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC in 2016, were proud to be rated ‘Outstanding’ again in 2018 and continue to be rate 'Outstanding' in 2021.. We were named in the HSJ’s Top 10 best places to work in healthcare and were voted Provider Trust of the Year in 2018.Staff and Service Users UnitedWe strive to ensure that staff feel valued by the Trust and as they are truly pivotal in delivering better outcomes for our patients and service users. Our aspiration is to help to make ELFT the best place to work. This Trust is clinician-led and provides the highest possible level of clinical expertise throughout its services. We pride ourselves on our service user involvement. A service user will be on your assessment centre and interview panel if you are invited to meet us.We especially welcome people with lived experience of health difficulties, with insight and understanding of different backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles in our population as we believe that this will equip staff to deliver a high standard of care to our service users and patients.DiversityELFT Is committed to being a diverse organisation and our workforce is reflective of the population and communities we serve. We believe that having colleagues with a range of backgrounds and life experiences enriches and adds value to the outcomes we have set out to achieve. Having partnered and endorsed by organisations who are representative and experts in various areas of equality and diversity, we can ensure we are meeting the pre-set standards all the way from recruitment stage throughout the career journey of our employees by being accessible, having fair inclusive practices and a host of staff networks to support, nurture and celebrate our valued staff in the workplace.Other Reasons To ApplyAs a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern.As part of the relocation scheme we presently have, the Trust could support you with offering up to £10,000 for removal and associated expenses. This is subject to change and terms and conditions apply.What Next?If you like the sound of ELFT, don’t waste a moment. We sometimes close adverts early if there is a high response, so apply now!As part of our recruitment process we may be required to share information you provide on the application form with NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) and/or other organisations for the purpose of the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of fraud or any other unlawful activity affecting the NHS. We also use third party providers to check and verify your qualifications who may be contacting you on our behalf to verify the same..If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please consider that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made. Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly.Find us online at | Find us on Facebook | Follow us on @NHS_ELFT #J-18808-Ljbffr