Research Support Officer

We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed, compassionate and innovative Research Support Officer to support research which aims to improve support for people following Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) and Minor Stroke. Using the data and findings from three iterative studies, the role-holder will develop and evaluate a new clinical care pathway of psychological after-care for people receiving a diagnosis of TIA and minor stroke. The research is funded by the Health Education England (HEE)/NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic (ICA) Clinical Lectureship-funded OPTIMISE research programme (OptimisingPsychological Care afterTransientIschaemic Attack andMInorStrokE).

This is a fixed-term post until 28 February 2026 at 0.5WTE (32-month role) within the Research Support Team at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) reporting to Dr Eirini Kontou, Chief Investigator on the OPTIMISE programme.

The team provides consultancy services, research operations and research and evaluation delivery. The role-holder will be employed by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHCFT)

• Obtaining ethical and regulatory NHS approvals for the project.
• Identifying, recruiting and consenting study participants.
• Co-ordinating local site activities and report progress back to the Project Management Team.
• Assisting with associated research activities as agreed with their line manager and/or the Project Management Team.
• Carrying out data collection and entry. This will involve designing a stakeholder online survey and conducting semi-structured interviews and focus groups.
• Developing and delivering Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) activities, with support from the IMH’s Public Involvement Co-ordinator, to ensure PPI contributors are appropriately supported, and actions completed.
• Supporting the development of a clinical care pathway and associated study documents.
• Recruiting and screening study participants, under the supervision of the Chief Investigator.
• Collecting and analysing data using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies.
• Assisting in the writing-up of reports and assist in submitting peer-reviewed publications.
• Creating, developing and maintaining systems for data storage adhering to NHCFT guidelines and relevant legislations (GDPR).
• Ensuring the study meets its recruitment, targets and report any issues to the Chief Investigator/Project Manager.
• Effectively managing workload and designated tasks; seeking supervision/training where appropriate.

We have a huge variety of opportunities in our expansive Trust covering geographically from South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire to Leicester, providing mental health inpatient and community services, community health services, forensic mental health services and secure prison healthcare across the East Midlands.

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The post-holder will be responsible for supporting and facilitating the research activities set out in the Health Education England (HEE) / NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic (ICA) Clinical Lectureship-funded programme of research onOptimisingPsychological Care afterTIA andMInor Stroke (NIHR302179) led by Dr Eirini Kontou. The post-holder will be mainly based at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in Nottingham.

The IMH is one of the UK’s leading multi-disciplinary mental health research centres, an innovative partnership between Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Nottingham. The IMH delivers both mental and physical health-based research projects, ensuring new knowledge and research findings are rapidly shared between campus and clinics.

Ensuring a safe and positive experience for research participants will be central to this role.

You will be an experienced researcher and/or hold a relevant academic qualification. This post requires excellent communication skills, well developed knowledge of and experience in the delivery of health research, governance, good clinical practice, understanding of IG and GDPR application to research.

The post holder will be working within the provisions of the NHCFT’s health and safety policies and keeping up to date with Trust policies and procedures

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details.