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Job summary

Main area
Research Practitioner
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Fixed term: 36 months (initially for 1 year but with a potential to increase to 3 years.)
Hours
Part time - 22.5 hours per week
Job ref
382-R&D06-26
Employer
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Town
Blackpool
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/06/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Research Practitioner

NHS AfC: Band 5

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance.  Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored. 

 


Job overview

 

The post will commence in September 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The postholder will carry out patient recruitment and data collection for the trial across participating perinatal mental health and parent-infant services. The post will involve office-based working alongside travel to clinical sites and participants’ homes. 

 

Main duties of the job

  To carry out patient recruitment and data collection for the trial across participating perinatal mental health and parent-infant services in the region.

·         To ensure the trial is conducted in accordance with GCP and other applicable legislation for Clinical Trials, and the General Data Protection Regulation

·         To assist with monitoring the trial progress to ensure adherence to the project plan and to identify, evaluate and rectify problems at trial sites as soon as they arise.

·         To establish and maintain close working relationships with participating perinatal mental health and parent-infant services in the region.

·         To work across participating perinatal mental health and parent-infant services to recruit mothers and birthing persons

·         To regularly update the central project team about progress and issues occurring at the sites

·         To troubleshoot any issues occurring at the sites

·         To systematically screen participant flow through the sites

·         Conduct baseline and follow up outcome assessments with mothers and birthing persons and their babies

·         Data entry

·         To work with the lived experience researcher to support patient and public involvement in the project

·         Analyse video recordings of parent-infant interaction using standardised observational measures [full training will be provided]

·      


Working for our organisation

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.

As one of the United Kingdom’s largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents – it’s not just a good place to work; it’s a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south.

Please note this role will not be eligible for sponsorship as it doesn't meet the minimum salary requirements for a skilled worker visa, therefore you must have appropriate right to work in the UK or your application will not be progressed to the next stage of Recruitment. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·         To carry out patient recruitment and data collection for the trial across participating perinatal mental health and parent-infant services in the region.

·         To ensure the trial is conducted in accordance with GCP and other applicable legislation for Clinical Trials, and the General Data Protection Regulation

·         To assist with monitoring the trial progress to ensure adherence to the project plan and to identify, evaluate and rectify problems at trial sites as soon as they arise.

·         To establish and maintain close working relationships with participating perinatal mental health and parent-infant services in the region.

·         To work across participating perinatal mental health and parent-infant services to recruit mothers and birthing persons

·         To regularly update the central project team about progress and issues occurring at the sites

·         To troubleshoot any issues occurring at the sites

·         To systematically screen participant flow through the sites

·         Conduct baseline and follow up outcome assessments with mothers and birthing persons and their babies

·         Data entry

·         To work with the lived experience researcher to support patient and public involvement in the project

·         Analyse video recordings of parent-infant interaction using standardised observational measures [full training will be provided]

·         Analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data

·         Maintaining essential trial documentation including the Trial Master File

·         To assist with preparation of reports including to the ethics committee and the funder

·         To deliver presentations (e.g. at workshops and conferences)

·         To contribute to project meetings, assisting with agendas and other documentation

·         Contribute to writing up the findings of research for reporting purposes and for publication

·         Work in accordance with professional guidelines and complying with relevant requirements of Research Governance.

·         Contribute to the overall activities of the project team as required.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • First degree in health or social science (e.g. psychology, sociology, nursing)

Experience / Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Experience working with people with mental health problems
  • Experience of working with children, parents and/or NHS staff
  • Experience of conducting and delivering high quality quantitative and/or qualitative research
  • A sound knowledge of the principles of Good Clinical Practice
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of HRA, ethics and other regulatory frameworks
  • Experience of working on clinical trials

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Attention to detail, accuracy of work
  • In depth awareness of key research issues for parents using mental health services
  • Highly self-motivated and hard working
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
  • Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to self organise and work highly independently in a clinical site
  • Ability to identify problems early and to troubleshoot
  • Good IT and computer skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and aptitude for enabling people with mental health problems and their babies to support and participate in research
  • Excellent presentation and writing skills
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Ability to respect and communicate confidential information in a sensitive and effective manner
  • Proven record of ability to manage time, organise and prioritise workload and work to strict deadlines
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in managing research and recruitment at NHS sites

Additional requirements

Essential criteria
  • Able and willing to travel between sites in/around the region
  • Able and willing to work outside of office hours as needed (including evenings)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareNo smoking policyDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverDisability confident employer

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Stephen Preston
Job title
Research Nurse Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01253 951514
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