The closing date is 6th Sep 2026
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Anticipated Interview date(s) 24/09/2026
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Job summary
HIOW Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton, is seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic Research Assistant to join its dynamic and forward-thinking Academy of Research & Improvement. This role will contribute to the delivery of a Mental Health Mission (MHM) theme, focused on affective disorders, especially treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a nationally significant initiative aimed at improving outcomes for individuals with complex mental health needs. The successful candidate will work within a busy research environment, supporting the delivery of innovative clinical research studies led by Professor David Baldwin.
The Trust is committed to embedding research as a core function of high-quality healthcare delivery. With a growing portfolio of clinical trials and service evaluations, the Trust's Academy of R&I plays a central role in ensuring patients have access to cutting-edge treatments and evidence-based care.
Key aspects of the role include:
- Supporting the setup and delivery of research studies aligned with MHM objectives.
- Engaging with clinical teams, research participants, and external collaborators.
- Facilitating participant recruitment, data collection, and study administration.
- Contributing to the development of enhanced access research clinics and innovative treatment pathways for patients with affective disorders
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Main duties, tasks & skills required
The post holder will contribute to the delivery of the Mental Health Mission objectives as part of a multidisciplinary research team, with a focus on treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and bipolar disorder.
Obtaining informed consent under supervision of the research and clinical teams.
Providing administrative and clinical support for research studies, as appropriate to the role.
Maintaining accurate patient records.
Supporting data management and administrative tasks related to study delivery
Responding to data queries and supporting data quality assurance.
Assisting in initiation and delivery of studies to meet recruitment targets and timelines.
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About us
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.
Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.
We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.
Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence
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Job description
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.
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Person specification
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Qualifications
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Essential
- Educated to a degree standard or equivalent experience
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Experience
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Essential
- Research experience
- Experience working in an NHS setting
- Experience of administrative work including data management.
- Ability to make effective use of standard office computer systems including word-processing and spreadsheets.
- Post holder should be enthusiastic about research in mental health
- Experience in an academic/HEI/ research environment
- Excellent interpersonal, oral communication and organisational skills with an ability to inspire trust and confidence in colleagues.
- Good written communication skills and an ability to produce study reports clearly and concisely.
- Accuracy and excellent attention to detail.
- A willingness to learn new skills and new software as required
- Ability and willingness to work under pressure in a deadline-driven environment.
- Ability to work independently using initiative to problem solve
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Ability to work outside the dept without direct supervision.
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Desirable
- Experience working with people living with mental health disorders
- Experience of working in NHS mental health research
- Experience/ willingness to learn
- Ability to learn about new software and systems.
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Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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For help with your application, contact:
Soni Kochuvilayil Geevarghese
[email protected]
07903879076
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Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
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Band
Band 5
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Salary
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£32073.00 to £39043.00 Yearly
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Contract
Fixed Term
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Duration
16 Month(s)
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Working pattern
Part-Time, Full-Time, Flexible Working
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Reference number
348-COR-12185
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Job locations
College Keep
4-12 Terminus Terrace
Southampton
Hampshire
SO14 3DT
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Attachments
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Job Description
Research Assistant MHM JDPS.pdf – 283KB Opens in a new window
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Additional document 1
EmployeeBenefits_hiowh_v1-compressed_3.pdf – 1001KB Opens in a new window
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