We are offering an exceptional opportunity within the NHS to gain essential clinical experience, develop specialist research skills, share learning, and implement research. You will receive close, protected supervision from a qualified Clinical Psychologist and regular support from university research colleagues.
We are looking to recruit a full-time Research Assistant (RA) to support the Discover Implementation Study in Kent. The DISCOVER Implementation Study is a multi-site mixed-methods research programme investigating the sustainability and scale-up of DISCOVER, a schools-based mental health intervention for 16–18-year-olds. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in valuable implementation research within the NHS. The study is being delivered across five NHS regions in England, working with Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) and two Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) responsible for MHST training.
The role combines implementation support, research data collection, stakeholder engagement, and project coordination.
You will collaborate with other RAs working in other sites to share learning and experience, and with the central Discover Implementation study team based at King’s College London.
You will fulfil a crucial role in observing site-level implementation, collecting qualitative data, engaging with stakeholders, and supporting MHSTs during implementation.
We are looking for a committed, resilient, and enthusiastic team player to join our MHST and contribute to the successful delivery of the DISCOVER Implementation Study. We are seeking a Research Assistant with a genuine interest in mental health research and experience in conducting research.
This varied role combines research, implementation support, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation activities. The successful candidate will support the implementation and evaluation of the DISCOVER programme across schools and MHSTs, including observing programme delivery, collecting qualitative and quantitative data, monitoring implementation fidelity, supporting recruitment and follow-up processes, and identifying factors that influence successful implementation and sustainability.
The role involves working with schools, MHSTs, training providers, and the wider DISCOVER research team to examine the reach, uptake, effectiveness, and long-term sustainability of the intervention. Responsibilities will include conducting interviews and focus groups, maintaining accurate research records, supporting data analysis and reporting, and contributing to dissemination activities and stakeholder engagement.
This role involves supporting the rollout of the DISCOVER programme, collecting and analysing research data, coordinating with schools and MHSTs, evaluating implementation processes, and helping ensure the programme can be sustainably delivered at scale across NHS regions.
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that’s working well together.
Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification
