Job vacancy: Research Assistant, Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Preston

Job summary

Main area: Research
Grade: Band 5
Contract: 12 months (Fixed term: 12 months)
Hours: Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref: 351-CS2755-MF

Employer: Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: The Lantern Centre
Town: Preston
Salary: £31,049 - £37,796 per annum pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 29/08/2025 23:59

Research Assistant

Band 5

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

• Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
• Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
• Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

To arrange an informal discussion about the role please contact Farah Lunat, Research Operations Manager 07790387718 or email [email protected]

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

BSc Hons Psychology 2:1 or above or equivalent degree

Desirable criteria

Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Quantitative, qualitative and co-design research methods
Quantitative data analysis using SPSS
Qualitative data analysis
Research governance and ethics
A good knowledge of lifespan psychology applied to health care
A good understanding of the needs and challenges of people living with bipolar and their families

Experience

Essential criteria

Data analysis, either quantitative or qualitative
Work with people with mental health issues
Using data entry and data management.
Recruiting individuals to research studies

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Please be aware, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when submitting an application is monitored and if you have used AI to generate an application, you are required to declare this on your application form. Failure to do so, may result in your application being withdrawn.

We want to highlight the importance of integrity and authenticity in your application form, and ask you to use AI tools responsibly to ensure your application form is a true reflection of your skills, knowledge and experiences.

We are looking for you to demonstrate personal experiences of how you meet the essential criteria and as an NHS Employer, we value authenticity and honesty.

Please consider that AI-generated content may lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description providing impersonal and inaccurate information.

Please ensure that you read the person specification attached below as your application will be measured against this document.

Applications from job share partners are welcome and other forms of flexible working will be considered for all posts.

For all posts which require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).

You are advised to consider applying for LSCft vacancies as soon as possible as in some instances vacancies are closed as soon as a sufficient number of applications have been received. If you are not invited to interview within three weeks of the closing date then please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful, as it is not possible to contact all unsuccessful candidates.

LSCft is committed to celebrating difference as an asset and we know that recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds helps to create a more flexible, creative and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from people regardless of age, disability (particularly those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Our goal is for the Trust to be truly representative of the communities we serve so we are particularly keen to receive applications from people in under-represented groups. If there is anything you’d like to discuss in relation to your application then please ask.

Mindful employer. Being positive about mental health.

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Farah Lunat
Job title: Research Operations Manager
Email address: [email protected]

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Job summary

Employer heading

Research Assistant

Band 5

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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