Job summary
- Main area
- Research and Development
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (N/A)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 395-CC197-25
- Employer
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Goodmayes Hospital
- Town
- Ilford
- Salary
- £29,970 - £36,483 Per annum pro rata plus HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Research Assistant / Clinical Studies Officer
NHS AfC: Band 5
Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
We are looking to appoint a new research assistant to join our progressive and vibrant R&D team. The role is patient / staff facing and requires the post holder to have an aptitude and enthusiasm to work with a range of people from different cultures, ages, diagnosed conditions and environments. Our research portfolio covers mental health, dementia, and community care services.
The post holder will work with services to establish, develop and maintain relationships to facilitate research activities. Through these relationships they will identify and enrol patients, their carers and staff into research projects, undertaking duties such as advertising, screening, consent, and data collection with participants as required.
Main duties of the job
NELFT is an innovative and dynamic organisation with an accomplished record of delivering research studies throughout the Trust thanks to our skilled staff and clinicians. In the last year the team collaborated with community and mental health services to deliver over 50 NIHR Portfolio Studies and the team enrolled more than 1400 people into research.
The post-holder will have experience of working with people with mental health problems, physical health problems and/or other disabilities and possess an understanding of research methods used in the NHS. They will be a creative problem solver, who is as comfortable working independently as they are as part of a team. They will have excellent communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. The post-holder will have the opportunity to develop their research skills through formal and experiential learning, supervision, mentoring and peer support.
Working for our organisation
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
High Cost Area Supplement
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,551 to a maximum of £5,735).
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.
References
Please ensure that the references are from your most recent employer and one of these must be your direct Line Manager or Supervisor. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made. Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. Additionally, ensure that any gaps in your employment history are clearly indicated. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly.
Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
If you like the sound of working with NELFT, don’t waste a moment and apply now!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- BSc degree in relevant subject/discipline
- Excellent IT skills, experience using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power point, and Excel, SPSS.
Desirable criteria
- MSc degree in relevant subject/discipline
- GCP training in last 2 years
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with a range of service users who have mental and / or physical health conditions
- A minimum of 1 year of experience of working in a research environment displaying relevant and appropriate competencies and skills for the job.
- Analysing and presenting complex data to a high standard in the form of written reports
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with multi-disciplinary research teams.
- Experience of delivering CTIMPs
Knowledge/Skill
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of the governance and legislative framework for conducting clinical trials, including Research Governance Framework and Good Clinical Practice.
- High level communication skills (written and verbal).
- Good understanding of research trial methodology
- Use of standardised assessments
- Ability to work under pressure and to be able to prioritise, quickly assess and solve problems.
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to build relationships
- Awareness of accountability of own and others roles within the study delivery team
- Ability to use own initiative when working independently and also to be able to work effectively as a member of a team.
Desirable criteria
- Quantitative and qualitative research skills
Other
Essential criteria
- To be aware and demonstrate the Trust Values
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Anna Cattrell
- Job title
- Research Delivery Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 300 1478
- Additional information
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