Job summary
- Main area
- Research and Development
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- 7 months (Fixed term)
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Home or remote working
- Job ref
- 354-CO-21804(F)
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Sussex Education Centre
- Town
- Hove
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 Pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/12/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Research Practitioner (Outside 2 Study)
NHS AfC: Band 6
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
The OUTSIDE2 study (Outdoor Swimming as a Nature-Based Intervention for Depression) is a large-scale randomised controlled trial hosted by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. It investigates whether outdoor swimming can reduce symptoms of depression and improve wellbeing compared to usual care alone. Building on earlier pilot work (OUTSIDE1), the study aims to provide robust evidence for clinical and cost-effectiveness.
Purpose of the Role:
The postholder will support the quantitative analysis, write-up, and dissemination of the research. They will play a key role in ensuring data integrity, applying advanced statistical methods, and contributing to publications and reports, under the guidance and supervision of the Trial statisticians. The role also involves supporting the Trial Statisticians, Health Economists, and wider team including liaising with the Brighton & Sussex Clinical Trials Unit.
Main duties of the job
Main Duties of Job
The postholder will work within the OUTSIDE2 research team, hosted by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, supporting the analysis and completion of a large-scale randomised controlled trial. Day-to-day, the role focuses on managing and analysing trial data, ensuring accuracy and integrity, and contributing to the interpretation and dissemination of findings.
Key aspects include:
- Collaborating with the Brighton & Sussex Clinical Trials Unit and the wider study team.
- Quantitative data extraction
- Cleaning and preparing large datasets for analysis.
- Performing statistical analyses using software such as Stata or R.
- Supporting the production of manuscripts, presentations, and reports.
- Supporting the Trial Statistician
We are committed to flexible and agile working practices and are happy to discuss options that support work-life balance and team collaboration.
Working for our organisation
We are a collaborative, supportive team with a strong commitment to high-quality research, inclusivity, and improving mental health outcomes. You’ll join a multidisciplinary group that values creativity, rigorous methodology, and shared learning. We encourage professional development and offer opportunities to contribute to impactful research that can shape future mental health care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The postholder will play a pivotal role in the OUTSIDE 2 study, a large-scale randomised controlled trial hosted by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This research aims to evaluate outdoor swimming as a nature-based intervention for depression, generating evidence to inform clinical practice and policy.
Working closely with Trial Statisticians, Health Economists, the Brighton & Sussex Clinical Trials Unit, and the wider multidisciplinary team, the postholder will ensure that data processes meet rigorous standards for accuracy, reproducibility, storage and sharing. They will apply advanced statistical methods to analyse trial data, troubleshoot data issues, and maintain clear documentation throughout the process.
The role also includes contributing to the interpretation of findings and supporting dissemination through publications, presentations, and stakeholder engagement. A strong quantitative background and experience managing complex datasets are essential.
The postholder will help embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PCIE) principles within research outputs.
We are committed to flexible and agile working practices and are happy to discuss arrangements that support work-life balance while meeting project needs.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- RMN/RGN or equivalent qualification in health, social care or Psychology degree
Desirable criteria
- PhD (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline (e.g., health sciences, psychology, biostatistics). The PhD should have been awarded.
Knowledge, Experience
Essential criteria
- An understanding of research about mental health and dementia issues and interventions
- Data Management - Ability to clean, validate, and organise large quantitative datasets from research studies including merging datasets
- Proficiency in descriptive and inferential statistical analysis relevant to high-quality RCTs.
- Understanding of data governance, confidentiality, and ethical standards.
- Evidence of experience and understanding of research design, methodology, data collection and analysis
- Evidence of continuous personal and professional development
Desirable criteria
- Experience analysing randomised controlled trial (RCT) data (including intention-to-treat analyses and addressing missing data).
- Familiarity with mixed-effects models or random-effects models.
- Knowledge of clinical research data structures (e.g., Case Report Forms, REDCap for data capture, or similar systems).
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with experience of communicating complex information
- Highly motivated with the ability to work as part of a team and also on an individual basis.
- Excellent organisational skills with proven ability to prioritise.
- Software Skills: Experience with statistical packages such as Stata (preferred) or R.
- Ability to present findings clearly using graphs and tables
- Documentation: Ability to follow a statistical analysis plan with attention to detail
Desirable criteria
- Ability to contribute to publications and grant applications.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Anna-Marie Bibby-Jones
- Job title
- Senior Research Fellow
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07803167544
- Additional information
Additionally, you can contact:
Clara Strauss
Deputy Research Director
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