Job Description

The Cicely Saunders Institute is the first purpose-built institute for research into palliative care. The Department benefits from a unique collaboration of palliative care and rehabilitation teams and is a multi-professional department comprising academics, healthcare professionals, community organisations, patients and carers. Palliative care and Rehabilitation put both patients and their families at the heart of care.

The purpose of this role is to support research led by Professor Irene Higginson, primarily the CovPall study and its sister projects. The role holder must be able to work across multiple projects, manage a complex and varied workload, as well as have a good understanding of health services research, preferably quantitative. Duties will include data entry and analysis, meeting coordination, report writing, and other research-oriented tasks.
Key Responsibilities

• To support research led by Professor Irene Higginson, including the international EU funded Better-B project, the MRC funded CovPall study and related projects, as well as supporting applications for new funding within the Cicely Saunders Institute

• To prepare and submit applications and amendments to Ethics committees

• To lead on/assist in (grade 6 and grade 5 respectively) the submission of grant applications and reporting to research funders

• To proactively update professional skills and seek career development opportunities through gaining exposure to preparing grant applications, protocols and publicaitons

• To be an active member of the CSI team, contributing to our Clinical Academic Group executives and sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues

• To represent the Institute on Faculty and King’s College London groups where appropriate

• To ensure Institute and Investigator reporting logs are kept up to date including ResearchFish, PURE and the King’s website

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Grade 6 only – A PhD in a subject related to Palliative Care/Health Services Research *

• Grade 6 only – evidence of publication and authorship

• A degree in health or social sciences or similar awarded to a high level (e.g. first or 2.1)

• A commitment to and interest in Palliative Care

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to adapt communication as appropriate to the situation

• Ability to analyse data using SPSS and/or Microsoft Excel

• Excellent time management skills with ability to multi-task and prioritise and complete tasks within a set deadline, as well as work both independently and as part of a team

• Experience of working in research, ideally within a field related to Palliative Care

• Experience in preparing reports

• Attention to detail and a flexible approach to working

• Strong organizational and planning skills, with a proven ability to coordinate and deliver projects

• Familiarity with the EndNote programme for referencing

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in a palliative care research environment

*Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 36 months

This is a full-time post – 100% full time equivalent