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Research Assistant - REDEPLOYEES ONLY - Job Opportunity at City, University of London

London, United Kingdom
Full-time
Mid-level
Posted: July 19, 2025
Hybrid
£39,355 - £41,671 per year

Benefits

Comprehensive company pension scheme providing long-term financial security and retirement planning benefits that exceed many academic sector standards
Sector-leading salary structure positioning compensation above market averages for similar research roles
Extensive staff training and development package supporting continuous professional growth and career advancement opportunities
Flexible hybrid working arrangements allowing up to 40% remote work while maintaining collaborative campus engagement
Comprehensive equality, diversity and inclusion support creating an inclusive workplace environment
Guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants demonstrating commitment to accessibility and fair employment practices

Key Responsibilities

Lead patient recruitment initiatives across multiple hospital sites, directly impacting the success of groundbreaking mental health research projects focused on self-harm interventions
Manage complex consent processes for vulnerable patient populations, ensuring ethical research standards while maximizing study participation rates
Execute comprehensive outcome data collection protocols that will inform evidence-based improvements to emergency department psychological interventions
Collaborate strategically with multidisciplinary research teams including professors, trial managers, and NHS staff to ensure seamless project delivery
Travel extensively across London and UK study sites, serving as the primary research representative and maintaining consistent data quality standards
Adapt work schedules to include evening and weekend data collection, demonstrating flexibility crucial for capturing diverse patient populations and emergency department workflows

Requirements

Education

First degree in health or social science (i.e. psychology, sociology, clinical studies) and possibly a Masters degree, in psychology or a related subject / discipline

Experience

Experience working with people with mental health problems, experience of conducting and delivering high quality quantitative research, experience of working with NHS staff

Required Skills

Drive and enthusiasm for mental health research Excellent communication skills for sensitive patient interactions Ability to respect and communicate confidential information in a sensitive and effective manner Capability to travel between hospital sites in/around London and across the UK Willingness to work outside of office hours including evenings and weekends
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Mental health research funding has increased significantly following COVID-19, with particular emphasis on self-harm prevention and emergency department interventions as healthcare systems recognize the growing mental health crisis and seek evidence-based solutions to reduce long-term costs and improve patient outcomes. The integration of psychological interventions in emergency departments represents a major shift in healthcare delivery models, moving from purely medical crisis response to comprehensive biopsychosocial care approaches that address root causes of repeated emergency visits. NHS research partnerships with academic institutions are becoming increasingly strategic as the health service seeks to implement rapid evidence generation and translation to improve patient care while managing resource constraints and staff burnout.

Salary Evaluation

The offered salary of £39,355 - £41,671 is competitive for academic research assistant roles in London, representing approximately 15-20% above typical entry-level research positions and accounting for the specialized mental health focus and NHS collaboration requirements.

Role Significance

The role operates within a structured team including a program lead professor, two trial managers, and likely 2-4 additional research staff, representing a collaborative but focused research group typical of major funded health research projects.
This mid-level research position carries significant responsibility for patient-facing activities and data integrity across multiple sites, indicating trust in independent decision-making and representing a crucial operational role rather than basic administrative support.

Key Projects

ASSURED project focusing on brief psychological interventions in emergency departments, representing cutting-edge integration of mental health support into acute care settings SASH (Supporting Adolescents with Self-Harm) initiative addressing one of the most challenging aspects of adolescent mental health with potential for significant policy and practice impact Multi-site NHS collaboration studies that could influence national guidelines for emergency department mental health protocols and staff training programs

Success Factors

Deep understanding of mental health stigma and trauma-informed care principles is essential for building trust with vulnerable patients and ensuring ethical research conduct that prioritizes participant wellbeing over data collection targets. Exceptional interpersonal skills combined with professional resilience are crucial for managing emotionally challenging interactions while maintaining research objectivity and supporting patients through difficult conversations about self-harm experiences. Strong organizational and time management capabilities are vital for coordinating complex multi-site logistics, managing competing priorities between different hospital systems, and adapting to the unpredictable nature of emergency department research environments. Cultural competency and sensitivity are paramount given the diverse London population and the need to ensure research findings are applicable across different demographic groups and cultural approaches to mental health help-seeking.

Market Demand

High demand exists for research professionals with mental health experience and NHS familiarity, driven by increased government investment in mental health services and the critical need for evidence-based interventions to address rising self-harm rates among adolescents and adults.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Mental health clinical experience is absolutely essential as this role requires nuanced understanding of self-harm behaviors, trauma responses, and crisis intervention principles to ensure both research validity and participant safety during emotionally challenging data collection processes. Quantitative research methodology expertise is crucial for maintaining data quality standards across multiple sites and ensuring statistical validity of findings that will inform clinical practice guidelines and potentially influence national health policy decisions. NHS operational knowledge is vital for navigating complex hospital systems, understanding clinical workflows, and building effective working relationships with busy healthcare professionals who are essential partners in successful patient recruitment and data collection efforts.

Beneficial Skills

Clinical psychology or counseling background would enhance ability to support distressed participants and recognize when research activities might be therapeutically contraindicated, adding valuable clinical insight to the research process. Project management certification or experience would support coordination of complex multi-site logistics and timeline management, potentially leading to increased responsibilities and career advancement opportunities within the research program. Statistical software proficiency in SPSS, R, or similar platforms would enable more sophisticated data analysis contributions and potential co-authorship opportunities on research publications, significantly enhancing career development prospects.

Unique Aspects

The restriction to redeployees only indicates this is an internal restructuring opportunity, suggesting job security concerns within the organization while also representing potential career advancement for existing staff members who may benefit from priority access to this specialized role.
The combination of two high-profile research projects (ASSURED and SASH) provides unusual breadth of experience in both adult and adolescent mental health research, offering accelerated learning opportunities that would typically require multiple separate positions.
Direct collaboration with Professor Rose McCabe, a leading researcher in mental health communication, provides exceptional mentorship opportunities and potential for high-impact publication contributions that could significantly enhance career trajectory.
The multi-site NHS collaboration aspect offers rare exposure to health service delivery across different organizational cultures and patient populations, providing systems-level understanding valuable for future health services research or policy roles.

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 18-24 months for high-performing research assistants, with advancement to senior roles dependent on publication contributions, additional qualifications, and demonstration of project leadership capabilities.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Research Associate positions leading larger research teams and managing multiple concurrent studies within 2-3 years Trial Manager roles overseeing entire research programs and budget management within 3-4 years PhD opportunities specializing in emergency medicine psychology or self-harm intervention research NHS Research and Development coordinator positions bridging academic research with clinical implementation

Company Overview

City, University of London

City, University of London is a globally recognized institution with particular strength in health sciences research and professional education, distinguished by its central London location and strong industry connections that provide unique research opportunities and career networking potential.

The university ranks among the top institutions for health services research in the UK, with recent significant investment in research infrastructure and staff indicating strong financial health and commitment to research excellence that enhances job security and resource availability.
Located in central London, the institution serves as a hub for NHS collaboration and government health policy research, providing unparalleled access to diverse patient populations, leading clinicians, and policy makers that enhance research impact and career development opportunities.
The university's stated values of 'We care, We learn, We act' reflect a supportive academic environment that emphasizes both professional development and social impact, typical of research-intensive institutions that balance academic rigor with practical application to real-world problems.
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