Post-Doctoral Research Associate/ Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Health Services – United Kingdom

Job description

The purpose of the role is to coordinate a research project (ACDI) aiming to evaluate the implementation of Advance Choice Documents (ACDs) for people previously detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA) throughout the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM). The project is co-led by Professor Claire Henderson and Dr Shubulade Smith.

Completing an ACD involves stating, in advance, aspects of your care, including preferences, wishes for and refusals of certain types of treatment when one is well enough to do so. These preferences can be used to guide the care when a person is unwell and does not have the capacity to make decisions about their treatment.  The UK government has committed to legislating for advance statements (www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-the-mental-health-act/reforming-the-mental-health-act). This commitment is based on ethical and legal arguments along with research evidence that creating such documents (variously termed joint crisis plans, advance statements and psychiatric advance directives) can reduce use of involuntary admissions and improve therapeutic relationships.

Black people (defined as people of Black African and Caribbean heritage, including those of mixed ethnicity) with mental illness are more likely to be involuntarily admitted under the MHA than White people with mental illness. We previously produced implementation resources to address identified barriers and maximise Black people’s opportunities to make an ACD; and tested these resources including delivery of a small number of ACDs. The ACDI project will expand and adapt these resources for anyone who has previously been detained and who use SLaM’s general adult services; services for older adults; forensic services; and child and adolescent services. We will evaluate the implementation of ACDs using quantitative and qualitative methods and their effectiveness in relation to use of the MHA and other forms of coercive treatment.

You will be coordinating the evaluation: developing the protocol and obtaining ethics committee approval; ensuring the timelines are adhered to; working with co-applicants; supervising three research assistants; co-ordinating meetings; leading data collection and qualitative analysis; and leading and contributing to academic publications, conference presentations and presentations to local stakeholders. You will be responsible to Professor Claire Henderson.

The post-holder will bring and further develop substantial experience in a wide range of research methodologies, including qualitative data collection, quality improvement and implementation science methods, standardised measures, and outcome / process evaluation. The post-holder will also consolidate transferable skills, including people / project / finance management, working with people with lived experience of mental illness and recovery, and Good Clinical Practice. Career development support will be offered, including involvement in (and expectation of) writing academic papers and submitting fellowship / grant proposals.

The post will be of particular interest to someone with substantial mental health service research and/or quality improvement experience, an established academic record (shown by doctoral qualification and peer-reviewed publications), and a desire to develop into a world-class mental health service researcher. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to health equity and be able to show evidence of the ability to engage creatively and productively with mental health service users, workers and managers.

The post will be located in the Health Service and Population Research Department at the IoPPN, Kings College London, Denmark Hill Campus, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF.

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract until 1st August 2026.

Key responsibilities

• To proactively coordinate the ACDI project, including early finalisation of the protocol and Ethics Committee submission, establishing timelines, developing monitoring strategies, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• To liaise closely with the SLaM staff responsible for implementation, though membership of the SLaM MHA detentions working group
• In collaboration with the Co-Principal Investigators and the study Administrator, to manage the financial and budgetary aspects of the study, specifically including proactive monitoring of expenditure to avoid cost over-runs and the use of research resources to ensure that effective use is made of them.
• Providing supervision and line management for the research assistants working on the study.
• Co-ordinating the: co-applicants and consultants to the study; Lived Experience Advisory Panel; and Project Steering Committee.
• Identifying and meeting professional development needs, especially in relation to acquiring a full range of methodological expertise and continuing to develop skills in and knowledge of research methods and techniques.
• Producing reports (including for the Maudsley Charity and ethics committee) and actively contributing to knowledge mobilisation activities, including organising conference presentations and disseminating research findings through leading peer-reviewed high impact factor academic publications throughout the study.
• To lead (through co-ordination and supervision) all aspects of data collection, bringing personal expertise and harnessing the skills of the other team members.
• To lead qualitative data analysis and liaise with the project statisticians on quantitative analysis.
• To work in conjunction with others in the research team in order to achieve objectives and deadlines of the study. To be responsible for resolving problems to meet research objectives and deadlines.
• To communicate complex and conceptual ideas to those with limited knowledge and understanding as well as to other researchers, using a range of media.
• Be responsible for the safe conduct of all work, consistent with Trust and University safety policies.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be relevant to the role outline as directed by Professor Henderson.

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, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       PhD plus equivalent experience in a relevant field, for example health services research, epidemiology, statistics, psychology or public health.

2.       Good interpersonal skills

3.       Attention to detail

4.       Proficiency in IT (Word, Excel, database use)

5.       Experience in some or all of the methods to be used in ACDI

6.       Able to prioritise workload

7.       Experience of health services research or quality improvement

8.       High quality writing for academic and practitioner audiences, with evidence of ability to publish.

9.       Managing research staff (Grade 7 Research Fellow)

10.    Prepare and submit high quality and accurate applications for grants (Grade 7 Research Fellow)

Desirable criteria

1.       Relevant experience of working with/understanding Black communities.

2.       Clinical Qualification

3.       Managing research staff

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 for a Research Associate. 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 a Disclosure and Barring Service Clearance.