Psychology Assistant

Job title:

Psychology Assistant

Company

Cardiff University

Job description

School / DirectorateSchool of MedicineAdvertPsychology Assistants (2 posts available)
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life SciencesThis is an exciting opportunity to take on a new role as one of two Psychology Assistants, who will support the University in delivering a new high profile national project in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, funded by the Medical Research Council. The project is part of a new national initiative for research in severe mental illness and is a large, multi-site research study led by Cardiff University in conjunction with Swansea University, Bristol University, Exeter University, Adferiad Recovery and Bipolar UK. The successful candidates will assist in a range of study-related tasks, including the recruitment and testing of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. The role will involve clinical interviews, cognitive assessments, maintaining study databases, supporting the acquisition of MRI and MEG brain imaging data, and other general day-to-day activities associated with a large multidisciplinary study.Candidates should have a degree in Psychology or a related field and experience of recruiting patients to research studies would be advantageous. The successful applicants will join the world-leading Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff UniversityThis post is based at the Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays campus.For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Sophie Legge on [email protected].This post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 1st December 2024 and fixed-term until 31st March 2027.Salary: £26,444 – £29,605 per annum (Grade 4). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under “blended working” arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific business requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 40 days annual leave (including bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work and is a proud Living Wage supporter.Date advert posted: Wednesday, 11 September 2024Closing Date: Wednesday, 2 October 2024Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) which means that, in hiring and promotion decisions, we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.Post Reference Number18925BRJob DescriptionJob Purpose
To assist in a range of study-related tasks relating to the recruitment and testing of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder. This will include clinical interviews, cognitive assessments, the acquisition of MRI and MEG brain imaging data, and general day-to-day activities associated with a large multidisciplinary study. The role will also involve providing comprehensive and professional support to the University as well as to the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences.Duties and Responsibilities
Key Duties

• To become familiar and proficient in research assessment methods (training provided).
• To recruit individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder to the study from new and existing channels and to meet study recruitment targets.
• To undertake structured clinical interviews with participants.
• To conduct cognitive assessments, either with in-person cognitive tasks or by using specialised computer-based tools.
• To complete in-house MRI safety and operator training, then assist in the acquisition of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging data from participants by using a 3T MRI Scanner.
• To complete in-house safety and operator training in magnetoencephalography (MEG), then assist in the acquisition of functional data using MEG.
• To understand and convey project information, which may need careful explanation or interpretation.
• To establish productive relationships with key individuals (University colleagues and external contacts) to help improve the level of service that the team provides to its customers.
• To maintain confidentiality and professional standards, and work as an effective member of the overall team
• To participate in the regular team meetings by presenting progress updates (including, for example, numbers recruited, problems encountered) and contributing ideas to the recruitment strategy.
• To carry out administrative tasks such as keeping comprehensive and well-organised records of participant information, clinical, cognitive and neuroimaging data using electronic databases (e.g. Redcap), and other data collection, recording and maintaining records and data as required for the proficient running on the project, with supervision.
• To support and train others in the project team as required in the project procedures.
• To ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in respect of equality and diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other University policies, procedures and codes as appropriate.
• To undergo personal and professional development including Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Training for Research that is appropriate to the role and which will enhance performance
• To work flexibly as part of a team to achieve the study objectives, adapting to new procedures, taking on new tasks consistent with the role, and facilitating the development of the study.
• To perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Abide by University policies and undergo appropriate personal and professional development.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.
• Uphold the Professional Services Values & Behaviours or local equivalent.

Salary Range Max.29,605GradeGrade 4Salary Range Min.26,444Job CategoryHealth, Medical & DentalAdditional InformationIMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria
Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable criteria.As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile that you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance, 18925BRCareer PathwayTechnicalPerson SpecificationEssential Criteria
Qualifications and Education
1. A degree (2.1 or above) in Psychology or related subject and/or experience.
2. Proficiency in IT, including experience of using e-mail, internet, Microsoft Office, SPSS (data entry and analysis).
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
3. Specialist knowledge within the following areas:i. Working with clinical or vulnerable populations.
ii. Recruitment and testing of participants.
iii. Undertaking cognitive assessments.
iv. Undertaking structured clinical assessments i.e. SCAN / PANSS.
v. Data entry and use of databases such as Excel, SPSS and/or Redcap. 4. Knowledge of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.
5. Experience of working in an administrative role or environment and ability to set up standard office systems and procedures, making improvements to these as appropriate.Communication and Teamworking
6. Ability to communicate specialist and complex information effectively and professionally to a range of customers with varying levels of understanding.
7. Evidence of excellent organisational skills and ability to work well in a team.Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving
8. Proven ability to work on own initiative and unsupervised to strict deadlines, including planning, organising and setting priorities for own work appropriately.
9. Evidence of high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
10. Evidence of ability to solve problems using initiative and creativity, to identify and propose practical solutions, and to resolve problems where there is a range of potential options available, monitoring priorities.Desirable Criteria
1. Experience of recruiting patients to research studies.
2. Possession of a full valid driving licence.
3. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.
4. A good understanding of confidentiality and data security.
5. Experience of working in a higher education environment.
6. Experience of taking blood samples (phlebotomy) or willingness to undertake this activity after undergoing appropriate training.

Expected salary

£26444 – 29605 per year

Location

United Kingdom

Job date

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 01:56:57 GMT

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