Faculty of Medicine & Health
School of Healthcare
Research Assistant: Primary care-based management of frailty in older people
Part time - 60% of full time basis
This post is available for a fixed term of 9 months
The School is looking for an enthusiastic Research Assistant to support our Primary care-based management
of frailty in older people theme of the NIHR funded Yorkshire and Humber Collaboration for Leadership in
Applied Health Research and Care (NIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber) http://clahrc-yh.nihr.ac.uk/ourthemes/primary-care-based-management-of-frailty-in-older-people. The theme is led by Professor John Young
(Bradford Institute for Health Research). Working under the direction of Professor Karen Spilsbury (School of
Healthcare, University of Leeds) and Professor Barbara Hanratty (University of Newcastle), you will have a
central role in a study which will inform initiatives aiming to enhance communication between frail older people,
their informal carers, and primary care based practitioners.
The team currently consists of an active group of researchers and practitioners. You will be expected to take
forward and deliver on research activities associated with this study, including: (i) qualitative interviews with
frail older people, their informal carers and primary case based practitioners; and (ii) a workshop with primary
care based practitioners to inform a proposal on the form and content of initiatives to enhance communication
between frail older people, their carers and primary care based practitioners. You will have the opportunity to
contribute to literature reviews for the study.
You will have experience of working in applied health and/ or social care research and will be required to use
these skills to develop and maintain good working relationships with service users, staff and clinical
colleagues.
It is anticipated that Interviews for this post will take place on the morning of 12th January 2016
The post is based in the School of Healthcare in Baines Wing, on the main University campus.
The University of Leeds is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. The university is a
charter member of Athena SWAN and holds the Bronze award. The School of Healthcare holds the
Bronze award. We are committed to being an inclusive school that values all staff, and we are
happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our
employees.
University Grade 6 (£25,769 - £30,738 p.a.) pro rata depending on qualifications and relevant
experience.
Informal enquiries regarding the post should be directed to Professor Karen Spilsbury; email:
k.spilsbury@leeds.ac.uk
If you have any specific enquiries about your online application please contact Sharon Lalley, tel: +44 (0)
113 343 1434 or email: headofschooloffice@healthcare.leeds.ac.uk
Job Ref:
MHHEA1048
Closing Date: 3rd January 2016
Job Description
Reports to:
Accountable to:
Professor of Nursing Research
Programme Theme Lead and Head of School
Purpose of the Post
In this study we will work with older patients, their informal carers and primary care based practitioners to
explore their perceptions and experiences of clinical encounters and understand what matters most to
patients and carers, as well as the priorities and main challenges for practitioners. The aim is to identify
priority areas for practice development to: (i) meet the needs of frail older people and their informal carers;
and (ii) support health professionals. The purpose of this post is that of a key researcher in this project and
that will contribute to the overall work programme of the NIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber Primary
care-based management of frailty in older people theme. Some travel will be required.
Job Summary
In line with the University’s Research Strategy and the School of Healthcare’s Vision, you will contribute to
a defined area of research which underpins policy, practice, and education and makes a positive difference
to health, locally, nationally, and internationally.
You will work closely with the project lead, team members and CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber Primary
care-based management of frailty in older people team, as well as liaising with other CLAHRC Yorkshire
and Humber staff. You will also work with patients and their informal carers, and practitioners.
You will work across disciplines as a member of the research team, within an integrated School of
Healthcare, to deliver high quality research and increase our global research impact by actively
disseminating research to expand international recognition for the School’s research and innovation
activities.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
 To be responsible for the day to day conduct of research activities associated with the study as outlined
in the proposal, supported by and working closely with the research team
 Organise, undertake and analyse qualitative interviews and/ or focus groups with frail older patients,
their informal carers and primary care based practitioners in sites across the Yorkshire and Humber
region
 Support the organisation and facilitation of a workshop with primary care based practitioners to share
study findings and to determine what resources might be most useful for practitioners to promote best
practice in care frail older people in primary care
 To manage own workload and duties and provide regular feedback to the team on study progress
 Work with the project and theme leads and other theme staff to ensure timely delivery of the study
 Support and liaise with study participants (including frail older people, their informal carers and
practitioners)
 Ensure appropriate ethical and governance approvals are in place for the study and to adhere to these
at all times during the conduct of the study
 Participate and contribute to the wider work of the NIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber Primary carebased management of frailty in older people theme
 Support literature reviewing and evaluate the methods and techniques used and results obtained by
other researchers and relate the evidence-base appropriately to the study
 Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills to contribute to report writing,
publications and presentations
 Support the research team to generate original ideas based on outcomes of the study
 Remain proactive in personal and professional development, and undertake staff development
opportunities as may be appropriate


Undertake the role in accord with the requirements of the University’s Health & Safety Policy. This may
include ensuring that risk assessments in their area are completed, staff are aware of them and adhere
to all relevant safety polices and arrangements
Make active contribution to School, Faculty and University committees as appropriate
Innovation and Knowledge Transfer (IKT)
 Engage in IKT activities, examples include:
- The application of research outcomes to benefit society in the care and service delivery for frail
older people
- Commercialisation of intellectual property derived from research and/or teaching
- Conducting applied, or user-driven, research
General
 Undertake any additional activities commensurate with the post-holder’s level of training and experience
and conducive to fulfilment of the job purpose outlined above, as well as similar posts elsewhere within
the University
 Have an awareness and understanding of Health & Safety issues as they relate to the University
 This job description should not be regarded as a definitive list of duties and responsibilities, which will
develop and change over time through natural progression of the study
The above list is not exhaustive and you may be required to undertake other duties as may reasonably be
expected. Job descriptions are re-evaluated during annual review to ensure that they are an accurate
representation of the post.
Relationships
You will be responsible on a day to day basis to Professor Karen Spilsbury through whom you will be
accountable to the Programme Theme Lead, Academic Unit Director, Head of School and the Dean of the
Faculty of Medicine and Health. Strong relationships will be formed with the NIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and
Humber team, Director of Academic Unit and other learning, teaching and research colleagues within the
School and across the Faculty and wider University, as well as external stakeholders in the health and
social care economy.
University Values
All staff are expected to operate in line with the university’s values and standards, which work as an integral
part of our strategy and set out the principles of how we work together. More information about the
university’s strategy and values is available at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/strategy/
Person Specification
Essential
 Undergraduate and postgraduate qualification (awarded or must have submitted before taking up
the post) in a subject area relating to health and/ or social care
 Evidence of relevant research experience in applied health and/ or social care
 Experience of conducting qualitative research and compiling resulting data and analysis
 Project management experience including in the design and conduct of qualitative methods applied
to research in health and/ or social care, with experience of the NHS
 A developing research background in an area relevant to the project, demonstrated by a developing
national/international publication record, as single or main author, and research publications in peer
reviewed journals
 Experience of delivering conference presentations
 Proven experience of working in an interdisciplinary research environment
 Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the proven ability to write to a standard
required for research reports/ national publications
 Enthusiasm for working within a multi-disciplinary environment
 The ability to work and think independently whilst building and maintaining collaborations with other
researchers and staff working in related areas in the School
 Evidence of an ability to work effectively individually and in a research team to prioritise tasks and to
mentor junior members of staff as appropriate
 Experience of effectively liaising with external partners and contributing to networks
 Effective time management and organisation skills with a proven ability to work efficiently and
effectively to meet deadlines and targets
 Good IT Skills: conversant with a range of general software (including MS Office) and familiarity with
computer packages for qualitative data analysis (such as QSR NVivo or Atlas ti)
 The ability, willingness and flexibility to work elsewhere to meet the demands of the study data
collection
 Able and willing to travel as required by study data collection demands
Desirable
 Registration as a health or social care professional
 A PhD qualification (or about to complete)
 Evidence of research focusing on care and/ or services for older people
Further Information
Faculty Information
With more than 6,000 students, 1,600 staff and annual research income of £50m, the Faculty of Medicine
and Health at Leeds is bigger than some universities. Leeds has one of the largest medical and bioscience
research bases in the UK, and is an acknowledged world leader in cancer, cardiovascular, psychiatric,
genetic, musculo-skeletal and health services research. Treatments developed in Leeds are transforming
the lives of people around the world living with conditions such as HIV, TB, diabetes and malaria.
School/Institute Information
The School of Healthcare is a research-led multidisciplinary school within the Faculty of Medicine and
Health and one of the largest schools of its type in the UK. We are in the top two for Social Work in the
Times league tables and top five for Nursing in the Complete University guide.
The School of Healthcare takes pride in being at the forefront of advancing the healthcare agenda, driving
positive change and developments in healthcare policy, practice, research and education. The School
offers courses of study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and has an expanding community of
research students.
Our research is rated as ‘World leading’ and ‘Internationally excellent’ in terms of originality, significance
and rigour in the recent Research Excellence Framework (in UoA3 91% of activity was rated 3* or 4*) and
the School has a vibrant research culture which influences national and international healthcare policy. We
have a broad ranging team of highly-trained staff and award-winning researchers contributing to the
professional areas of Nursing, Midwifery, Pharmacy, Social Work and Counselling & Psychotherapy.
We have embarked upon an ambitious investment plan with 5 new professors in Applied Health Research,
and Nursing Research, key strategic appointments in maternal care, children’s nursing, social work and
pharmacy, and a new Clinical Skills Suite. This will ensure that our education and research remain worldclass and that students benefit from studying in a research-intensive environment where staff and students
have the opportunity to thrive.
More information about the School can be obtained at http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/soh
Additional Information
Terms and Conditions
Details of the terms and conditions of employment for all staff at the university, including information on
pensions and benefits, are available on the Human Resources web pages accessible via the links on the
right hand side, or at http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/policies
Disclosure and Barring Service checks
This post falls under the remit of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. As
such, all applicants are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, including
any pending criminal prosecutions and those which would otherwise be considered 'spent' under the 1974
Act. However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain ‘spent’ convictions
and cautions are now 'protected' and are not subject to disclosure to employers , and cannot be taken into
account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the
Disclosure and Barring Service website. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-andbarring-service and at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1198/pdfs/uksi_20131198_en.pdf
Declarations of any such information as described above, should be made in the ‘other personal details’
section of the application form and details sent to the Recruitment Officer at disclosure@leeds.ac.uk.
Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is required for this position. The
successful applicant will be required to give consent for the University to check their criminal record status
through independent verification (from the DBS). Information will be kept in strict confidence. Your offer of
appointment will be subject to the University being satisfied with the outcome of these checks.
Disabled Applicants
The post is located in the School of Healthcare, Baines Wing. Disabled applicants wishing to review
access to the building are invited to contact the department direct. Additional information may be sought
from the Recruitment Officer, email disclosure@leeds.ac.uk or tel + 44 (0)113 343 1723.
Disabled applicants are not obliged to inform employers of their disability but will still be covered by the
Equality Act once their disability becomes known.
Further information for applicants with disabilities, impairments or health conditions is available in
the applicant guidance.