Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Post Number: 003811LG
Job Description
School/Department
:
Academic Unit of Primary Care and Population Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
Research Fellow
Post Title:
Please enter Level
under appropriate
Career Pathway
ERE
4
TAE
MSA
Academic Posts
ERE Category
Academ
ic
(mixed)
Research
only
CAO
R. Nurse
Clinical
Non-Academic Posts
Teaching
only
Enterprise
Education Development
X
Posts Responsible to (and
Level):
Primarily to Director, Public Health Sciences and Medical
Statistics (ERE, Level 7) and GL (for qualitative components)
Posts Responsible for (and
Level):
Job Purpose: To be the research fellow on a NIHR Health Services Research grant entitled: ‘A
national study of practice patters in UK renal units in the use of dialysis and conservative kidney
management to treat people aged 75 years and over with chronic kidney failure (stage 5 chronic
kidney disease, CKD5).’
This study will use quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify practice patterns
amongst renal units in the UK for developing conservative kidney management (CKM) and end of
life care for patients with Established Renal Failure (ERF) who opt not to have dialysis. A
secondary aim is to establish the feasibility of a prospective multicentre study (randomised or
not) to compare CKM with dialysis.
It is a 21 month study and the post holder will be responsible to Professor P Roderick for coordinating all aspects of the project and to Dr Gerry Leydon will supervise qualitative
components. They will undertake qualitative interviews with members of the multi-disciplinary
team and patients from 9 renal units. A national survey will also be carried out with 72 renal units
nationwide. The third part of the project will be a retrospective cohort study using information
from a clinical biochemistry database to identify unmet need amongst patients with ERF for
referral to renal units for CKM or dialysis. The post-holder will be involved in the analysis and
write up and dissemination of the findings.
For the qualitative component they will be supported by another research fellow.
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Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities (6-10 bullet points maximum) % Time
1. Research
Tasks:
 Has overall responsibility for the quality control of the study to ensure it is
compliant with the protocol, ICH GCP, Data Protection legislation, the
requirements of the National Ethics Research Service and delegated
sponsor’s responsibilities on behalf of the Chief Investigator to ensure the
study is undertaken to the highest level.

To take responsibility for study set up and activation: to ensure the
appropriate identification of 9 renal units and invite members of the MDT
and patients to attend semi-structured interviews, and carry out and
analyse the qualitative interviews.

To draft a questionnaire and conduct a national survey.

To assemble and analyse data on the incidence, prevalence and referral
of patients with ERF in the catchment populations of 4 renal units

To act as the facilitator for the Study Management Group to guarantee
continuity and consistency.

Lead in the drafting of manuscripts and conference presentations, and
undertake presentations of the findings.
95%
5%
2. Other Duties:
 Attend Study Management group meetings.
 Attend relevant training courses as agreed by study CIs.
Any other duties that fall within the scope of the post as allocated by the line
manager following consultation with the post holder.
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)


Internal: Other staff in PCPS, other applicants (include senior kidney doctors and
palliative care experts) and study steering group.
External: health professionals at the renal units.
Special Requirements:
The post may involve non standard hours of work from time to time, in order to complete tasks
to short deadlines. The post holder must be willing to travel to research sites in order to collect
the data. A disabled person may utilise other means of transport, if you do not own a car.
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Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
How to be
assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and
Experience:
Graduate in health-related or social discipline
or equivalent experience
X
Post-graduate degree in relevant discipline
x
PhD in relevant discipline
Application
and interview
X
Sound knowledge of qualitative research with
relevant work experience and analysis using
software package (Nvivo 8 is the best one on
UoS computers)
X
X
Experience of conducting qualitative research
in health and/or social care settings
Experience of research into chronic kidney
disease
X
X
Experience of quantitative research in health
or social care settings
Publication in international peer reviewed
journals
X
Knowledge and experience of working in the
NHS
X
Planning and Organising:
Excellent time management skills to handle a
varied workload and work to tight deadlines
X
Proven project management skills
X
Ability to work with limited supervision
X
Very good organisational and administrative
skills
X
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Application
and interview
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Problem Solving and Initiative:
Take initiative in building good
communication links with individual groups
including researchers, clinicians and patient
groups
X
Ability to assess the causes of problems and
to identify innovative ways to find solutions
X
Application
and interview
Management and Teamwork:
Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team
Application
and interview
X
.
Communicating and Influencing:
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
both verbally and in writing.
X
Ability to inspire confidence and influence
team members and researchers including
senior clinicians and academics
Application
and interview
X
Experience of giving presentations
X
Excellent inter-personal skills
X
Other Skills and Behaviours:
Confident and at ease communicating with a
range of people, from patients and members
of the public to academics and senior
clinicians
X
Flexibility to learn new skills
X
General IT literacy skills (e.g. word, excel,
powerpoint)
X
CKDMAPPS_HR5_3Mar11
Application
and interview
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Special Requirements:
The post may involve non standard hours of
work from time to time, in order to complete
tasks to short deadlines.
Application
and interview
X
The post holder must be willing to travel to
research sites. A disabled person may
utilise other means of transport, if you do not
own a car.
X
Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification
Please tick one of the following statements:
✓
This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU (if
ticked, no further information needs to be supplied)
This post has some hazards other than routine office e.g. more than use of
VDU
Please tick all those that apply, and put N/A if not applicable
Environmental Exposures
Outside work
O*
n/a
Extremes of temperature (e.g. fridge/ furnace)
Potential for exposure to body fluids
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa)
Exposure to hazardous substances (e.g. solvents, liquids, dust,
fumes, biohazards). Specify
Frequent hand washing
n/a
n/a
n/a
Ionising radiation.
n/a
F
n/a
n/a
Equipment/Tools/Machines used
Food Handling
Driving university vehicles (e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV)
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical
necessity)
Vibrating tools (e.g. strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Physical Abilities
Load manual handling.
n/a
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing
Repetitive Lifting
Standing for prolonged periods
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
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C
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting)
n/a
n/a
Gross motor grips
n/a
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height
n/a
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height
Psychosocial Issues
Face to face contact with public
Lone working
Shift work/night work/on call duties
n/a
x
x
n/a
O – Occasionally (up to 1/3 of time); F – Frequently (up to 2/3 of time); C – Constantly
(more than 2/3 of time) ## denotes to HR the need for a full PEHQ to be sent to all applicants
for this position.
FOR SCHOOL/SERVICE USE ONLY
ResourceLink Post Number
Which post does this job report to
Director of Public Heath Sciences and Medical
Statistics
Is this post a Line Manager?
Yes
No
X
If yes, which posts directly report into it?
ResourceLink Post Number
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