Study Facilitators – North East England

Variable Hours contract £17.85 per hour plus holiday entitlement; payment by timesheet completion

The People

We are looking for individuals with experience of living with long-term, non-cancer pain, who have reduced or stopped their own opioid medication, to deliver and facilitate the I-WOTCH intervention at venues within south east England, alongside a trained nurse facilitator.
You will need effective communication skills to facilitate the group sessions, encourage discussion and inform and empower participants about self-management techniques. Full training will be given over two days at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, prior to delivering the intervention.

The posts will involve travel around specified areas in the North East with most of the work expected to be in community venues. Areas of program delivery will include Teesside, Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees as well as Durham, Darlington, Easington Sedgefield. Successful candidates will be given an opportunity to determine which areas they are willing and able to work in. Please clearly state on your application which parts of the region you are prepared to travel to and work in.
A flexible approach is required to hours of work, which is offered on a variable hours basis to suit the nature of the intervention programmes.

Responsibilities/duties

The primary responsibility of the post holder will be to deliver the study intervention and facilitate the group sessions with the I-WOTCH Trial team and the trained I-WOTCH nurse.

• Attend I-WOTCH training days and supervisory support sessions as requested.
• Implement the I-WOTCH self-management programme activities in the North East.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with the I-WOTCH study team, as well as with the staff in the community venues where you will be delivering the intervention.
• Communicate efficiently with the study team to ensure adequate supplies of all intervention materials. To assist in the management, storage and movement of these materials.
• Assist in ensuring that all trial documentation is completed and stored according to the I-WOTCH protocol.
• Ensure compliance with Good Clinical Practice, the Research Governance Framework and ICH Good Clinical Practice.
• Ensure that the study is undertaken in accordance with the terms approved by the Research Ethics Committee and the appropriate NHS Research and Development Department (R&D).
• Travel to and work in a range of agreed locations around the North East.
• Undertake other duties as requested by the I-WOTCH team leader and/or trial manager.

Selection criteria

Essential

• Experience of reducing or stopping your own opioid medication for long-term pain.
• Able to work closely with the research nurse to deliver and facilitate group sessions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to take responsibility and work on own initiative.
• Able to adhere to study Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines.
• Good organisational and time management skills.
• Good IT skills (Word, Outlook, internet use).
• Willingness and ability to travel in and around the North East.
You will be required to hold a research passport and have Disclosure and Barring Service clearance prior to the start of employment. These will be organised via the I-WOTCH team at the University of Warwick. Return of the necessary documentation will therefore be essential prior to the start of working.

Desirable

• Experience of facilitating group work or presenting to groups.

• An interest in research or an interest in long term pain or self-management
• Knowledge of pain management, pain medications and opioids.
• Driving license

How to apply

For an informal discussion, please contact Jennifer Noyes: email: j.noyes@nhs.net
• To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the selection criteria to cturesources@warwick.ac.uk.
• Closing dates for applications: 30th September 2017. Likely interview dates: week commencing 9th October 2017.
• Please clearly state in your letter which parts of the region you are prepared to travel and work in.