Post-Doctoral Research Associate/ Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Health Services & Population Research

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.

Closing date: 16th  April 2024