Research Associate in the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (NIHR ARC-GM)

We wish to appoint a Research Associate with qualitative research skills and experience to join the Digital Health and Organising Care Research Themes within the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (NIHR ARC-GM), based at The University of Manchester. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to the evaluation of digital innovations, new models of care, and workforce-related issues in health and social care in Greater Manchester.

Qualitative research will play a key role in understanding how these digital innovations and new models of care are being implemented and how they may impact on patients, carers and the health and social care workforce. Integral to the post is engagement with stakeholders, including patients and members of the public, and health and social care providers.

Overall Purpose of the Job

The overall purpose of the current position is to contribute to research in the ARC-GM Digital Health and Organising Care themes evaluating digital and other innovations in care and service delivery. Examples of our current research include evaluations of digital interventions to reduce do-not-attend rates in outpatient settings, and interventions that aim to reduce the demand for urgent and emergency care. We also have several projects aiming to understand and manage the impact of digitised and other new care models on health equity.

The successful candidate will initially focus on designing, conducting and writing up the qualitative components of mixed-methods evaluations of the implementation of patient engagement portals (PEPs) and personal health records (PHRs) across health and care organisations in Greater Manchester. They will do this in close collaboration with quantitative researchers and patient representatives. Across the two themes, they will be using a variety of qualitative methods, including observations and interviews to examine how digital innovations (such as PEPs and PHRs) and other new models of care and service delivery are being implemented and adopted, and their impacts on the health/social care workforce and outcomes and equity for patients and carers. Data collection will take place at NHS and social care facilities.

Please note, under the new immigration rules this role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route of the Points Based System. Candidates will need to be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK in order to be eligible to take up the post.

What can you expect in return

The University will actively foster a culture of inclusion and diversity and will seek to achieve true equality of opportunity for all members of its community.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme


• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme


• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays


• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period


• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers


As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.