Research Assistant

The main purpose of the Research Assistant is to support the effective
delivery of the Cancer Research UK funded study titled: “Improving uptake
of breast, bowel and cervical cancer screening among Muslim women: a
non-randomised feasibility study of a peer-led, faith-based intervention”, by
working in partnership with the community, building and maintaining
strong links with the community and ensuring the project is grounded in a
true participatory approach.

Key Responsibilities

and


Accountabilities:

• Act as the Recruitment Lead for the project.
• Facilitate recruitment of research participants.
• Facilitate the recruitment and maintenance of the Public Involvement

Community Engagement (PICE) group.

• Facilitate links to relevant communities in the North East of England and

Scotland.

• Contribute to relevant research meetings.
• Contribute to all aspects of the research where relevant.
• Develop and implement a personal research plan and where

appropriate related reach-out plan.

• Undertake basic research for example by preparing, setting up,

conducting and recording the outcome of experiments and field work,


the development of questionnaires and conducting surveys.

• Conduct literature and database searches.
• Continue to update knowledge and develop skills.
• Seek to exploit the outcomes of research.
• Assist in the supervision of student projects.
• Could be expected to contribute to delivery of modules for example on

the use of research methods and equipment.

Special


Circumstances:

This role is specific to the project titled: “Improving uptake of breast, bowel


and cervical cancer screening among Muslim women: a non-randomised


feasibility study of a peer-led, faith-based intervention”.

University of Sunderland

Part 2

Part 2A: Essential and Desirable Criteria

Essential

Qualifications And Professional Memberships

N/A

• Have strong links with relevant communities in the North East of

England and/or Scotland

• Experience of working in partnership with relevant communities
• Proven communication skills, including presentations to various

audiences

• Exceptional accuracy, thoroughness, attention to detail, and

organisation skills

Desirable

Qualifications and Professional Memberships:

• Health related degree

Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience of conducting research
• Experience of recruitment of research participants

Part 2B: Key Competencies

Analysis and Research

• Reports findings to wider community and is able to withstand

challenge by relying on evidence gathered and processed used for


analysis.
Communication




Oral

• Summarises and interprets complex, conceptual and special matters

to aid others’ understanding and aimed at their needs.

• Uses appropriate styles and arguments to influence and negotiate

satisfactory outcomes.

• Monitors understanding of others, develops approach and takes

corrective action if required.
Written

• Conveys information of a complex, conceptual and specialist nature

using a range of styles and media selected to meet the needs of


others.

• Presents complex information in formats appropriate to non-

specialists without comprising meaning

• Monitors the reactions of others and takes appropriate steps to

remedy any miscommunications.
Decision Making


Independent decisions

• Considers wider impact of decisions, assesses possible outcomes

and their likelihood.

• Uses judgement to make decisions with limited or ambiguous data

and takes account of multiple factors.

• Distinguishes between the need to make a decision, when to defer

and when not to take a decision.

Collaborative decisions

• Helps others to explore options that initially appear to be

inappropriate or unfeasible and recognise when a decision is or is


not needed.

• Enables others to contribute to decisions.
• Ensures that options are weighed, outcomes identified and chances

of success considered.

• Challenges decisions, appropriately to ensure consideration and

processes are robust.

Contribute to the decision making of others

• Anticipates and highlights issues that need to be taken into account.
• Outlines possible impacting factors, assessing their degree of

influence on the choice of options.

• Ensures previous learning is included.
  

Initiative and Problem Solving

• Initiates processes and procedures to resolve new problems.
• Anticipates possible implementation difficulties and identifies

practical ways of overcoming or preventing them.

• Takes account of others and the broader context when generating

options.



Pastoral Care and Welfare

• Calms and reassures those in distress.
• Deals with difficult situations or confidential matters, according to

policy and procedures.

• Involves others or refers elsewhere for assistance if the situation

becomes more complex and if additional help or information is


required.

Planning and Organising Resources

• Suggests ways of improving working practice and use of resources.
• Creates realistic plans to achieve own deadlines and objectives.
• Monitors progress of self and or others so that corrective action can

be taken if needed.

• Ensures that time and resources are used effectively to their

maximum efficiency.
Date Completed:24 January 2023