Summary of Post This post is funded as part of ELEVATE, a 5-year research programme focused on early brain injury and Cerebral Palsy (CP), funded by SFI (now Research Ireland) and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation through SFI's Strategic Partnership Programme.
Population-based CP registries have existed on the island of Ireland and internationally for several decades.
These registries aim to collect population data on CP to inform and improve understanding of the condition, to raise standards of care for people with CP, disseminate knowledge for people with CP, health professionals and key stakeholders, and facilitate research.
Notably, two major networks that pool data from population-based registries, the Surveillance of CP in Europe (SCPE) and the Australian CP Register (ACPR) networks, have advanced understanding of trends in birth prevalence and profile of CP internationally.
However, there is currently no active CP Registry in the Republic of Ireland.
We are seeking to recruit a Research Assistant to support the development and implementation of an Irish National Cerebral Palsy Registry.
The Research Assistant will support and report to Dr Grace Lavelle (Registry Manager)/Dr Jennifer Ryan (Director CP-Life Research Centre), and work closely with the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA).
NOCA establishes and maintains national clinical audits across several clinical areas including intensive care, major trauma, hip fractures, arthroplasty, and mortality.
NOCA is funded by the Health Service Executive Quality Improvement Division and operationally supported by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
The purpose of NOCA national clinical audits is to improve the quality of care provided to patients and to improve their outcomes.
Specifically, the duties of the post are: Work closely with the wider development team, including the Registry Manager, Principal Investigator, Clinical Lead, Technical Lead, NOCA, and steering committee
Support with public involvement initiatives
Support with developing all necessary protocols and documentation
Support with developing training and education materials
Co-ordinate data sharing agreements and database management
Obtain ethical approval as required
Create data dictionaries/meta-data
Support with site engagement with local clinical teams
Support with process mapping and testing at sites
Support with training site personnel
Monitor and escalate data quality issues relating to the registry
Organise team, steering committee and advisory group meetings
Work on communication strategy development and implementation
Assist in planning, writing, design and analysis of data for reports including national reports, summary reports, quarterly reports, peer-reviewed publications, Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) communications Qualifications – (Essential): Degree or MSc in relevant discipline including data management, computer science, data science, health and social sciences
Project Management training would be desirable Knowledge & Experience – (Essential): Proven experience of managing data/databases or other relevant project management experience
Proven experience of developing documentation/protocols related to data management/data access/project management
Understanding of GDPR and data protection
Excellent administrative and organisational skills
Strong IT/software skills (including design, project management, word processing etc.)
Meeting management experience (e.g., scheduling, minute taking)
Flexibility: can operate flexibly within a busy environment, shift focus when required, prioritise conflicting demands
Demonstrates initiative and also ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Conscientious and motivated individual Knowledge & Experience – (Desirable): Experience of research or clinical audit methodologies (i.e., data collection, validating, reporting)
Cognisant of research processes and procedures
Track record of building positive working relationships with relevant stakeholders (e.g.
clinicians, academics, participants)
Experience developing/implementing communications strategy
Dissemination experience e.g.
webpages, infographics, videos
Strong problem-solving skills
Knowledge of cerebral palsy
Understanding and experience of research ethics process
Driving licence and access to car
Engagement with patients and the public involvement (PPI) initiatives We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do submit an application — we'd love to hear from you.