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# Job Description
We are looking for five dynamic and motivated Research Assistants with excellent interviewing skills to support a new phase of data collection for a large ongoing longitudinal twin study. The Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study (see [https://eriskstudy.com/](https://eriskstudy.com/)) has been following a cohort of 2232 twin children born across England and Wales in the mid-1990s since they were 5 years old. They have been assessed six times during childhood and adolescence and we have now secured funding to assess them again at age 30. This updated dataset will be made available to researchers across the UK and worldwide to provide a unique resource for conducting research into mental health, adversity, and prosperity over the first three decades of life.
These posts would particularly suit individuals who are looking to work in a flexible manner and gain experience of collecting high-quality data on mental health and social interactions from young adults in the general population who come from a wide range of backgrounds. This may be especially useful for those who plan to pursue a career in research, clinical psychology, mental health nursing, or social work.
The post holders will play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and integrity of the data collected during this phase of the E-Risk Study. Specifically, they will contact Study participants once they turn 30 to explain the Study, gain informed consent, and schedule interviews; conduct interviews with Study participants via online video calls to assess mental health and other aspects of the participants’ lives; ensure the security and confidentiality of the data they collect; plus rate assessments and provide extensive written notes of the discussions and their observations during the interviews. Extensive training will be provided on all aspects of the Study plus regular supervision and ongoing support from the Project Coordinators, and 1 day each month (pro-rata) will be set aside for career/personal development.
The post holders will be based remotely (at home) but will be required to come into the SGDP Centre, IoPPN Denmark Hill campus in London at least one day per month. Post holders will be required to work flexibly as many interviews are likely to be conducted during evenings and weekends. They will also need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check as some of the individuals interviewed are considered potentially vulnerable. The posts are offered for 1 year in the first instance with the possibility of a further 12-month extension and can be held on a full-time or part-time basis.
We particularly welcome applicants who are disabled, LGBTQ+ and/or from a minority ethnic background, as they are under-represented at King’s. We are deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all our activities so that the university is an inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring place to work and study. The SGDP Centre ([https://www.kcl.ac.uk/mental-health-and-psychological-sciences/about/departments/social-genetic-and-developmental-psychiatry](https://www.kcl.ac.uk/mental-health-and-psychological-sciences/about/departments/social-genetic-and-developmental-psychiatry)) strives to be an open and supportive community, with a strong emphasis on working practices that promote diversity and inclusion, including an anti-racism working group.
These posts will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 12 months.
These are full-time posts - 100% full time equivalent though part-time job shares are welcome.# Key responsibilities
- Tracing participants who have lost contact with the Study.
- Making initial contact with Study participants & scheduling appointments.
- Coordinating own diary as many interviews will take place in evenings and on weekends at times convenient to Study participants. Plus, re-arranging interviews as many times as is needed if a participant becomes unavailable/does not attend.
- Taking responsibility and fully managing the allocated twins from initial contact, through to the end of data collection, including over-coming barriers to Study participation.
- Identifying and organising items that are required for interviews (e.g., interview booklets, consent forms, gift vouchers) and sending relevant items to Study participants in a timely manner (plus chasing for responses where necessary).
- Explaining the Study to participants, obtaining informed consent, and conducting semi-structured assessments via video calls of their mental health and other aspects of their lives (e.g., social relationships, work experiences, stressful events).
- Collecting high quality data whilst ensuring a positive experience for Study participants in order to maintain their engagement with this ongoing study.
- Problem-solving and making appropriate decisions where technical problems arise in an interview.
- Responding appropriately (following training) to Study participants who may request or require help (e.g., with their mental health, domestic abuse, etc).
- Communicating with the Project Coordinators when concerns about twins’ wellbeing arise during an interview.
- Extremely careful and precise recording and coding of data collected along with making extensive notes of the discussions and observations during the interviews.
- Liaising with data manager & lab technician to monitor quality of data collected.
- Ensuring the security and confidentiality of the data collected and understanding the legal implications and responsibilities of collecting personal data.
- Liaising with an external company to schedule home visits for collection of biological samples from Study participants.
- Participating in a thorough two-week training programme in London on how to conduct interviews and collect data, plus attending refresher training at regular intervals.
- Meeting virtually with Project Coordinators on a weekly basis for supervision or more frequently depending on Research Assistant/Study needs.
- Attending virtual meetings with the project team fortnightly to update on the progress of data collection, discuss problems & find solutions.
- Coming into the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre (in Camberwell, south London) at least once per month to submit data collected and for in-person meetings, data quality checks, training, and team-building activities.
- Engaging with our young adult lived experience advisors during training sessions and sharing skills and experiences during workshops with this group.
*The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.*
# Skills, knowledge, and experience
**Essential criteria**
1. Holds an undergraduate degree OR a postgraduate qualification in an area relevant to this post (e.g., psychology, epidemiology, sociology, nursing, social work, or related disciplines) OR has no relevant qualifications but has substantial experience of collecting data via interviews for research projects.
2. Outstanding interpersonal skills, including quickly developing rapport with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, being robust, and ability to show empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
3. Experience of conducting interviews on sensitive topics with research participants.
4. Ability to work autonomously and take responsibility for independent completion of tasks.
5. Highly organised and able to use initiative to efficiently plan and execute tasks.
6. Evidence of meticulous record keeping and/or coding of data and excellent attention to detail.
7. Excellent problem-solving abilities and adaptable to unexpected situations.
8. Highly flexible and able to regularly work the set hours during evenings and weekends as required to complete interviews with Study participants.
9. Knowledgeable about how to appropriately handle confidential information and store data securely.
10. Excellent communication skills and ability to work well with colleagues at all levels/in a wide range of roles.
11. Competent in the use of video conferencing technology (e.g., Microsoft Teams).
12. Knowledgeable about mental health and basic principles of research methodology.
**Desirable criteria**
1. Experience of conducting online interviews.
2. Experience of tracing study participants.
3. Knowledgeable about twins and/or twin studies.
4. Experience of working within a longitudinal cohort study.
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# Further Information
Candidates are encouraged to specifically address how they meet the Essential criteria (and where relevant the Desirable criteria) listed above in their covering letter. We aim to hold interviews online in September with a start date of 1st November 2023.
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