Research Fellow – Post-diagnostic Dementia Support

We are looking for a clinical or counselling psychologist to join our research team. The post holder will be responsible for adapting elements of our successful group-based Living Well with Dementia post-diagnostic course (LivDem) so that it can be used with couples and families. You will be involved in consulting with stakeholders, working in collaboration with families and trialing the intervention. The post is an ideal opportunity for a committed and enthusiastic psychologist to develop their research experience.

This is a full-time, two-year fixed-term post, although we are also willing to consider part-time arrangements including a job share basis. You will be joining a small team of dementia researchers (including a Research Fellow funded by Research Capability funding from Avon and Wiltshire mental health trust) who have been developing the LivDem model . The project has a number of elements which the post-holder will be involved in:

• reviewing the literature around communicating with people living with dementia and their families;
• stakeholder consultation with existing LivDem facilitators, practitioners and families living with dementia;
• working with families, one of whom has recently been diagnosed with a form of dementia, to co-produce a Families-LivDem intervention;
• a preliminary trial to assess the feasibility of a future trial by collecting data on candidate outcome measures and treatment fidelity; and
• writing an application to the NIHR for a fully-powered trial of Families-LivDem.

The post holder will be working towards completion or will have already completed a doctoral level qualification and will ideally meet the requirements to be registered as a Psychology Practitioner with the Health Care Professions Council as a counselling or clinical psychologist or an equivalent. You will have experience of working with people living with dementia and their families and ideally will have experience of maintaining a website and using social media including video blogs and twitter.

The post is funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) for early career researchers to pursue dementia research as part of its Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) programme. The post holder will have support from ARC West and will have ties with a research fellow based at the University of Bristol.

UWE Bristol is a campus-based University and it is important for our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore based at UWE Bristol’s lively Frenchay campus, with the opportunity for remote working. Frenchay campus has excellent transport links –

as well as being located near the motorway network we are within walking distance of two train stations , our bus terminus connects us to the local bus and metrobus network and we also have a range of cycling and changing facilities.

Bristol is a city that’s famous for its rebellious streak, independent thinking, unique style and edgy creativity. Home to over 460,000 people hailing from 187 different countries – you can find over 91 different languages spoken here, and 45 religions practised. Topping polls on a regular basis, Bristol isn’t just a great place to live, but a great place to work.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Multiple Heritage or Other Minority Ethnic candidates as we are currently under-represented in these areas within UWE Bristol. However, all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.

In addition to progressive pay rates, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including:

• a generous holiday allowance of 35 days
• up to 12.5 bank holiday/closure days per year
• hybrid working
• excellent defined benefit pension schemes
• access to employee assistance programme
• ongoing learning and development opportunities
• family friendly policies and wellbeing initiatives
• onsite nursery at our Frenchay Campus.
• Retail savings via the Wider Wallet scheme
• option to participate in the cycle to work scheme

We also boast an excellent in-house Learning & Development team who provide a wide variety of in-house training courses and development programmes and our Academic Practice Directorate supports our academic colleagues to ensure the highest in professional teaching standards.

Further information

If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Professor Richard Cheston on 0117-3288927 (richard.cheston@uwe.ac.uk ) or Dr Emily Dodd (Emily3.Dodd@uwe.ac.uk).

We are able to sponsor qualifying candidates for this role under the Home Office Skilled Worker visa route. Please read our Skilled Worker Guidance to assess if you will be eligible to be sponsored under the criteria.

Please also refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist  which provides details of which documents are acceptable to prove your right to work in the UK. Should you be shortlisted you will be asked to produce your right to work documents at your interview.

Please note that UWE does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.