Please notice applications should arrive by the close of business on Friday 16th June 2006 and for an informal discussion about the post, please contact Professor Irwin Nazareth,Tel: 020 7830 2394, email: [log in to unmask]
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Post Title: Statistician in Primary Care
Salary: Lecturer: point 33 - 43 + £2400 London Allowance per annum
Place of work: Department of Primary Care & Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, UCL, Hampstead Campus
Tenure: full time post - initially for two years. Renewal subject to satisfactory performance and dependent on funding
Reporting to: Professor Irwin Nazareth, Professor of Primary Care & Population Sciences & Director of MRC General Practice Research Framework
Head of Department: Professor Anne Johnson
1. the post
The post will be based in the Department of Primary Care & Population Sciences (PCPS), Royal Free & University College Medical School (RF&UCMS), Hampstead Campus. The post holder will manage the statistical aspects of specific studies co-ordinated by the primary care research group (i.e. mental health and e-health). The statistician will work on these studies in close collaboration with Senior Statisticians within the department of Primary Care & Population Sciences at UCL and the MRC Clinical Trials Unit (CTU). The post holder will also participate in the multidisciplinary research of the Department of PCPS and will work across the interface between the Dept of PCPS, UCL and the MRC General Practice Research Framework (GPRF). Nationally, the post holder will capitalise on the opportunities provided by the close working relationships between PCPS, the MRC Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) and the MRC GPRF, as well as the existing collaborative links with the Department of Mental Health Sciences.
2. BACKGROUND
The Primary Care grouping of the Department of PCPS is housed on the Hampstead and Archway Campus of the Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences. The Department's strategic aim is to deliver high quality community-based teaching in public health and primary care, and to undertake a programme of internationally competitive multi-disciplinary research that addresses the management and prevention of disease in individuals and populations.
The Department was created in 1995 from three academic groups: the Primary Care Departments at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine (RFHSM) and UCL Medical School and the Public Health Department at the RFHSM, and predated the merger of the two medical schools in 1998. PCPS is one of the largest departments of its kind in Europe.
The Department is located on three sites at the Medical School's Hampstead, Archway and Bloomsbury campuses. It comprises over 180 FTE members of staff. The Department's multidisciplinary character is a major strength for its research profile, with staff appointments representing: general practice, genito-urinary medicine, public health and epidemiology, health services research; infectious disease, HIV and cardiovascular epidemiology; health psychology; primary care nursing; sociology and statistics. The Department is part of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences' Division of Population Health, which includes the MRC Clinical Trials Unit, the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and the Department of Mental Health Sciences.
The Hampstead and Archway campuses house research groupings:
British Regional Heart Study
Centre for Aging Population Studies
Health Psychology and Social Sciences
Primary Care Mental Health
Open Learning Unit
Primary Care e-health
HIV Epidemiology
Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
The last two groups undertake research in sexually transmitted infections and HIV and work together on a number of joint projects with the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV at Mortimer Market. There are strong collaborations with primary care colleagues.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSTHOLDER
Research
The statistician's task will be as follows:
· Managing statistical aspects of specific studies that will include:
1) Developing statistical aspects of the protocol for trials and epidemiological studies
2) Prepare randomisation lists for trials
3) Prepare file specifications for data output for analysis
4) Develop analysis plans for interim and final analysis
5) Write programmes to enable efficient conduct of trials/epidemiological studies
6) Conduct checks on data completeness and data accuracy
· Taking a supervisory role in the following:
1) Liaising with programmers on the design of study/trial databases
2) Liaise with data/trial managers particularly on data completeness and accuracy and managing statistical aspects of trials/studies
· Prepare papers for submission to peer reviewed journals
· Prepare conference abstracts and presentation of study findings at local, national and international conferences
· Play an integral role in the development of new research proposals including study design, sample size calculations
· Take steps to increase their knowledge of the primary care research relevant to the research in the department by reading relevant journals and attending conferences
· Develop and solve methodological problems that are of practical relevance to primary care research conducted within the department of PCPS in collaboration with colleagues
· Participate in the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in support of the Department's contribution to teaching programmes within UCL teaching
· Participate in the statistical review of papers
· Participate in the Department of PCPS at UCL and the MRC CTU in-house seminar programmes and conferences
Teaching
The postholder will:
· Undertake undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in support of the Department's contribution to teaching programmes within UCL.
· Be expected to advise clinical and non clinical research students registered for higher degrees at the UCL.
Continuing Education
The postholder will be expected to be committed to continuing professional education and to undertake other specific training courses as necessary within and outside UCL.
Accountability
The post will be managerially responsible to the Professor of Primary Care and Population Sciences (Professor Irwin Nazareth) and ultimately to the Head of the Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences (Professor Anne Johnson). Appraisal will be under the usual arrangements for professorial staff in UCL.
Location
The post holder will be provided with office accommodation, secretarial and computing support at the Hampstead Campus of the Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, UCL.
4. PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
· Masters degree in statistics or related discipline
· Higher academic degree eg PhD, or evidence of an equivalent level in research publications.
· Proven ability to carry out statistical analyses of large databases.
· Publication record in peer-reviewed statistical and clinical journals.
· Active research profile approaching national level.
· Ability in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level
· Ability to organise and prioritise workload
· Ability to work with a team and manage, motivate, inspire and support staff.
· Appreciation of the policy on Equal Opportunities and its application in the workplace.
Desirable
· Experience of collaborative work on national and international research programmes
· Experience of statistical analysis of data from Primary Care and/or Community based studies
· Able to represent the Department and the UCL to external audiences
5. tERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Appointment
The appointment will be made in accordance with UCL's Statutes and Regulations. Further details are available in the staff handbooks provided by UCL (available on request).
The appointment will be made on the non-clinical lecturer salary scale, depending on qualifications and will be a full time appointment. Currently:
Non-clinical Lecturer: £28,010 - £37,642 + £2400 London Allowance per annum
The postholder will actively follow UCL policies including:
Equal Opportunities Policy
Policy and Guidelines for Conflicts of Interest
A Policy for Investigating and Resolving Allegations of Financial Irregularity
Personal Relationships at Work: Code of Conduct
Public Interest Disclosure
Policy on the Investigation of Research Misconduct
Financial Regulations
Policy on Data Protection
Code of Conduct for Undertaking Business on Behalf of UCL
Please see the Human Resources website http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/ for information on employment policies.
The Code of Conduct for Undertaking Business on Behalf of UCL can be found at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/finance/secure/fin_docs/code_of_conduct.htm
Pre-employment Health Screening
Confirmation will also be subject to satisfactory pre-employment health screening and appropriate immunisation against infectious diseases.
Hours of Work / Annual Leave
There are no fixed hours for members of the academic staff, but their appointments are full-time and they may not undertake any continuous engagement with other parties outside UCL without the special permission of the UCL Council.
Application for annual and other leave, with approval from the Head of Department, should be made well in advance of the date requested. There is no fixed duration of annual leave, but as a guide similar posts attract 30 days plus 6 customary days plus Bank Holidays.
Superannuation
The successful applicant will be eligible to join the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). UCL will make no contributions to personal pension plans for those who opt out of the above scheme.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
Due to the nature of this post it is exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exemption Order 1975). Applicants are, therefore, not entitled to withhold information about convictions including those which for other purposes are "spent" under the provisions of the Act. In the event of employment, any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by UCL. Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to application for positions to which the order applies.
Relocation Expenses
UCL has a policy for the reimbursement of relocation expenses for general funded posts i.e. posts not funded from external sources - further information can be found at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/docs/relocation_expenses.php
Equal Opportunities
UCL has adopted an Equal Opportunities Policy and specific regard should be taken of its content in relation to the treatment of employees or potential employees. (Full details are set out in the UCL Academic Staff Handbook, available on request.)
In the recruitment, selection, training, appraisal, development and promotion of staff, the only consideration must be that the individual meets, or is likely to meet the requirements of the post. The requirements being met, no job applicant or employee will be discriminated against on the basis of their gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality (within current legislation), disability, sexual marital status, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs on matters such as religion and politics.
The full policy statement can be found at:http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/docs/equal_opportunity.php
Research Governance
The postholder will be expected to be familiar with the requirements of the UCL research governance framework. The UCL research governance framework can be found on the UCL website at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/finance/secure/research/gov/intro.htm) but it should be noted that the 'Guide for UCL Researchers and Support Staff' is subject to change as the framework is implemented. The postholder should also be familiar with the requirements of research governance under the NHS. In conjunction with these, the postholder will be issued with an Honorary Contract with the Camden Primary Care Trust. Honorary contracts with other NHS organisations would be sought if required.
Data Protection
UCL is required by law to comply with the Data Protection Act, 1998. It is the commitment of UCL to ensure that every current employee and registered student complies with this Act to ensure the confidentiality of any personal data held by UCL, in whatever medium, through its Data Protection Policy.
Employees are authorised, if required to do so, to obtain, process and/or use personal information whether held on a computer or on manual paper files in a fair and lawful way and in accordance with data subjects' rights. Data should be held only for the specific registered purpose and not disclosed in anyway incompatible with such purpose. It should be adequate, relevant and not excessive, accurate and where necessary up to date and kept for no longer than necessary. It should only be disclosed to authorised organisations as instructed and should not be transferred without adequate protection.
Health and Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and Fire Regulations, to ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors. UCL and the Trust both operate a No Smoking Policy, which does not allow smoking at work other than in a designated area.
Recruitment and selection
All employees who are responsible for recruiting new staff are required to attend an in-house recruitment and selection training course before they can be involved in the recruitment process.
6. HOW TO APPLY
Applications (4 copies for UK-based candidates, one copy for overseas candidates), including a completed UCL application form, curriculum vitae, and a cover letter highlighting the applicant's experience in relation to the post should be addressed to:
Miss Angela McArthy
UCL Department of Primary Care & Population Sciences
Royal Free & University College Medical School
Hampstead Campus
Rowland Hill Street
London
NW3 2PF
Applications should arrive by the close of business on Friday 16th June 2006
Interviews will be conducted end of June/beginning of July.
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Professor Irwin Nazareth,
Tel: 020 7830 2394, email: [log in to unmask]
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Dr Irene Petersen
University College of London
Dept Primary Care and Population Science
Rowland Hill st
London NW3 2PF
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