Senior Researcher (Maternity Cover)

Working pattern: Hybrid

Contract type: FTC Maternity Cover until 3 August 2026

Location: 21 Prescot Street, London

Interview date: Wednesday 27 August 2025 - (via MS Teams)

THE ROLE

Here at the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, for more than 20 years we have developed an international reputation for producing evidence-based guidance, evaluation and policy.

An opportunity has become available for a Senior Researcher to join the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health to provide maternity leave cover for 11 months in the first instance. The successful candidate will lead in the development of competence frameworks, systematic reviews, evaluations, research reports and articles for peer-reviewed publication, as well as other research tasks. They will be expected to plan consultations with stakeholders and implement advice from Expert Reference Groups in important and complex issues in mental health care, including dementia and gender identity services. The senior researcher will be expected to supervise the research team in searching for literature, sifting articles, data extraction, data synthesis and quality appraisal and lead the writing of reviews. Importantly the senior researcher will be expected to manage the components of complex projects and deliver high quality outputs on time.

We are seeking an individual with a background in mental health services, competence frameworks or systematic reviewing, who has a PhD in a related field (e.g. psychology, systematic reviewing, mental health, healthcare management), and has experience of managing or leading research projects.

The successful candidate will also have a proven ability to communicate and present information in a clear and concise fashion and be able to manage a small team.

THE COLLEGE

The College values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, reflecting the population it serves.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

We will provide appropriate reasonable adjustments for candidates who may have a disability.

We only recruit the best and in return for your commitment the College offers an attractive salary and benefits.

We operate a hybrid working model of on-site and working from home/remote, which helps to ensure a flexible work life balance.

We welcome applications from all sections of the Community.

For any queries, please e-mail: [email protected] .

If you require assistance or any other reasonable adjustments to complete your application form, please contact [email protected]

STAFF BENEFITS

To help we offer a range of excellent staff benefits including:

• up to 25 days of annual leave, depending on length of service (exclusive of public and bank holidays)
• up to six College closures days (during May, August and December)
• generous flexi-time and time off in lieu (TOIL) schemes
• enhanced maternity leave (eight weeks at full pay, 18 weeks at half pay, 13 weeks lower rate SMP, 13 weeks unpaid leave)
• enhanced paternity leave (two weeks at full pay, rather than at statutory level)
• interest-free season ticket loan
• subsidised café at our London Head Office
• health and wellbeing package (including up to £160 for complementary therapies)
• money towards annual eye tests
• 24/7 health and stress-related helplines
• management support helplines
• Group Income Protection Scheme
• generous pension and life assurance schemes

The College is an Equal Opportunities Employer.Charity registration. no. 228636. The College is a proud member of the Disability confident employer scheme. A Disability confident employer will offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria (essential) for the job as defined by the employer. Please see candidate information pack for more information.

NO AGENCIES OR PUBLICATIONS PLEASE