NIHR Research Capacity in Dementia Care Programme

Exciting new PhD fellowship opportunities for Nurses and Allied Health Care Professionals

Making a Difference in Dementia Care

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Allied Health and Research Care (CLAHRC) for the South West Peninsula is delighted to offer a full-time PhD fellowship for nurses or allied health care professionals wishing to join an exciting research programme on dementia care. The successful applicant will join a thriving multi-disciplinary team delivering a coordinated and integrated research programme based on research priorities and uncertainties identified by the Alzheimer’s Society and others via the ‘James Lind Alliance’ process. The PhD fellow will have the opportunity to develop, test and evaluate one of a suite of linked interventions designed to help people with dementia continue to live independently for longer and to help them manage their transition to dependent living in a coordinated and compassionate manner. Interventions to be developed and tested will involve individuals, their carers and family, the health and social care system (including the NHS, local authorities, and private and third-sector organisations), and the community, to increase the coordination and integration of care.

The stipend is for three years full time study and has been designed for recently qualified nurses or allied health care professionals (for example, physiotherapists, occupational therapists) who are considering embarking on a research career. Finances include living allowances, PhD fellowship fees and some research costs. Research training, supervision and mentorship will be provided as well as support from advisors in the CLAHRC team, including experts in Patient and Public Involvement, evidence synthesis, complex interventions research methods, medical statistics, health economics, qualitative methods and operational modelling.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified graduates, minimum of 2:1 or above, with a registered qualification as a nurse or in an allied health care professional. Non UK candidates must have IELTS [International English Language Testing System] score of 7 and above (or equivalent qualification) and be eligible to practice clinically in the UK. Please send a CV, covering letter (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project) and copies of transcripts of degrees/awards to (Jo Shuttleworth) by 1 p.m. on Friday 12th February 2016 at the very latest. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 2nd March 2016. The Fellowships will be located in Exeter or Plymouth and we anticipate commencement in Spring 2016.

For an informal discussion and further details contact (Professor David Richards) or (Professor Bridie Kent).