Research Fellow: PLANET study: Planning for End of Treatment – sharing information to prepare children, young people and families to move into survivorship care when active treatment finishes.
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The role
Applications are invited for a Research Fellow position to work on a project funded by The Children and Young People’s Cancer Association (CCLG) - PLANET study: Planning for End of Treatment – sharing information to prepare children, young people and families to move into survivorship care when active treatment finishes. The successful candidate will be based in the School of Health Sciences, working with Susie Aldiss and Professor Faith Gibson.
This study focuses on the information children, young people and families are given at the end of active treatment for cancer. The end of treatment for childhood cancer can be a time of celebration for families, but it can also be a time of worry and uncertainty. Families must be given the right care, information, and support which meets their needs as they move into survivorship care. International research has shown that there are gaps in the information children and families get at the end of treatment.
We Aim To Find Out
- What – what types of information are shared and in what format? What are the gaps?
- When – when are families given this information?
- Who – who is giving the information, and who is involved in the conversations?
This study will involve families with a child (aged 0-18) who has finished treatment in the past six months in any of the 21 Principal Treatment Centres across the UK and Ireland. A questionnaire has been developed to look at the information needs of children and families at the end of treatment. We will invite parents/carers, children and young people to fill out these questionnaires online. Questionnaires are available for children aged eight and above. Children, young people and parents/carers can also choose to take part in an online interview to share more in-depth information about their experiences. We will interview professionals who work with families at the end of treatment. In these interviews, we will ask about what information is given to families, how it is given, what resources are used and how much the child is involved in these conversations.
About You
We are looking for a researcher with excellent project management and research skills, together with excellent verbal and written communication skills, who can work independently, but also work well within a team environment. The successful candidate will be required to coordinate and undertake study activities including: navigating the approval processes to set up the study in sites (ethical approval has already been sought), liaising with staff at study sites, liaising with families, undertaking data collection (including online interviews with children, young people and parents/carers and staff), data management, analysing qualitative and quantitative data, dissemination of findings including report writing and preparing journal publications.
The majority of work for this project could be undertaken remotely if the post holder wishes but there will be some requirement to attend the University of Surrey as necessary.
How to apply
This is a fixed-term post (upto 18 months, full time).
Please apply via the University website and submit a CV along with your application.
For enquires please contact Susie Aldiss:
[email protected]The University of Surrey reserves the right to close this vacancy early or extend the role based on Volume and Calibre of applications.