RESEARCH ASSISTANT PAPAGAIO

Job Description

                                                              VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PAPAGAIO 

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT  

BACKGROUND  

Welbodi Partnership (WP) is a UK-registered charity working to reduce maternal and child mortality and  morbidity in Sierra Leone. Since 2008, Welbodi Partnership has worked in partnership with hospital  management, health facility staff, and the Ministry of Health to improve maternal and child health outcomes in  Sierra Leone. We do this through a range of bold innovative partnerships models across health system  strengthening activities, healthcare worker training, hospital improvement projects, research and community  engagement.  

Our vision is that all women and children in Sierra Leone will have access to effective essential healthcare  services characterized by respect and dignity for all. Our mission is to build the capacity and effectiveness of the  health system in Sierra Leone using evidence-based practice to reduce the number of women and children who  are sick, suffer, or die unnecessarily.  

The organisation’s guiding principles are:  

1. Deliver Lasting Results  
2. Working in Partnership  
3. Quality improvement and patient safety  
4. Valuing People  
5. Evidence Based Approach  

For further information, please see: www.welbodipartnership.org  

ROLE PURPOSE  

The post holder will join a new Global Health Research Group, PAPAGAIO: Preterm pre-eclAmpsia: PlAcental Growth factor testing for reduction of Adverse Outcomes. The PAPAGAIO research programme is funded by the  Global Health Research strand of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and aims to improve maternal  and perinatal outcomes by evaluating placental growth factor, an angiogenic biomarker for preterm pre 

eclampsia. The Chief Investigator is Professor Andrew Shennan for King’s College, London (KCL). Research will  be conducted in Sierra Leone, Zambia, India and Brazil.  

The Research Assistant will be responsible for assisting in the delivery and conduct of the PAPAGAIO body of  work. Reporting to, and supported by, the Programmes Director, the Programmes Manager and the KCL research  team, the Research Assistant will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality projects, supporting  relevant programmes staff, donor reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and overseeing budget spend, whilst  also building and maintaining relationships with partners within Sierra Leone. They are responsible for the 

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PAPAGAIO 

planning, development, co-ordination and implementation of projects and activities to improve the quality of  care delivered at maternal and child health facilities supported by Welbodi Partnership in Sierra Leone. 

This is a full-time post for six- months, with a probationary review at 6 weeks and 3 months. the post-holder will  be based in Freetown, with some up-country travel required (likely to Kono and Makeni). The position will involve  travel within Freetown to various sites including community centres, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital and  the Welbdoi Partnership Offices, among others. 

RESEARCH BACKGROUND  

Globally, pre-eclampsia causes 30,000 maternal and 500,000 perinatal deaths annually, with the majority in  LMICs. Many of these are preventable, with early diagnosis and appropriately timed delivery; however, pre eclampsia diagnosis can be challenging in high-burden, low-resource settings. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is  abnormally low in pre-eclampsia necessitating delivery. PlGF outperforms all pre-eclampsia diagnostics,  reducing adverse maternal outcomes and time to diagnosis. It is recommended in the UK but has not been  evaluated in low resource settings, where the great health burden lies. 

The only definitive treatment for pre-eclampsia is delivery. Recent evidence has demonstrated planned early  delivery is safe in late preterm pre-eclampsia (34-37 weeks’). Early delivery in LMICs in the absence of pre eclampsia, would increase neonatal morbidity. Angiogenic markers should enhance diagnostic precision and  enable rule-in and rule-out of women for whom early delivery is beneficial. 

Objectives of the NIHR PAPAGAIO programme:  

∙ Describe care pathways for preterm pre-eclampsia, identify barriers to, and facilitators of PlGF  testing in LMICs 

∙ Assess clinical and cost effectiveness of PlGF testing in suspected preterm pre-eclampsia ∙ Evaluate clinical and cost effectiveness of planned early delivery in late preterm pre-eclampsia with  diagnosis incorporating PlGF testing 

∙ Sustainably build local research capacity at individual and institutional levels 

Objectives of this Research Assistant Role  

The research assistant will be focused on assisting delivery of the first workstream in the programme – Workstream 1: Prepare for PAPAGAIO.  

Specific Objectives: 

∙ To evaluate care pathways and surveillance management plans for suspected preterm PE ∙ To assess clinical utility, and barriers and facilitators to implementation of PlGF testing, including whole  blood point-of-care (POC) PlGF testing 

∙ To undertake community and stakeholder mapping, in order to make sure that key members of the  community (especially those who may be typically marginalised) can be identified and included in  intervention development activities  

∙ To identify the most appropriate methods for community engagement and participation at each trial  site, guided by local community engagement leads and adapted to suit each site/geographical area ∙ To build upon previous and current work, addressing gaps in knowledge and understanding around  

hypertensive disease in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia, to develop a shared understanding between the  research team and the community 

We will conduct a six-month mixed methods observational feasibility study to determine standard care  practices for the management of pre-eclampsia in high-burden settings.

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PAPAGAIO 

Quantitative study – case notes review 

In a retrospective case notes review, we will map communities, care pathways and surveillance strategies for  women with suspected and confirmed PE, recording clinical settings in which PE is identified and managed;  screening methods used for identifying women with PE; diagnostic, admissions and referral criteria and  practices; options and criteria for initiation and escalation of medication; gestational age determination;  pregnancy complications; indications for and gestational age at delivery. This work will include an audit of  resource availability, including personnel, diagnostic and therapeutic tools. We will explore the availability and  uptake of clinical and policy guidelines at various levels of the respective health care systems, as well as recording  practices related to the reporting of PE prevalence, maternal and perinatal outcomes. Potential barriers, such as  accurate gestational age (GA) determination, will be assessed and quantified.  

Qualitative study – focus group discussions and in-depth interviews 

Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with healthcare providers and key stakeholders. This will include  a cross-section of staff, including midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians, maternity nurses, and neonatal  nurses. Focus group discussions will also be conducted with pregnant women and their relatives to assess  acceptability of PlGF testing.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

Under the direct supervision of the Welbodi Partnership programs manager and technical guidance from a team  of maternal health researchers at King’s College London the role of the Research Assistant will be to support the  Prepare for PAPAGAIO workstream and to work with the study team to complete the quantitative and qualitative  aspects of the study.  

Specific responsibilities are listed below but the role may include other duties necessary for the success of the  overall PAPAGAIO programme: 

• To conduct focus groups and interviews with healthcare providers, key stakeholders, women and  their partners to explore their understanding of pre-eclampsia and the acceptability and feasibility  of biomarker testing 
• To conduct a retrospective audit of pre-eclampsia, including inputting data into a secure database,  supporting data collection, data validation and monitoring and maintaining security of data.  • To conduct an audit of available preeclampsia antenatal care, and neonatal protocols, guidelines  and resources will be conducted at each site. The availability of personnel, diagnostic tests and  treatments will be recorded. 
• Engage with the local communities to develop a shared understanding of preeclampsia, and to  develop co-designed study protocols and documentation. 
• Working with the study team to contribute to reporting of the PAPAGAIO project   

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such  tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

KEY REQUIREMENTS 

Educational Background: 

A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public health, CHO sciences, nursing, midwifery, epidemiology,  social sciences, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree is a plus. 

Skills and Experiences. 

• Research Experience: Demonstrated experience in conducting mixed-methods research, including designing research studies, data collection, and data analysis. Experience in maternal 

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PAPAGAIO 

health research and qualitative research, particularly qualitative interviewing, is highly  desirable. 

• Sierra Leone Expertise: Knowledge of the Sierra Leone healthcare system, its challenges, and maternal health issues in the country. 
• Data Management Skills: Proficiency in data collection, data entry. Experience in analysis tools and software, such as qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVivo) would be a plus but not mandatory. 
• Fieldwork Experience: Prior experience with fieldwork, including conducting interviews, focus group discussions, and data collection in a real-world setting, is desirable.
• Project Management: Strong organisational, time and project management skills. Personal attributes: 
• Passion for Maternal Health: A genuine interest and passion for improving maternal health and  a commitment to making a positive impact in this field. 
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify challenges, propose solutions, and implement  strategies to overcome obstacles in the research process. 
• Cultural Sensitivity: Cultural awareness and sensitivity, especially regarding the diverse  communities in Sierra Leone. 
• Excellent Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability  to effectively communicate research findings and insights to diverse audiences. 
• Team Player: Collaborative and able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, including  researchers, healthcare professionals, and community members. 
• Travel Readiness: Willingness and ability to undertake up-country travel within Sierra Leone, as  the role requires. 
• Language Skills: Proficiency in English and Krio. 
• Adaptability: The ability to work effectively in a dynamic and fast-paced research environment,  adapting to evolving research needs and priorities. 
• Strong Ethical Standards: Adherence to high ethical standards, particularly in research  involving human subjects, and a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of  vulnerable populations.

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PAPAGAIO 

GENERAL POLICIES PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES  

All employees and volunteers at Welbodi Partnership are expected to comply with the general duties outlined  below and detailed in full in our policies.  

Safeguarding  

Welbodi Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and  vulnerable adults. All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this  commitment. Applicants for this position should be aware that if successful, they will be requested to complete  a police check.  

Data protection  

Welbodi Partnership complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  

Equality and Diversity  

Welbodi Partnership is committed to a comprehensive policy of Equal Opportunities in volunteering and  employment in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and  are given equal opportunities within the organisation. It is the Welbodi Partnership’s policy as an employer to  treat all people equally irrespective of race, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sex, marital or parental status,  sexual orientation, creed, disability, age or political belief.  

Job revision  

This job description is a guide to the duties required and is not definitive or restrictive in any way. The duties of  the post may be varied from time to time in response to changing circumstances. 

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PAPAGAIO