We are looking for peer researchers!
Are you a person living with MS from a Black British or South Asian background living in East London, South London, Bradford or Leeds?
We need you to help us understand how people from Black British and British South Asian backgrounds experience MS care.
What is peer research?
Peer research is designed and conducted by people who have lived experience of the topic that is being researched. In this case, that means that you will have experience of living with MS. This study recognises the importance of the insights, skills and expertise that people with MS can bring to the research process. Incorporating those perspectives into the current research will enable a better understanding of and connection to the experiences we are researching.
What is the study about?
We are looking for 4 peer researchers to participate in this research project which is being led by Queen Mary University London. We are undertaking research with Black British and British South Asian people living with MS to understand more about their experiences of care. We are interested in examining how these groups of people experience MS services, including changes since the pandemic began, and discovering the barriers and challenges they have encountered when engaging with healthcare, focusing on service access, communication, and information needs.
What will I do?
As a peer researcher, you will participate in training on how to undertake qualitative research. You will work with the study team and other peer researchers to co-design and conduct the research study. You will be involved in generating interview questions, conducting 10 interviews (up to 1 hour) and focus groups (up to 2 hours) and analysing the generated qualitative data. Meetings and interviews can take place face-to-face or online if needed. All face-to-face meetings will be held in fully accessible venues with appropriate parking, access and facilities.
What do I need to take part?
To become a peer researcher, you do not need to have any formal qualifications or previous research training, but you will need to have:
Lived experience of Multiple Sclerosis.
Collaborative working skills with team members and people who hold different and shared experiences with yourself.
Good communication skills, attention to detail, and an ability to create and maintain good relationships.
A good standard of conversational English, but you may undertake interviews in your mother tongue (or any other language you feel comfortable speaking).
Familiarity with challenges faced by ethnically minoritised people living with MS.
Willingness and ability to undertake research training and apply skills learnt.
Commitment to making services equally accessible and appropriate to the diverse needs of the local community.
Basic IT literacy, including competence in using Microsoft packages such as MS Word and Teams.
Payment and working arrangements
We are looking for someone who can commit to participating in research training (4x2 hour sessions) and conducting peer research for a period of 12 months (with an average of 4-10 hours per month).
You will be paid £40 per hour and compensated for any travel expenses.
We will aim to work flexibly to support the different circumstances and needs of the people we work with.