Natalie Parker

My role

Clinical Research Assistant

My responsibilities

I support the Research Nurses and AHPs with facilitating their studies. I work predominantly in Older Persons Mental Health but provide help across the services. I’ve not long started this role so currently working on all my training, my Care Certificate and learning all of the many processes involved in Research! I also help run the annual Research and Improvement conference, and am involved with our patient and public team – Side by Side.

My background

I graduated from Portsmouth University with a BA(hons) in Business and have worked in the NHS for the last 9 years. I originally started out as an Admin Assistant in Occupational Therapy and then quickly became the Team Leader. My role then changed to Management Admin Team Leader in Adults Portsmouth before I took a year out to have my first child. When returning from maternity, I joined the Research and Improvement Team as an administrator and have since become a Clinical Research Assistant.

Why I love my job

I love having the opportunity to learn lots of new skills and develop my career. I also love working in such a fun, energetic and hard working team which is always looking to improve and develop.

More about me

I’m a busy working Mum, but you’ll always still find me out on the work socials! I enjoy reading, baking, going to gigs and spending time with my family and friends. I keep getting roped into doing charity fun runs, despite being a terrible runner, and completed Pretty Muddy and the Wessex Monster Dash this year. I love to travel and took a six month sabbatical to go round the world with my husband before having kids.

Current projects/research studies

FinCH