Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Research Support Assistant
The closing date is 22 March 2026
Permanent | Full time | Open to Internal applicants only
Sheffield Children's Research & Innovation Care Group is a dynamic team supporting over 320 research projects each year across the full spectrum of paediatric clinical research. As hosts of both an NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre and a Health Tech Research Centre, we are leaders in driving innovation and evidence-based care for children and young people.
We are excited to offer an opportunity to join our team as a Research Support Assistant. You will support Investigators and the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Delivery Team with the set-up, ongoing management, and close-out of research studies sponsored or hosted by the Trust. Your work will help ensure research is delivered efficiently, ethically, and in compliance with all regulatory requirements.
What we're looking for
* Educated to Degree level in a relevant subject or equivalent experience.
* Able to communicate in verbal and written formats, prioritise workload and meet agreed delivery timeframes.
* Awareness of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and relevant research governance frameworks.
Main duties of the job
You will report to the R&D Manager, and your responsibilities will include:
* Prepare and submit documentation to regulatory authorities including HRA, REC, and MHRA.
* Ensure confirmation of capacity and capability for Trust-hosted and led studies.
* Support regulatory inspection readiness and adherence to GCP, the Research Governance Framework, and Trust SOPs.
* Maintain research information systems and contribute to data collection and reporting for internal and external review.
* Build working relationships with researchers, support services, and external partners.
* Provide guidance to new and experienced staff on research management and compliance.
About us
At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children's Health.
We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.
We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England – and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire – in the latest NHS Staff Survey.
Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values – Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence – to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.
As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children’s health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.
We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts – helping you thrive at work and beyond.
Job responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
Please note that Sheffield Children’s uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.
Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.
Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at scn-tr.recruitment.team@nhs.net. Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
* Degree in health/research related subject or substantial relevant experience.
* Comprehensive IT skills including: Outlook, WORD, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Internet or comparable computer packages.
* Required to participate in ongoing Professional and Personal Development and undertake additional training as required.
* Evidence of appropriate further education/development.
* Experience of working in R&D in NHS or Academia.
* Experience of working with EDGE and IRAS.
* Research qualification.
Experience
* Experience in a working environment that involves patient/customer care.
* Recent project/research/data collection or clinical audit experience.
* Comprehensive administrative/data management experience – preferably in an NHS setting or a busy office environment.
* Experience of communication with a wide variety of people.
* Experience of working in a paediatric environment.
* Experience of working within a clinical trial setting.
* Experience of working in an NHS setting.
Knowledge & Skills
* Knowledge of clinical trials.
* Knowledge of research governance and regulations (e.g. ICH-GCP and EU Directives).
* Clear understanding of the importance of confidentiality.
* Ability to translate information between formats with a high level of accuracy.
* Able to produce clear written or verbal reports, instructions and advice.
* Confident handling large bodies of complex information.
* Knowledge of research methodologies.
* Knowledge of Research funding streams and mechanisms.
* Knowledge of writing and reviewing SOPs.
Personal attributes
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, in order to undertake own job and inform work colleagues, external bodies, and various hospital departments.
* Able to display empathy, tact, reassurance and diplomacy when receiving and providing information. (This is occasionally complex and sensitive confidential information)
* Able to work successfully on a range of different tasks at any one time.
* Ability and experience of working as part of a team.
* Must be able to work with minimal supervision.
* Flexible and proactive approach, creative thinker.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
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