Full time Permanent Position
Main duties of the job
- Ensure that excellent care is provided for patients.
- Provide visible clinical leadership to the CRF team promoting a culture of ‘leadership by example’ to all staff.
- Be responsible for the day‑to‑day supervision of junior staff and students ensuring ongoing staff development.
- Be actively involved in promoting the research work of the department.
- Attend and contribute to clinical team meetings.
- Ensure that working practices adhere to health and safety policies and be responsible for reporting of any incidents and performing risk assessments of research studies.
- Promote and collaborate in developing good working relationships, maintaining good communication systems with departments both within and outside the division so that participants have an effective and efficient research experience.
- Ensure appropriate and effective communication with all nursing, medical, and research staff and other external agencies.
- Ensure planning and organisation of complex activities across a range of studies requiring collaboration with other professionals and agencies.
- Be responsible for workforce planning and development to meet future staffing requirements in conjunction with the lead nurse and operational lead.
- Ensure compliance with Trust policies to ensure the safety of personnel and patients who use/attend the Facility.
- Ensure compliance with UK and International research regulatory frameworks.
- Ensure clinical trials are prioritised appropriately, ensuring equitable use of the facility and optimal space.
- Support the Clinical Research Facility Operational Lead and Matron in ensuring that trials within the Facility are appropriately planned, resourced and risk assessed.
- Ensure that equipment within the CRF complies with Trust policies and any regulatory requirements for medical and other equipment.
- Act as a source of advice for research teams wishing to use the Clinical Research Facility to conduct research activity.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Leadership
- Ensure that excellent care is provided for patients.
- Provide visible clinical leadership to the CRF team promoting a culture of ‘leadership by example’ to all staff.
- Be responsible for the day‑to‑day supervision of junior staff and students ensuring ongoing staff development.
- Be actively involved in promoting the research work of the department.
- Attend and contribute to clinical team meetings.
- Ensure that working practices adhere to health and safety policies and be responsible for reporting of any incidents and performing risk assessments of research studies.
- Promote and collaborate in developing good working relationships, maintaining good communication systems with departments both within and outside the division so that participants have an effective and efficient research experience.
- Ensure appropriate and effective communication with all nursing, medical, and research staff and other external agencies.
- Ensure planning and organisation of complex activities across a range of studies requiring collaboration with other professionals and agencies.
- Be responsible for workforce planning and development to meet future staffing requirements in conjunction with the lead nurse and operational lead.
- Ensure compliance with Trust policies to ensure the safety of personnel and patients who use/attend the Facility.
- Ensure compliance with UK and International research regulatory frameworks.
- Ensure clinical trials are prioritised appropriately, ensuring equitable use of the facility and optimal space.
- Support the Clinical Research Facility Operational Lead and Matron in ensuring that trials within the Facility are appropriately planned, resourced and risk assessed.
- Ensure that equipment within the CRF complies with Trust policies and any regulatory requirements for medical and other equipment.
- Act as a source of advice for research teams wishing to use the Clinical Research Facility to conduct research activity.
Management
- Provide clinical leadership and line management of staff ensuring the delivery of the highest professional standards through staff development and individual performance appraisal/review.
- Ensure that staffing and skill mix is appropriate to the level of activity on the Facility utilizing IT systems for efficiency and effectiveness as appropriate.
- Ensure the efficient use and ordering of consumables and other supplies and assist with the CRF operational budget as appropriate.
- Be responsible for the delivery of clinical expertise in all aspects of the clinical setting, acting as a visible expert within the facility.
- Ensure familiarity with risk issues pertaining to confidentiality of participant and research related documentation (Data Protection Act, 1994, Caldicott 1999 GDPR regulation 2018).
- Ensure adherence to safeguarding principles.
- Undertake the role of Duty Manager within the Trust on a rotational basis.
Clinical
- Facilitate the delivery of highly specialised, participant focused, protocol driven care in collaboration with participants, relatives, research teams and the multidisciplinary team.
- Ensure participant care is delivered according to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust policies and procedures.
- Ensure that care delivered is participant‑centred and, where possible, evidence‑based whilst in accordance with the research protocol and maintaining the rights of the participant.
- Continuously evaluate the quality of care given, regularly reassessing the needs of the research participants and effect changes as required in consultation with the participant, the research teams and the multidisciplinary team.
- Practice at a level which demonstrates advanced knowledge and skill and requires a high level of precision.
- Lead on the development of core practice standards and contribute to clinical audit with a particular emphasis on clinical benchmarking to maintain and improve clinical and research practice.
- Ensure clear accurate records to support and record all research activity.
- Seek opportunities to develop own and junior staff’s research skills adapting to any changes in the research requirements of new studies.
Research
- In collaboration with research teams ensure robust study‑specific risk assessments are conducted for all research studies wishing to use the CRF ensuring effective and efficient use of the Facility’s resources.
- Develop a pro‑active communication strategy to ensure effective communication with CRF staff, users, internal and external stakeholders.
- Support R&I Division in developing costing and pricing mechanisms for trials within the Clinical Research Facility and identifying costs within specific trial protocols.
Education and Training
- Be accountable for ensuring that all staff essential training meets the Trust’s KPIs.
- Work in collaboration with Practice Educators for Research to lead in the induction and training of staff, establishing mentorship and clinical supervision opportunities as appropriate.
- Work collaboratively and as an expert resource to support, develop and implement the NIHR competency framework for MCRF (TC) nursing staff.
- Encourage participation in educational opportunities for all levels of research staff in the MCRF e.g. NVQs apprenticeships and higher academic qualifications.
- Support placements for schools and university graduates in conjunction with NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facilities, including international and national placements where appropriate.
- Ensure mentorship of student nurses and trainee nurse associates where appropriate and ensure the clinical environment is conducive to teaching, education, training and development of all staff.
- Support visits to the MCRF (TC) for both internal and external visitors including site evaluation visits for clinical trials.
- Seek opportunities to promote the achievements of MCRF staff and facilities at conferences, professional events and open days through formal and informal presentations and tours.
Professional
- Undertake continuous professional development seeking opportunities to enhance skills which can be identified via a personal development plan.
- Maintain own clinical/professional competence and credibility. Utilise clinical sessions to role‑model standards of care and expected behaviours.
- Maintain valid and up‑to‑date registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council complying with NMC guidelines in relation to professional issues.
- Act as a point of reference for all employment and professional issues relating to MCRF (TC) staff.
- Promote MCRF (TC) as a centre of excellence for clinical research.
- Take responsibility for professional and personal development, participating in the Trust annual appraisal review with the Lead Nurse and CRF Operational Lead.
Finance and Resource Management
- Identify workforce requirements to meet the MCRF (TC) objectives and work alongside the Operational Lead and Matron to develop business plans to secure funding for the provision of staff as appropriate.
- Ensure contracts are renewed as appropriate for equipment.
- Be responsible for the on‑going management of the CRF asset base, including medical equipment.
Person specification
Qualifications
- Registered Nurse
- Expertise and knowledge of Research and Development regulations and research Governance
- Understanding of National Research policy
- Current GCP certificate
- Post Registration oncology qualification
Experience
- Demonstrable experience of managing a clinical team.
- Experience in Oncology nursing.
- Examples of initiating and leading on change.
- Evidence of managing and delivering clinical trials.
- Examples of effective people management and leadership skills.
- Experience in quality and clinical improvements.
- Experience of handling sensitive professional issues and human resource issues.
- Line management experience at a senior level.
- Experience of workforce planning and development.
- Evidence of continuous professional development.
- Experience in delivering experimental medicine clinical trials.
- Experience of collaborative working within and outside organisational boundaries.
Skills
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Able to communicate with a wide range of staff at varying levels including external stakeholders.
- Excellent presentation, training and mentoring skills.
- Able to inspire and motivate others and lead by example.
- Able to interpret data and present it in a meaningful way to a wide range of stakeholders.
- Able to use problem solving skills, prioritise and quickly identify the core issues in a situation.
- Able to make calm rational decisions in the face of adversity.
Knowledge
- In-depth and up to date knowledge of the governance and legislative framework for clinical research.
- Detailed understanding of clinical research in the NHS.
- Knowledge of professional and NHS issues and policy.
- Knowledge of National Clinical research nursing strategy.
- Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance, risk management and the national quality assurance agenda.
- Understanding of current issues within the experimental medicine landscape.
- Expert knowledge of clinical trials regulations.
- Knowledge of current national systems and approval processes for clinical research studies in the UK.
- Knowledge of the inspection and regulation environment in which clinical research operates.
Values
- Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.
Other
- Flexibility in working hours.
- Able to perform a wide range of duties.
- Self‑motivated.
- Travel across Manchester to all MCRF sites.
Equal Opportunities
The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be on merit only.
We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce and are encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds to foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
