Job overview
We have a unique opportunity for an experienced nurse to take on the role of Senior Clinical Research Nurse within the R&I Team at HDFT. This is an exciting opportunity that has arisen initially as a 12 month fixed-term role.
The Clinical Senior Research Nurse will play a key role in the delivery of clinical research at HDFT, developing and creating robust systems and processes to enable clinical research to run smoothly, efficiently and whilst ensuring the highest of standards are maintained. This role involves liaising with the Principal Investigators and other members of the multidisciplinary team to provide high quality data collection and clinical care, with a commitment to participant safety and welfare. The post holder will be pro-active and well-organised, with excellent interpersonal skills, meticulous attention to detail and the ability to work effectively as part of a team and autonomously.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be a key member of the Research & Innovation (R&I) Team, providing essential support to a range of clinical specialties undertaking research across the Trust and within the community.
They will work closely with the R&I Manager and the Associate Medical Director of Research to lead, supervise, manage, and coordinate all Trust Research Nurses. A central aspect of the role will be to develop the skills and competencies of both research nurses and research support staff, ensuring the delivery of a safe, high-quality, and effective clinical trials and research recruitment service—both specialist and generic—within allocated budgetary limits.
The post holder will be responsible for the efficient utilisation of research infrastructure and resources. This includes managing appropriate work placements and ensuring the safe and effective deployment of research nursing and support staff across the Trust.
They will have direct line management responsibilities for Research Nurses and indirect oversight of Research Support Staff. In addition, the post holder will support the professional development of the team and contribute to the growth of commercial research activity, while also encouraging expansion of the Trust’s broader Health and Social Care research portfolio.
Working for our organisation
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) cares for the population in Harrogate and the local area, as well as across North Yorkshire, Leeds and parts of the North East.
At HDFT we provide outstanding care to both our patients and our staff and we value Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork and Equality. If you’re looking for an interesting and rewarding career in the NHS, where you can make a real difference to patients’ lives, HDFT could be the place for you!
We offer colleagues:
* A supportive culture so colleagues can bring their whole selves to work.
* Staff Recognition - as well as regular appraisals, we recognise achievements with our Making a Difference & Team of the Month Awards, along with annual Colleague Recognition Awards.
* Employee Support and wellbeing – we offer a wide range of staff benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, counselling service and a fast-track Physiotherapy service.
Please note:
* Due to high levels of interest, posts may close early if we reach a sufficient number of applications
* Visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for a visa before submitting your application.
* Please also be aware that the Trust does not offer relocation packages for Agenda for Change roles.
* All job offers are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To work as a key member of the Research Team, duties include:
· To manage appropriate and effective work placements, ensuring safe efficient and effective utilisation of research nurses and other research staff.
· To line manage research team nurses (Band 6) and Clinical Trials Assistants.
· To provide clinical study support to various clinical specialities conducting research within NHS organisation.
· To support, lead, mentor, and supervise, as necessary, Research Nurses and CTAs, and at times work clinically alongside them to support studies.
· To support Investigators, Nurses and associated staff with trouble shooting and overcoming barriers in recruitment to NIHR portfolio research studies and identify workable solutions.
· The role includes document generation and control, project tracking and logistics, data collection, adherence to good clinical practice and research governance, and assisting in the continued improvement in the care of research participants and quality of research data.
· To take a lead trainer role and provide clinical support and expertise in research projects.
· The post holder will also be responsible for developing and sustaining their own knowledge, clinical skills, and professional awareness in accordance with NMC requirements.
Managerial:
· Actively promote and support the trust to develop its strategy towards a continuous learning environment where research becomes part of everyone’s role. Ensure that all activity is based on NHS and NIHR policies and procedures
· Accept responsibility for the day-to-day management of various research studies, ensuring that the service to patients is maintained to a high standard
· Identify hazards, assess and categorise and report risks using the appropriate systems for Risk Management
· Line manage a team of research staff ensuring that all aspects of performance, attendance, training and appraisal are addressed in accordance with Trust Policy
· Leads on key developments to ensure the efficient and effective management of resources
· Maintain efficient and effective communication with the Research Team Leads on issues related to staff conduct within research trials and impact on participant care
· Ensure that adequate training is planned and delivered, to ensure personnel are competent to perform roles safely
· Encourage a culture of performance management
· Look for opportunities for areas of growth for research within the trust and local area.
· Promote and educate trust staff to value and get involved in research
· Assist the R&I Manager to develop service improvement projects and strategic developments.
Leadership:
· Agrees and communicates specific objectives to individuals and team, together with realistic timescales for achievement
· Helps to develop a culture where individuals feel valued and able to contribute to the development of the Research Team
· Ability to resolve potentially difficult situations effectively
· Openly shares knowledge and experience with colleagues
· Develops and maintains constructive relationships whilst reconciling/resolving conflict or resource allocation problems
· Ability to negotiate and influence others
· Influence and encourage trust clinicians to engage and get involved with research
· Promote research activity across the trust.
Team Work:
· Strong advocate for teamwork
· Develops a flexible and cohesive team
· Able to facilitate effective Team Meetings
· Continually reviews and evaluates team effectiveness
· Develops performance measures with the team to maintain standards of research and participant care
· Reviews team objectives and provides monthly feedback on team development to R&I Manager/Research Matron
· Maintains flexibility of staff between research teams.
Research Trial Set Up and Initiation:
· To support the coordination, preparation, submission of research proposals for approval
· To coordinate with departmental managers, Trust research Governance officers, NRES administrators, HRA, CRN: Y&H Study Support Service Officers/managers as applicable to ensure that applications for approvals are submitted in a timely and compliant manner
· To ensure that all relevant approvals are in place prior to commencing each trial
· Build commercial study contacts and encourage commercial companies to work with the trust to grow commercial studies.
Clinical Practice:
· To acquire with training, development and experience, if not already a research nurse, a solid understanding of the application of ICH GCP Guidelines, the EU Directive on Clinical Research and Research Governance
· To identify patients suitable for entry into clinical trials and research studies. This may include attending clinics and multidisciplinary team meetings, reviewing medical notes and inclusion/exclusion criteria
· To ensure patients / carers are provided with written information relevant to the research study and are given the opportunity to discuss the research study or clinical trial adequately at the outset and during the research or clinical trial in which they are being asked to participate (i.e., informed consent)
· To attend and support patients in the clinical environment for monitoring, assessment and follow up as part of research projects
· Where appropriate, to take consent from patients/participants to enter research studies
· To take relevant patient samples for clinical trials, such as blood samples, to centrifuge and separate serum, package and dispatch as per defined protocols, where appropriate
· Observe patients and monitor treatment toxicity/side effects, escalating findings accordingly
· Administer trial medication, as required appropriate to professional status
· Maintain accurate patient trial documentation, complete Case Record Forms, including the use of electronic data capture systems and ensure relevant information is recorded in patients’ medical notes
· Ensure safety data is reported to required SOPs and study protocols, and reports send in a timely manner
· To ensure safe and appropriate storage of specimens, in accordance with the trial protocol and in conjunction with specialist teams
· To record and report any adverse events and serious adverse events according to trial protocol and local procedures.
Professional:
· To manage allocated projects, set timescales and resolve problems. Responsibilities within a particular trial must be discussed, agreed and documented within the Study File before conducting any trial related activities
· To provide research nurse/officer support for individual trials being conducted within the trust area. It is expected that this may involve working on more than one project at any time and in more than one clinical speciality as appropriate
· To ensure that training pertinent to role is up to date e.g. GCP-ICH, informed consent as well as mandatory training as required by individual trusts. Attend training to maintain clinical skills as appropriate
· To be flexible in their approach to work as the role may require flexibility in terms of timing e.g. for specific treatments
· To work with minimal supervision and self-directed in all areas of practice relating to the conduct of clinical trials and research studies
· To assist with the preparation and presentation of abstracts and papers for meetings, conferences and publication
· In accordance with professional codes, maintain own professional development and competence to practice whilst actively supporting others.
Person specification
qualifictaion
Essential criteria
* Experience in Band 7 nursing role
* Experience in specialist research nursing role
* Leadership, or management course
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of clinical research in an NHS environment