Job Summary
We have 2 vacant positions within our Research Delivery Teams for Clinical Trials Assistants, one sits in our Oncology Research team and one in our Haematology Research Team. These roles give you the best of both worlds. Part of the time you will be patient facing, supporting our study participants in their trial journey. The rest of your working time will be office based ensuring that we submit the valuable data you and your research colleagues have collected from study participants to the trial units.
Our dynamic award winning research team strive to offer the people of Worcestershire access to cutting edge research close to home.
This innovative role is varied and puts our staff at the forefront of the latest medicine and technological advances in care for our local population.
Main duties
* Recruiting study participants into research studies, where appropriate.
* Basic care of study participants, such as taking vital observations, Temp, BP & height and weight.
* Venepuncture.
* Processing and storing blood samples.
* Supporting research colleagues.
* Data collection.
* Data input.
* General office duties.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job details
* Pay scheme: Agenda for change
* Band: Band 3
* Salary: £24,071 to £25,674 a year
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
* Reference number: C9365-25-0313
* Job locations: Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 1DD
Role responsibilities
We are committed to supporting research that is relevant and accessible to our patients. Through clinical research we can assess the efficacy of new medication, diagnostics, and treatment regimes. This helps to build the evidence for new approaches to improve patient care.
The Clinical Trials Assistant will support the Research Delivery Team in the identification, recruitment and management of patients participating in research studies. The post-holder will help with data-collection, undertake specified clinical and laboratory tasks, and provide administrative support for research studies.
The department is involved in a range of clinical studies including life changing oncology and haematology trials, internationally recognised midwifery, renal and surgical studies, and many more. You will have the opportunity to get involved with a range of these, having direct contact with patients, carers and staff.
Key duties
Clinical
* Screen trust systems to identify patients who may be eligible for research studies
* Receive consent from patients into research studies, under direction, and with appropriate training, in accordance with GCP
* Randomise patients into different trial arms
* Organise patient appointments and book research-specific investigations and procedures
* Under supervision or after appropriate training, undertake clinical procedures required for research studies, including but not limited to; blood pressure recording, heart and respiratory rate, height, weight and BMI assessment, collection of blood and urine samples, measurement of hip/waist circumference
* Report all findings from clinical procedures to the research delivery team, and accurately document as advised by the team in appropriate patient records, research files, logs, CRFs and databases
* Provide ongoing assessment of participants clinical condition liaising with relevant clinicians as appropriate, e.g. if patient condition alters
* Process research participant samples according to clinical trial protocols such as processing of blood samples, preparing samples for storage or shipment, and arranging couriers for safe and timely transport of research samples
* Collect prescriptions and liaise with pharmacy to coordinate trial medication
* Explain and distribute research participant questionnaires, diaries and the NIHR Participants in Research Experience Survey
* Communicate sensitive information to patients
* Provide ongoing information to patients regarding their participation in research studies in writing, by telephone, and by e-mail
* Identify and report any adverse events and reactions in accordance with the study protocol
* Contribute to patient and public involvement and engagement activities
Administrative
* Work with the multi-disciplinary team to conduct feasibility assessments for new research studies
* Assist the research team in administrative duties for study set-up, initiation, maintenance, study closure, and archiving
* Work with the Research and Innovation team to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
* Set up and maintain study site files, electronic files and other documents as needed for studies
* Create digital patient tracking systems, e.g. using Excel
* Assist in the entry of accurate and timely documentation of data into participant Case Report Forms
* Assist with the resolution of raised data queries
* At all times ensure clear, accurate records are maintained by the research team
* Plan, organise, prepare and participate in monitoring visits and audits
* Update research management databases, including EDGE
* Ensure that patient identifiable records for research studies are stored according to Information Governance policies
* Assist with maintenance / ordering of research and office supplies
* Coordinate and disseminate amendments including preparation of any updated paperwork
* Liaise with trial units and commercial sponsors to coordinate trial activities
* Maintain financial information and patient records to allow payments to be made
* Handle petty cash and travel expense claims for patients
* Attend local and national meetings as required
* Record relevant meeting notes, minutes and actions, and circulate these appropriately
* General administrative duties including answering the telephone, answering queries, managing the research email inbox
* Maintain awareness of key performance indicators and next steps to achieve them
* Provide cover to other members of team as relevant to role
* Liaise with other departments for equipment maintenance, calibration and repair
Training and Education
* Trust Induction
* CREATE training (Clinical Research Explained)
* Improving Healthcare through Clinical Research MOOC
* Clinical skills training, including phlebotomy
* Good Clinical Practice training
* Data Quality in Research training
* Informed Consent training competency
* Site File Management training
* Case Report Form (CRF) completion training
* EDGE training
* Amendments training
* Archiving training
* iPROC system training
* Regular performance development reviews
General duties
* Travelling between sites is an essential part of this role
* Any other duties as may be agreed in the course of undertaking this role, in accordance with the grade and nature of the post
Person specification
Personal Qualities
* Team player and supportive of colleagues, demonstrating civility and respect to colleagues and patients at all times
* Passionate about research and innovation and improving patient care
* Professional attitude, diplomatic and calm under pressure
* Able to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
* Aware of own limitations / competence and will seek help and support from others, and be honest about errors made and ways to rectify
* Patient-focussed, caring, empathetic and compassionate
* Enthusiasm and willingness to learn
* Able to work by themselves in an office / at home by themselves and able to work around others e.g. in open plan office
* Able to be assertive and speak up when disagree in a respectful way
Experience
* Experience working within healthcare
* Experience of working with the public or people form a range of backgrounds
Desirable
* Knowledge of healthcare research
* Experience working within the NHS
Qualifications
* English and Maths GCSE, or equivalent
* Level 3 qualification/s, e.g. A' levels, NVQ, etc
Desirable
* Computer Literacy Course, e.g. ECDL, or other experience or qualification
* ICH GCP (Good Clinical Practice)
* Familiarity with medical or scientific terminology
* Venepuncture
* Laboratory skills
Other requirements
* Ability to travel across all sites within the Trust when required, and on occasion external to the Trust regionally / nationally
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.
Employer details
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR5 1DD
Employer's website
https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
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