Job overview
The postholder will lead the development of research capacity and capability in nurses across HLCC, working closely with ACORN (A Centre of Research for Nurses and Midwives) and senior clinical and academic colleagues to strengthen research culture, increase engagement in research, and grow nurse‑led, clinically driven research across HLCC.
The HLCC Nursing Lead for Research will:
·Provide strategic and professional leadership for nursing research across HLCC
·Support nurses to develop research skills and confidence
·Enable increased participation and engagement in research
·Support nurses to disseminate their work and demonstrate impact
·Contribute to the development of sustainable research pathways and infrastructure
Main duties of the job
The HLCC Nursing Lead for Research will:
·Provide strategic and professional leadership for nursing research across HLCC, shaping a research implementation plan for the clinical group
·Support nurses to develop research skills and confidence
·Enable increased participation and engagement in research
·Support nurses to disseminate their work and demonstrate impact
Oversee nurse-led research activity that addresses HLCC CG priorities
·Contribute to the development of sustainable research pathways and infrastructure
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best-known hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high-quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and – as part of King’s Health Partners – we are one of England’s eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research’s biomedical research centres, established with King’s College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, and neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The postholder will support and represent all nurses working across the Heart, Lung and Critical Care (HLCC) CG.
The postholder will provide leadership in shaping a research implementation plan for the Heart, Lung and Critical Care (HLCC) CG. They will work collaboratively with the CNO-Nursing and Midwifery Research Team (ACORN), the Clinical Group (CG) Lead AHP for research in HLCC and the Director of Nursing for HLCC.
The post holder will be expected to support activities aimed at increasing nursing research capacity and capability within the HLCC CG but also Trust wide.
The post holder will act as a conduit of information between the Clinical Group and ACORN/T&R Research leadership, representing HLCC at appropriate research meetings. They will represent all nursing workforce on CG research and innovation meetings and will liaise with R&D directorate leads within the CG and the wider multidisciplinary professional groups involved in research.
The postholder will lead on the identification of nurse-led research priorities and work with colleagues and academic partners to develop ideas into research proposals focused on cardiovascular care and other priorities within the CG.
The post holder will be a clinical research advocate and signpost research opportunities for staff and patients, promoting opportunities for nurse-led research and engaging with all nurses, doctors and AHPs to facilitate the development of skills, competence, and experience in clinical research. They will create opportunities for nursing staff to discuss research individually, within teams and the wider clinical specialities, devise research activities and education specific adapted to meet specific workforce needs and implement and support research link practitioner / research champion roles across the CG.
The postholder will develop a plan to encourage and embed Quality Improvement skillsets across the breadth of nursing staff within the clinical group.
The post holder will be responsible for the collection of nursing research and improvement activity metrics, working closely with ACORN to ensure consistency and identifying opportunities and risks to building capabilities and capacity.
The postholder will oversee the supervision of nurse-led research activity that addresses identified CG priorities. They will provide a nurse-led research clinic to advise, signpost and provide networking opportunities to support the development of research proposals.
The post holder will have significant leadership experience and a proven qualification and extensive knowledge and experience of research. They will demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, be a visible role model across the CG, have an ability to work flexibly and support problem solving across the operational and managerial space.
Person specification
Degree
Essential criteria
1. Registered Nurse, Midwife, Dental Nurse on the appropriate professional register
2. Qualified to Masters level
Desirable criteria
3. PhD/ Professional Doctorate or working towards.
4. Additional professional development & research activities
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
5. Experience as a chief, principal or co-investigator
6. Extensive experience of delivering effective nursing services as a senior nurse/manager in a large, multifaceted healthcare environment including staff management, financial management and change management.
7. Experience at being able to identify a problem, find a solution and implement and sustain a change in clinical practice across a complex directorate/ Clinical Group / organisation.
8. Experience in managing change in a complex environment.
9. Experience of analysing complex data and or national guidance and being able to interpret and apply it locally
10. Experience of presenting at local and national events
11. Have published in peer reviewed journals
Desirable criteria
12. Teaching experience
13. Experience of commissioning or managing research projects
Skills & Ability
Essential criteria
14. Ability to articulate a clear vision for nursing & midwifery research
15. Ability to understand the challenges that face the nursing & midwifery profession and identify possible solutions
16. Proficient in the use of IT tools such as Word and Excel
17. Understands the regulatory environment the Trust operates in.
18. Able to look beyond existing structures and ways of working to develop innovative solutions to problems
19. Able to demonstrate/provide extensive evidence of senior leadership ability and experience.
Desirable criteria
20. Knowledge of Research and development regulation at national level
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.