Research Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description Research PractitionerSummary

Title

Research Practitioner

Hours

Up to 37 hours per week (full-time), job share considered

Salary

£38,566 - £44,373, dependent on experience

Tenure

Permanent

Location

Queen Square Medical Practice, Lancaster

Reporting to

Research Development Lead and Practice Director

Who can apply

Anyone in primary care with enthusiasm for research

At Queen Square, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest standard of healthcare to patients across Lancaster, Caton and the surrounding areas, including specialist clinics in Gynaecology, Fertility, Sexual Health, and more at our HealthHub on Queen Street.

We are an award winning, research active practice. Our longstanding dedication to research is reflected in:

Recognition as a finalist in the 2016 Clinical Research Impact category at the Health Service Journal Awards.

Primary Care Research Team of the Year at the 2023 North West Coast Research & Innovation Awards.

Recruitment of nearly 900 patients in 2022/23, with continued engagement in 2024/25.

Changes in staffing and NIHR funding this year have prompted a natural evolution in our research team structure, creating an open and exciting opportunity to rethink how research is conducted within our practice.

We're inviting any enthusiastic member working in a primary care team, whether you're a nurse, healthcare assistant, admin staff, or another healthcare professional with a keen interest in research. You dont need to be a nurse! Because many research activities are administrative or coordination-based, this is an excellent chance to develop in a new direction within the practice.

Preferred background: experience in General Practice and an understanding of how research can improve health outcomes will be advantageous, but passion and energy for research are the real core requirements.

As a Research Practitioner, you will help design, organise, and deliver research projects that improve patient care, often through:

Supporting recruitment, consent, data collection, and follow-up under ICH GCP guidelines

Coordinating study activities and liaising across internal and external stakeholders

Managing administrative research tasksdata entry, correspondence, documentation, compliance with GDPR and research protocols

Contributing to the next chapter of how Queen Square conducts research

Join a respected, research-accredited practice, with a track record of innovation and excellence in primary care research

Shape the future of research at Queen Square, at an exciting moment of team development and change

Broaden your skills, even if you're not clinically trainedthis role offers a strong development and career growth pathway

Be part of a practice known for inclusivity, teamwork, and staff development, with a flexible and supportive environment

If you're driven by curiosity, patient-centered care, and want to play a part in shaping future research at Queen Square, then we want to hear from you. Whether you're clinical or administrative, let's talk about how you can contribute and grow in this evolving role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Education / Qualifications
• No specific qualification required open to all staff with keen interest in research. Willingness to undertake relevant training.
• Experience
• Experience of working in primary care, general practice, or similar patient-facing or administrative environment.
• Knowledge / Skills
• Keen interest in research. Strong organisational and administrative skills. Good communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to use IT systems confidently. Ability to follow protocols and procedures accurately.
• Personal Qualities
• Motivated, enthusiastic, and proactive. Flexible and adaptable. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Willingness to learn new skills.
• Other
• Commitment to patient-centred care. Respect for confidentiality and equality, diversity and inclusion. Ability to travel between sites if required.

Desirable

• Education / Qualifications
• Relevant healthcare qualification (e.g. nurse, HCA, admin or other health role). Training or courses in research methods.
• Experience
• Previous involvement in research studies or audits. Experience with NIHR research processes.
• Knowledge / Skills
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Awareness of data protection, GDPR and research governance. Venepuncture or clinical sampling skills (with training).
• Personal Qualities
• Positive role model within the team. Demonstrates leadership potential.
• Other
• Full driving licence and access to own transport.

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

Employer name

Queen Square Medical Practice

Address

2 Queen Square

Lancaster

Lancashire

LA1 1RP

Employer's website

https://www.queensquare.org/ (Opens in a new tab)