Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, organised and enthusiastic ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, NURSE or CLINIAL RESEARCH PRACTITIONER to join Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as a full-time Clinical Research Practitioner or Nurse within the Research and Development Team.
Berkshire Healthcare is one of the most research active Mental Health and Community Trusts in the country working on a range of study specialisms including Dementia, Mental Health, Sexual Health, and Physical Health.
This is an excellent opportunity for a reliable, motivated individual with or without previous experience of working in clinical research. This is an opportunity to join our busy Research and Development delivery team working on studies on a range of specialisms including Dementia, Mental Health, Sexual Health, and Physical Health.
This post is based at University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, but you will be required to travel as required by the job role and as such a time efficient mode of transportation is essential. Currently the Trust is supporting hybrid working where appropriate.
WorkPattern: Usually Mon-Fri 9-5 but some flexibility may be required. The post is fixed term for one year however applicants with continuous NHS experience more than 2 years will be offered a permanent role.
Main duties of the job
- You will be trained to support a wide variety of research studies and working in conjunction with colleagues from within the Berkshire Healthcare Research & Development team, will support the Clinical Research Team with day-to-day activities for current research studies.
- Main duties include support to implement research protocols, identification, recruitment, and support of patients through the research process as well as providing research support as necessary to study teams and clinicians
- You will be required to be trained in venepuncture for this role and a keen eye for detail is required.
- Flexibility between Mental Health, Dementia and Community based Portfolio studies is required.
- Responsible for the coordination of clinical research across varied specialities.
- Supporting commercial and non-commercial clinical research studies across the Trust and a mixture of interventional and observational research.
- Responsible for ensuring that you keep up to date with relevant training and that you develop your skills and knowledge to maintain a working knowledge of relevant clinical practice.
- Actively promote research and the work of the NIHR amongst clinicians, service users and the wider NHS. You will work with the research and university teams to drive clinical research delivery performance within the Trust and help the Trust to achieve research targets.
Our Research and Development | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- IT skills
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Mathew Baker on 07800917924 or email: research@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Interview will be held on 21st Nov 2025
In preparation for your interview, you may feel that you would like to learn more about the National Institute for Health and Care Research and clinical research you may want to look at the following:
Transforming lives through research
Research awareness for NHS staff
Embedding a research culture | NIHR
If you feel you want to know more the following online courses are also open for anyone to complete. See the links below for further information:
Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research
Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research - FutureLearn
What is Health Research
What is Health Research? Online Course - FutureLearn
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- IT skills
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Mathew Baker on 07800917924 or email: research@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Interview will be held on 21st Nov 2025
In preparation for your interview, you may feel that you would like to learn more about the National Institute for Health and Care Research and clinical research you may want to look at the following:
Transforming lives through research
Research awareness for NHS staff
Embedding a research culture | NIHR
If you feel you want to know more the following online courses are also open for anyone to complete. See the links below for further information:
Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research
Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research - FutureLearn
What is Health Research
What is Health Research? Online Course - FutureLearn
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Relevant professional qualification (e.g. RMN or equivalent) or degree in relevant subject
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Willing to undertake training
- Venepuncture skills or a willingness to undertake venepuncture training
Previous Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working in a health or social care setting
- Awareness of GDPR and data protection issues related to NHS research
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Awareness of GCP/Informed consent/other obligatory regulations related to healthcare research
- Experience of research in a healthcare setting
- Experience of public speaking
- Experience of report writing
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Good IT skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- High level of written and verbal communication skills
- Self-motivated
Desirable
- Ability to network within a wide and diverse community both clinical and research-orientated
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Flexibility
- Ability to work on numerous research studies at once
- Ability to be compassionate, caring and respectful when interacting with patients, carers and colleagues
- Ability to travel in a time efficient way to multiple sites across the operational area of the Trust
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Relevant professional qualification (e.g. RMN or equivalent) or degree in relevant subject
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Willing to undertake training
- Venepuncture skills or a willingness to undertake venepuncture training
Previous Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working in a health or social care setting
- Awareness of GDPR and data protection issues related to NHS research
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Awareness of GCP/Informed consent/other obligatory regulations related to healthcare research
- Experience of research in a healthcare setting
- Experience of public speaking
- Experience of report writing
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Good IT skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- High level of written and verbal communication skills
- Self-motivated
Desirable
- Ability to network within a wide and diverse community both clinical and research-orientated
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Flexibility
- Ability to work on numerous research studies at once
- Ability to be compassionate, caring and respectful when interacting with patients, carers and colleagues
- Ability to travel in a time efficient way to multiple sites across the operational area of the Trust
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.
