Senior Research Nurse

Job description

Job 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 everyones 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

• Experience in Band 7 nursing role
• Experience in specialist research nursing role
• Leadership, or management course

Desirable

• Knowledge of clinical research in an NHS environment

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Main Hospital Site , Lancaster Park Road , Harrogate

Lancaster Park Road , Harrogate

Harrogate

HG2 7SX

Employer's website

https://www.hdft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)