Clinical Research Nurse

NHS; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 45,000

Job description

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Would you like to take the next step in your Nursing career and support the delivery of world class health research to improve people's lives? An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen within the National Institute for Health & Care Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN), for a Research Nurse to work on community research studies, based at West Pottergate Medical Health Centre (hosted by NCH&C).

The main responsibilities include identifying, recruiting, educating and monitoring patients and participants in clinical research studies and collecting and recording accurate data.

This role is 37.5 hours per week.

Main duties of the job

You will need to be a Registered Nurse (with valid NMC registration) and possess excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills. Previous experience as a Research Nurse is highly desirable, but not essential as training can be provided.

The main duties of the job include supporting teams in relation to clinical research studies.

The post holder will work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders across a range of sites and with key individuals in the host organisation.

Collaboration with researchers and other network staff will be required. From time to time the post holder may be required to work across other locality areas.

The role involves using an in-depth knowledge of study protocols and their application in practice alongside a working knowledge and compliance with local and national research regulations.

Applicants should have a positive enthusiastic approach to working in a community care setting. All post holders are required to adhere to the Trust's Behaviour Framework in the undertaking of their duties.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive training programme and ongoing support, actively encouraging continuing professional development.

About us

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.

Job responsibilities

Professional Responsibilities

• To work within the scope of your professional code of conduct.
• To be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, clinical skills and professional awareness including clinical supervision.
• To conduct research in accordance with relevant guidelines such as ICH GCP Guidelines, EU Clinical Trials Directive and Research Governance Framework in order to protect the research participants and quality of each study.
• To attend courses, meetings and conferences as deemed relevant.
• To ensure that the RDN wide standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care of care to all those who come in contact with the service.

Clinical

• To organise workload to ensure that the interest of the research participants are met.
• To prioritise patient safety and accurate data collection in line with GCP principles.
• To work within and monitor the standards of care as defined in the research protocols, policies and procedures of the East of England (EoE) RRDN to ensure adherence to and delivery of high-quality service.
• To contribute to the development of policies and procedures of the RRDN and within NCH&C, to ensure that clinical practice is underpinned by current best practice.
• To support the safe administration of treatments and drugs given within the context of a clinical trial.
• To ensure that trial specific investigations are undertaken as required by the trial protocol.
• With appropriate training, to take clinical samples for studies, and ensure the processing and storage and dispatch of biological samples meets the requirements of the research protocol in order to make certain that safe handling and quality is assured.
• To maintain effective communication with research participants their relatives/carers and members of the multi-disciplinary teams.
• To ensure data is recorded accurately and in accordance with regulatory requirements in appropriate study documentation.

Research

• To ensure all projects are approved at Primary Care level and are in receipt of Research Ethical favourable opinion, before patients are approached with research projects.
• To become familiar with each research protocol and its application in practice including procedures and documentation to ensure safe and accurate conduct and recording within the study.
• To identify, screen and recruit eligible participants into research studies according to specific protocols and guidelines.
• To co-ordinate recruitment for a local portfolio of health and social care studies across participating sites.
• To provide information, education and support to clinical/non-clinical team members, regarding research studies.
• To facilitate the informed consent process ensuring the following is accounted for:
• The participant (and significant others) fully understands the nature of the research trial.
• The participant is aware that entry into the trial is voluntary and they can withdraw at any point without prejudice.
• The participant is aware of any extra procedures required by the trial.
• The consent form is completed accurately and filed as required.
• To disseminate up to date information, protocol amendments etc to personnel working on research projects.
• To be responsible for monitoring trial data/accrual in research studies and uploading to EDGE system in a timely manner.
• To identify barriers to recruitment to studies and ensure that the Primary Care Research Manager is aware of them. Identify and implement action/plans as required.

Decisions and judgements

• To make clinical and professional autonomous decisions on a daily basis.
• To provide clinical and professional advice to the multi-disciplinary team.
• To make an assessment of the subject's condition to establish if necessary the appropriate action and future participation in the study.
• To act in the best interest of the research participants to ensure their rights are upheld when identifying screening and recruiting participants into trials/research studies.
• To recognise that freedom to act is guided by precedent and clearly defined protocols and procedures and codes of conduct in accordance with CCG and EoE RRDN policies, NMC Code of Conduct, ICH GCP, Research Governance, EU Clinical Trials Directive, Mental Capacity Act, and Data Protection Act.

Please refer to the job description for the full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RGN Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuous personal and professional and academic development.
• Attended ICH GCP Training.
• Aware of current legislation regarding research governance issues.
• Knowledge of research design and methods: understanding of the analytical process.

Other

• Must hold full and valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle, travel is a core component of this post.
• Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal English Language.

Experience

• Relevant recent clinical experience at a relevant level or above.
• Experience of collaborating with other agencies.
• Working with patients/service users.
• Experience working in primary care or community setting.
• Experience of running concurrent research studies with minimal supervision according to GCP.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Understanding of the requirements of ICH Good Clinical Practice; possess current GCP Certificate.
• Effective listening and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to achieving objectives of RRDN. Self-motivated.
• Ability to work autonomously using own initiative and as a member of a small team as well as wider multi-disciplinary team.
• Able to organise, prioritise and co-ordinate work of self and others where there are conflicting demands and workload pressures.
• Ability to write reports.
• Presentation and teaching skills.

Communication

• Good oral and written skills.
• Persuasive manner: able to establish positive working relationships with range of healthcare professionals, NHS managers and university staff.

Personal and People Development

• Ability to work across boundaries.
• Experience managing junior members of a team or learners in the work place.

Personal Attributes / Behaviours

• Must be able to deal with the public and colleagues in a pleasant manner at all times.
• Able to be calm and diplomatic under pressure.
• Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults.

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.

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

£37,338 to £44,962 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working