We are looking for an exceptional senior research nurse to join the respiratory research team. This post is to provide clinical leadership for our rapidly expanding research portfolio, manage junior research nurses and support the team to deliver high-quality research.

You will ensure excellence within participant well-being and experience, high standards of research nursing and governance, and clinical management in a wide variety of studies including, interventional and observational research.

You will be responsible for the management of your team's research portfolio, reviewing protocols, amendments, identify resource implications and proactively formulating action plans for poorly recruiting trials. You will have line management responsibilities in line with Trust HR policies and will actively be involved with staff recruitment, training, supporting and mentoring of all team members.Applicants must be a registered adult nurse with evidence of continuing professional development. You should have good experience in clinical research within the NHS, a strong clinical background and a desire and willingness to learn & develop others. Essential skills for this role are excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines, the ability and initiative to work independently and manage a patient caseload across a variety of research studies.

Main duties of the job

• You will be involved in ensuring that any research undertaken safeguards the well being of the patients and is conducted according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trial) Regulations 2004 and Amended Regulations 2006.
• You will, assess, plan, implement, and evaluate expert research nursing care, providing support to who have been or have the potential to be recruited onto a clinical trial programme.
• Responsibilities will include the co-ordination and safe management of a portfolio of clinical research, collaborating with key personnel and ensuring the continued care and support for patients involved in these clinical trials and studies. You will take responsibility for supervising the safe administration of experimental therapies, and for monitoring the expected and unexpected side effects of drugs and other treatment modalities used in these trials.
• You will be expected to have sufficient skills to enable patients to make informed choices concerning their involvement in the clinical trials by providing advice and information and acting as the patients advocate.
• You will coordinate departmental clinical trials. This includes gaining ethical approval, collecting data, interviewing, supporting, monitoring patients, data entry and assisting in the analysis of the trial data. Aspects of the role will include clinical tasks and includes close liaison with department clinicians, pharmacists and other multidisciplinary staff.

About us

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 are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

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 25,000 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, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

CLINICAL:

• Work autonomously to manage and coordinate own portfolio of clinical research whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team. Maintaining effective communication with patients, carers and professionals to ensure service delivery. Assist in selecting, screening and organising the patients and/or volunteers suitable for entry into clinical trials/studies.
• Ensure patients are fully informed prior to entry in any clinical research programme and play a key role in eliciting informed consent to participate, and in randomising and allocating treatments.
• To provide ongoing advice and information to patients/volunteers with regards to their participation in clinical research in order to facilitate effective informed consent.
• Evaluate patient eligibility for clinical trials/studies entry, co-ordinating pre-study tests, obtaining results and arranging appropriate appointments according to the research protocol. Act as a resource and support to patients and their relatives, explaining practical aspects of the trial or study, assisting and supporting local nursing teams.
• Coordinate the collection of any biological samples required as part of the clinical trial/study and ensure safe and appropriate storage of specimens, in conjunction with local nursing teams.
• Ensure the safe administration of trial drugs, have in-depth knowledge of the legal requirements of a clinical trial sponsor regarding pharmacovigilance and of the Trust pharmacovigilance policy. Report any adverse events and reactions in accordance with this policy and the trial protocol.
• At all times to ensure clear, accurate records, developing data collection, case report forms and design of database where required for patient and staff records.
• Implement and adhere to the principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and ensure that all trials are conducted according to the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trial) Regulations 2004 and Amended Regulations 2006 where appropriate.
• Assist in completing submissions to the Research Ethics Committee as required.
• Perform tasks requiring highly developed clinical skills including phlebotomy, cannulation and the administration of trial drugs, and to keep up to date with current practices for cannulation, phlebotomy.
• To oversee the routine maintenance and servicing of clinical equipment

MANAGEMENT:

• To act as clinical supervisor to junior research staff and act as a role model for excellence in clinical research.
• To represent Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and London (South) CLRN as an expert research nurse in external situations, for example national and international conferences, committees etc.
• To report to the Divisional Clinical Governance team any adverse incident/near misses in relation to that activity
• To facilitate and maintain effective communication within the clinical team.
• To responsibly manage the control of equipment, resources and stock through the adherence of research policies and clinical trials budgets.

EDUCATION:

• Ensure mandatory clinical trials training is undertaken and updated as required.
• To be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, clinical skills and professional awareness in accordance with P.R.E.P.

PROFESSIONAL:

• You will be accountable for your own professional actions, and be a lead specialist for defined area acting within clearly defined policies/procedures and codes of conduct including the NMC code and Trust policy.
• To act in accordance with local policies and procedures laid down by Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and other London (South) CLRN member organisations, and ensure that all mandatory training for nursing staff within the Trust is attended.
• To work within the NMC Scope of Professional Practice and Code of Conduct.
• To undertake an IPR annually to identify organisational and professional objectives and developmental needs.

• To keep up to date with departmental, Trust, NHS, academic and EU developments for the management of clinical research ensuring timely, effective implementation of changes.

• To attend courses as deemed relevant, including mandatory training, and to attend meetings and conferences as appropriate

Essential

Education/qualifications

• You will have NMC Level One Registration
• Your professional knowledge acquired at degree level will be supplemented by specialist training, experience and short courses to masters level equivalent.

Previous experience

• You will have considerable experience in research, clinical trials, teaching and mentoring as demonstrated by your individual portfolio.
• You will have in depth knowledge of early phase clinical trials and the drug development process.
• You will be able to clearly demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of current UK clinical trial regulations, good clinical practice and the Declaration of Helsinki 1996
• You will be have the experience to deliver specialised programmes of care, and provide highly specialised advice for patients and healthy volunteers who are participating in clinical trials
• You will have experience of being able to facilitate and undertake R& D activities as major job component and undertake research, lead clinical audit in own area. You will be able to demonstrate evidence of accuracy to detail in data collection.

Skills & knowledge

• You will be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive information, communicating this highly sensitive information to patients using empathy and reassurance, gain cooperation where required and overcome barriers to understanding by possessing excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• You will be able to manage complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison in relation to research trials/studies.
• You will be able to plan and organise complex activities and programmes, requiring formulation and adjustment as necessitated.
• You will recruit to, support and develop a specialist nursing service provision.
• You will have the dexterity and coordination needed for undertaking venepuncture, intramuscular, skin punch biopsies and accuracy required for e.g. intravenous injections, syringe pumps and infusions. You will possess basic laboratory skills such as centrifugation and sample separation
• You will be able to develop specialist procedure protocols and adhere to all Trust policies and standard operating procedures.
• You will be able to teach/deliver core training of individual clinical trial/study protocols to junior members of staff.
• You will be able to deal with distressed patients and/ or relatives relating to the potential / real outcomes of their health and deal with the emotional consequences of patients coming to terms with long term conditions. Occasional highly distressing or emotional circumstances imparts news of terminal illness and bereavement.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• RGN - first level
• Your professional knowledge acquired at degree level will be supplemented by specialist training, experience and short courses to master's level equivalent.

Desirable

• Research Qualification

Experience

Essential

• considerable experience in research, clinical trials, teaching and mentoring as demonstrated by your individual portfolio.
• in depth knowledge of early phase clinical trials and the drug development process.
• demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of current UK clinical trial regulations, good clinical practice and the Declaration of Helsinki 1996
• experience to deliver specialised programmes of care, and provide highly specialised advice for patients and healthy volunteers who are participating in clinical trials
• experience of being able to facilitate and undertake R& D activities as major job component and undertake research, lead clinical audit in own area. You will be able to demonstrate evidence of accuracy to detail in data collection.

Desirable

• Knowledge of COPD and Asthma

Skills

Essential

• able to provide and receive complex, sensitive information, communicating this highly sensitive information to patients using empathy and reassurance, gain cooperation where required and overcome barriers to understanding by possessing excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• able to manage complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison in relation to research trials/studies.
• able to plan and organise complex activities and programmes, requiring formulation and adjustment as necessitated.
• Report writing and presentation skills
• able to develop specialist procedure protocols and adhere to all Trust policies and standard operating procedures.
• able to teach/deliver core training of individual clinical trial/study protocols to junior members of staff

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Westminster Bridge Road

London

SE1 7EH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

196-RD128