Clinical Research Fellow - Nephrology

Job overview

We are pleased to offer a unique post that combines protected research time and clinical training, ideally suited for nephrology Specialist Trainees who are seeking Out-of-Programme-Experience to deepen their academic credentials.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated individual with appropriate clinical experience to join our Renal Research team as a Clinical Research Fellow (ST4-7 equivalent).  This is a full-time, fixed-term service appointment for 36 months. Applications for LTFT patterns  are welcome.

Based at RDH the appointee will undertake duties for the renal research team (Centre for Kidney Research and Innovation) within the Medical Services Division. Routine working will be to conduct and participate in clinical research, to work clinically for 12weeks of the year in conjunction with nephrology consultants to support winter pressures (mixture of inpatient general medical wards and outpatient nephrology services), and to contribute to the HDU middle grade on site oncall rota. Direct/indirect consultant support is always available in and out of hours.

Research training will be provided in research methods including study design, data collection, and use of statistics, computer skills, presentation at conferences and preparation of manuscripts. Interested candidates will have the opportunity to register for an PhD or equivalent at the University of Nottingham, by which training in generic academic competencies will also be provided.

Main duties of the job

• Active participation in clinical research
• To contribute to the HDU middle grade on-call rota to provide care and management of renal and medical HDU patients (approx 1:7)
• Working with a renal consultant, provide 12 weeks of clinical activity per year (mixture of winter ward cover, and outpatient nephrology)
• Active participation in Clinical Governance, audit and research activities.Keeping up to date and participating in relevant Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Participation in annual appraisal
• Provision of junior support as needed
• Shared role in delivery of teaching & training to junior doctors & non-medical staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will support the Renal HDU on call service (approximately a 1 in 7 on call frequency)

Whilst on duty the post holder will be clinically and professionally responsible for their patients.

Whilst on-call and during the 12 weeks of clinical activity, it will also be their duty to: ·        communicate with patients (and/or their carers if appropriate) about their condition; ·        involve patients (and/or their carers if appropriate) in decision making about their treatment; ·        maintain professional standards and obligations as set out from time to time by the General Medical Council (GMC) and comply in particular with the GMC’s guidance on ‘Good Medical Practice’ as amended or substituted from time to time; ·        carry out any work related to, and reasonably incidental to, the duties set out in their schedule of duties e.g. keeping of records and provision of reports, proper delegation of tasks, maintaining skills and knowledge.

The post holder is expected to be flexible and co-operate with all reasonable requests to cover for  colleagues’ absences where they are safe and competent and where practicable to do so. Where post holders undertakes duties in accordance with this and such duties take place outside of their contracted hours they will receive either an equivalent off duty period or remuneration. Where this adversely impacts on the schedule of duties and/or opportunities for individual doctors a temporary schedule of duties will be agreed for the period of cover. Where covering is not practicable, the Trust will be responsible for the engagement of a locums, but the post holder will have responsibility of bringing the need to the notice of the Trust

The post holder will be expected to contribute to graduate and continuing medical education activity locally as appropriate and to participate in clinical audit under local arrangements.

A formal schedule of duties will be agreed between the post holder and the research supervisor on appointment.  It will be a prospective agreement that sets out the post holder’s duties, responsibilities and objectives for the 36 month period.  It will cover all aspects of the post holder’s professional practice including clinical work, administration, audit, teaching and CPD responsibilities.   It will provide a clear schedule of commitments, both internal and external.  In addition, it will include personal objectives, including details of the post holder’s link to wider service objectives, and details of the support required by the post holder to meet the timetabled duties and their objectives.

The post holder will be expected to work as part of a team with responsibility for maintaining  highest standards of clinical care, for teaching of junior staff and medical students and for actively participating in continuing medical education, quality improvement, clinical governance and audit.