CRF Senior Charge Nurse

Job overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced nurse with strong ward or unit management experience to join our motivated team at the NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Manchester at The Christie (CRF). This is an excellent opportunity for a nurse leader who enjoys managing a clinical area, leading teams, and maintaining high standards of oncology care within a specialist environment.

The CRF is a research-active service; however, prior research experience is not essential. Training and support will be provided to develop the research knowledge required for the role. What matters most is your ability to provide visible leadership, manage staffing and patient flow, and create a positive, well-led clinical environment that enables safe and effective research delivery.

As a key member of the CRF leadership team, you will provide proactive leadership across research clinics, outpatient services, day-case activity and inpatient care. You will play a central role in supporting the unit through a period of significant development, including the planned CRF refurbishment and the staged transition to extended and 24/7 working, working closely with fellow Band 7 Senior Charge Nurses to ensure safe, coordinated care across the service.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a confident, organised and compassionate nurse leader who can provide day-to-day operational oversight of the CRF and support the Matron and Operational Lead in delivering the unit’s objectives. You will lead and support the nursing team, ensure safe clinical practice, coordinate activity across outpatient, day-case and inpatient areas, and maintain high standards of governance, safety and patient experience.

A key part of the role will be supporting the CRF through its refurbishment programme and the staged transition to a 24/7 service, helping to implement new ways of working, engage staff positively and ensure continuity of safe, effective operations during change.

You will provide visible leadership on the unit, oversee workforce planning, staffing and patient flow, respond to clinical and operational issues, and model a supportive, inclusive culture. Training in research processes, protocols and regulatory requirements will be provided, enabling you to facilitate the delivery of high-quality clinical research while applying your core strengths in ward leadership and people management.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Ensure that excellent care is provided for patients and provide visible clinical leadership to the CRF team, promoting a culture of leadership by example.
• Be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of junior staff and students, ensuring ongoing staff development, and contribute to workforce planning and development to meet future staffing requirements in conjunction with the Lead Nurse and Operational Lead.
• Attend and contribute to clinical team meetings and ensure effective communication and collaborative working with nursing, medical and research staff, and external agencies, to support safe and efficient delivery of care and research activity.
• Ensure that working practices adhere to health and safety policies, including incident reporting and risk assessment, and ensure compliance with Trust policies to safeguard patients, staff and others using the Facility.
• Ensure compliance with UK and international research regulatory frameworks.
• Ensure planning and organisation of complex activities across a range of studies, including appropriate prioritisation of clinical trials to ensure equitable use of the Facility and optimal use of space.
• Support the Clinical Research Facility Operational Lead and Matron in ensuring that trials within the Facility are appropriately planned, resourced and risk assessed.
• Ensure that equipment within the CRF complies with Trust policies and any regulatory requirements for medical and other equipment.
• Be actively involved in promoting the research work of the department and act as a source of advice for research teams wishing to use the Clinical Research Facility.

Management

• Provide clinical leadership and line management of staff ensuring the delivery of the highest professional standards through staff development and individual performance appraisal/review.
• Ensure that staffing and skill mix is appropriate to the level of activity on the Facility utilizing IT systems for efficiency and effectiveness as appropriate.
• Ensure the efficient use and ordering of consumables and other supplies and assist with the CRF operational budget as appropriate.
• Responsible for the delivery of clinical expertise in all aspects of the clinical setting, acting as a visible expert within the facility.
• Ensure familiarity with risk issues pertaining to confidentiality of participant and research related documentation (Data Protection Act, 1994, Caldicott 1999 GDPR regulation 2018)
• Ensure adherence to safeguarding principles.
• Undertaking the role of Duty Manager within the Trust on a rotational basis.

Clinical

• Facilitate the delivery of highly specialised, participant focused, protocol driven care in collaboration with participants, relatives, Research teams and the multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure participant care is delivered according to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust policies and procedures.
• Ensure that care delivered is participant-centred and where possible evidence based whilst in accordance with the research protocol and maintaining the rights of the participant.
• Continuously evaluate the quality of care given, regularly reassessing the needs of the research participants and effect changes as required in consultation with the participant, the Research teams and the multidisciplinary team.
• Practice at a level which demonstrates advanced knowledge and skill and requires a high level of precision.
• Lead on the development of core practice standards and contribute to clinical audit with a particular emphasis on clinical benchmarking to maintain and improve clinical and research practice.
• Ensure clear accurate records to support and record all research activity.
• Seek opportunities to develop own and junior staffs research skills adapting to any changes in the research requirements of new studies.

Research

• In collaboration with research teams ensure robust study specific risk assessments are conducted for all research studies wishing to use the CRF ensuring effective and efficient use of the Facility’s resources.
• Develop a pro-active communication strategy to ensure effective communication with CRF staff, users, internal and external stakeholders.
• Support R&I Division in developing costing and pricing mechanisms for trials within the Clinical Research Facility and identifying costs within specific trial protocols.

Education and Training

• Be accountable for ensuring that all staff essential training meets the trusts KPIs.
• Work in collaboration with Practice Educators for Research to lead in the induction and training of staff, establishing mentorship and clinical supervision opportunities as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively and as an expert resource to support, develop and implement the NIHR competency framework for CRF nursing staff.
• Encourage participation in educational opportunities for all levels of research staff in the CRF e.g. NVQs apprenticeships and higher academic qualifications.
• Support placements for Schools and University Graduates in conjunction with NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facilities including international / national placements where appropriate.
• Ensure mentorship of student nurses and trainee nurse associates where appropriate and ensure the clinical environment is conducive to teaching, education, training and development of all staff.
• Support visits to CRF for both internal and external visitors including site evaluation visits for clinical trials.
• Seek opportunities to promote the achievements of CRF staff and facilities at conferences, professional events and open days through formal and informal presentations and tours.

Professional

• Undertake continuous professional development seeking opportunities to enhance skills which can be identified via a personal development plan.
• Maintain own clinical/ professional competence and credibility. Utilise clinical session to role model standards of care and expected behaviours.
• Maintain valid and up to date registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council complying with NMC guidelines in relation to professional issues.
• Act as a point of reference for all employment and professional issues relating to CRF staff.
• Promote CRF as a centre of excellence for clinical research
• Take responsibility for professional and personal development, participating in the Trust annual appraisal review with the Lead Nurse and CRF Operational Lead.

Finance and Resource Management

• Identify workforce requirements to meet the CRF objectives and work alongside the Operational Lead and Matron to develop business plans to secure funding for the provision of staff as appropriate.
• Ensure contracts are renewed as appropriate for equipment.
• Be responsible for the ongoing management of the CRF asset base, including medical equipment.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.