CRF Senior Clinical Research Nurse

Job overview

We are looking for an exceptional senior research nurse to join the clinical research facility (CRF) research team. This post will provide clinical leadership for our expanding research portfolio, manage junior research delivery staff and support the team to deliver high-quality research.

You will be responsible for the management of your team's research portfolio, reviewing protocols, amendments and identifying resource implications. You will have line management responsibilities 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 desire and willingness to learn and develop others. Essential skills are excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to prioritise and meet tight deadlines, the ability and initiative to work independently and manage a patient caseload across a variety of research studies.

The post holder is expected to work on shift patterns necessary to ensure patient safety and timely delivery of clinical trials. Work patterns will include day shifts, regular late and some night duties and weekends as required by trial protocols.

Main duties of the job

Responsibilities will include the co-ordination of a portfolio of early phase translational clinical research, collaborating with key personnel throughout the two adult Clinical Research Facilities (CRF), to ensure continued care and support for patients and healthy volunteers involved in these clinical trials and studies. The post holder will take responsibility for supervising the safe administration of experimental therapies, and for monitoring the effects of drugs and other treatment modalities used in these trials. They may also be involved in gaining ethical approval, collecting data, interviewing and data entry.

The post holder will be expected to advocate for patients and empower them to make informed choices concerning their involvement in the clinical trials by providing advice and information.

The post holder will be involved in improvement projects to further develop the operational aspect of the CRFs. This includes attending feasibility and initiation meetings, monitoring CRF supplies and equipment, facilitating orientation and support of external staff to the CRF. Aspects of the role will include clinical tasks such as phlebotomy, analysis of blood specimens, drug administration and clinical observation.

The post holder will work with a high level of autonomy, taking delegated responsibility from Clinicians for clinical decision making, and will work closely with the Investigator and multidisciplinary staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Lead on participant communications and well-being issues, providing specialist advice relevant to clinical research nursing
• Be responsible for leading a research nurse team to support screening of eligible research participants including providing information and support to participants, clinical follow-up, data collection and safety reporting according to requirements
• Work with the CRF Matron to establish and maintain key strategic relationships with networks of clinicians, researchers and health service managers for effective roll-out of the trials
• Work alongside a team of trial coordinators, data managers and database developers to ensure compliance with GCP, data protection and research governance frameworks, regulations and sponsor requirements
• Support the development of training materials for clinical research staff at study sites including study specific and informed consent training and elements of GCP
• Monitor participants’ experience and identify important participants’ well-being issues
• Be a central point of contact for site staff for trial-specific procedures including support to participants, eligibility assessment, informed consent, and sample management.

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.