Research Assistant

Job overview

The Research Assistant role at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust offers a unique opportunity for an experienced Healthcare Assistant to transition into the field of healthcare science. This position is meaningful because it places you at the intersection of direct patient care and the discovery of future medical treatments. It allows you to move beyond routine clinical tasks and become an active participant in the innovation process that defines new standards of care. For a candidate, the true value of this role lies in the expansion of your professional scope. You are a vital link in a multidisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, and sponsors. There is profound satisfaction in supporting patients through their research journey, providing the empathy and reassurance they need while ensuring the accuracy of the data that makes scientific breakthroughs possible. Furthermore, the Royal Surrey’s commitment to "Learning Together" makes this an ideal environment for professional development. The role provides a clear pathway to gain further clinical and research skills within a supportive, nationally recognised R&D department. It is a career choice for those who want their daily work to leave a lasting legacy—where every observation recorded contributes to a healthier future.

Remote interviews are not available as we have a data entry aptitude test that is part of the interview process.

Main duties of the job

• Clinical Procedures: Perform essential clinical tasks, including ECGs, phlebotomy, and routine clinical observations such as blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation.
• Patient Monitoring: Assist in the ongoing monitoring of trial participants by accurately recording and reporting tests as required by specific research protocols.
• Direct Care Delivery: Work alongside registered nurses and research staff to deliver planned care, ensuring the highest standards of safety and comfort for patients and their families.
• Patient Preparation: Prepare and support patients for examinations, assessments, and treatments following the informed consent process.
• Emergency Response: Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent or emergency clinical situations, summoning assistance from the wider medical team when necessary.
• Trial Documentation: Ensure the accurate and timely entry of trial-related data into both electronic and paper capture systems in strict compliance with study protocols.
• Portfolio Support: Assist the wider research team with participant screening, the informed consent process, and the planning of follow-up appointments.
• Specimen Handling: Obtain requested clinical specimens—such as blood, urine, or swabs—and coordinate their safe transportation to the relevant departments.
• Treatment Coordination: Support the multidisciplinary team in coordinating the delivery of treatments and ensuring all protocol-defined requirements are met.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide support to registered nursing, AHP, and clinical research staff in the promotion and delivery of high-quality research at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. This position is primarily based within the Oncology Research Team, though the post-holder will be expected to provide cross-cover for other research departments as required to ensure service continuity.

The post-holder will, with support from colleagues from the research teams, support and facilitate research clinics/activities within these departments.

To provide assistance to the research and multidisciplinary teams in planning, delivering and evaluating care to patients, within protocol defined requirements. The post-holder will be responsible for the entry of all allocated trial related data into the relevant electronic and paper data capture systems in compliance with the study protocol.

The RA will carry out all interventions to a high standard and competency under the supervision of more experienced members of the team. Support the patient/participant, family and multidisciplinary team in ensuring there is a safe working environment.

The Post will be suitable for an experienced health care assistant with an active interest in extending their scope of practice with a focus on research.

Applicant requirements

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.