Research Nurse

Job overview

A fantastic secondment opportunity has just become available at Band 6 level for an experienced nurse to become part of the Research Nursing Team at the National Institute for Health Research UCLH Clinical Research Facility (CRF).  The research nursing team in the CRF provide exceptional specialist nursing care to a wide variety of patients taking part in early phase clinical trials of experimental cancer and medicine treatments. This includes First-in-Human medicines and experimental early phase treatments in Oncology, Haematology, Neurology, Medicine and Vaccine studies.

The NIHR UCLH Clinical Research Facility UCLH is a well-established Clinical Research Facility (CRF) covering two sites. The Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre is a dedicated neuroscience experimental medicine facility at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) at Queen Square (QS); and the NIHR UCLH Clinical Research Facility is a comprehensive Cancer and Medical research facility in Tottenham Court Road.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to work according to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and relevant professional guidelines, taking responsibility for the coordination and support of clinical trials within the CRF. Responsibilities include coordinating the care of patients on trials, collecting and preparing biological samples, administering experimental agents, monitoring expected and unexpected side effects of drugs and other treatment modalities, and providing patient/carer education. The post holder will be expected to develop specialized skills and knowledge relating to the conduct of clinical trials, therapies, and relevant disease types. The post holder must have sufficient skills to enable patients to make informed choices concerning their involvement in clinical trials by providing advice and information and acting as the patient’s advocate.

The post holder will also be responsible for liaising with drug companies and other study sponsors as required, ensuring the accurate collection and submission of data in line with study protocols and research regulations, deputizing for the Senior Research Nurses in their absence, and supporting and developing new members of the CRF team.

The CRF core working hours are between 09:00 and 17:00; however, some evening, night, and weekend work may be required at times.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

• Maintain  health, safety and security of self and others in own work area through ensuring own and others’ knowledge of relevant local / national policies and procedures, and that these are adhered to.
• Work according to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and relevant professional standards and guidelines
• Promote peoples’ equity, diversity and rights, through ensuring that own and others’ practice is in the best interests of patients.
• Develop own knowledge and expertise within the speciality / research field.
• Organise diagnostic tests and provide interventional therapy for specific trial protocols with support and supervision as appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge and up-to-date competency with regards to emergency treatment measures and trust protocols, e.g., anaphylaxis.
• Refer to other health professionals when this will improve health outcomes or when risks and needs are beyond own competence and scope of practice.
• Support patients in the delivery of care and meeting their health and wellbeing needs by providing advice and information, promoting their wishes and beliefs and addressing their concerns.
• Monitor and review the effectiveness of interventions with the patient and colleagues and modify this to meet changing needs and established goals.

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

• Assist with or lead (as appropriate) the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of clinical research studies, and the setting of standards of practice
• Assist with or lead (as appropriate) patient recruitment and day to day management / organisation of clinical trials and studies, to include: patient assessment, data collection and database management, blood sample collection and sample processing, monitoring of adverse reactions and compliance
• Assist with data entry on to clinical trial data bases.
• Have an up to date working knowledge of governing research legislation
• Ensure the specific study protocols and procedures are adhered to in accordance with local practice and Good Clinical Practice Guidelines (GCP)
• Participate in audit programmes and identify areas of potential research relating to the speciality
• Identify own developmental needs and establish objectives for personal development
• Take part in reflection and appropriate learning from practice, in order to maintain and develop competence and performance

QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Assist with external audit and regulatory inspection of CRF studies, as well as routine internal audits of CRF processes
• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of CRF Standard Operating Procedures
• Ensure strict adherence to research protocols, including specific requirements for blood sample collection and processing, all trial assessments, adverse event recording, and accurate and legible documentation including all source data and medical record scripts.
• To ensure that the correct version of the trial protocol and all other study documents are used at all times.
• Direct and support CRF nurses on the application of and adherence to QA processes, in order to make certain that the CRF maintains regulatory compliance across all of its clinical research services.

CONSULTANCY/COLLABORATION

• Provide nursing advice and support to patients participating in research studies and be identifiable as point of contact
• Provide advice and support to the multi disciplinary team both internally and externally regarding patients and research studies
• Contribute to effective communication between trial centres, sponsors and investigator sites nationally and internationally as required
• Promote effective communication with study participants regarding study protocol, patient information sheets and consenting procedures and abide by ICH/GCP research practice
• Ensure that appropriate information is disseminated within the speciality, the organisation and within external agencies and forums
• Disseminate study data, research outcomes and specialist knowledge via poster presentations, written publication and other media as appropriate at local, national and international conferences

LEADERSHIP / MANAGEMENT

• Develop effective planning, organising, problem-solving and prioritisation skills
• Manage own workload effectively through developing project and time management skills
• Responsible for the management of a caseload or client group within a defined clinical area, including liaison, where appropriate, with other agencies and the provision of specialist advice within this clinical area
• Negotiate and agree with individuals, groups and other practitioners, outcomes, roles and responsibilities and action to be taken to develop resources, services and facilities
• Maintain appropriate channels and styles of communication to meet the needs of patients, relatives and carers, managers, peers and other professions / agencies.
• Develop and use effective decision-making skills and evaluate the process and results
• Liaise with sponsor companies, Research & Development Department (R&D) and Local Research Ethics Committee (LREC) where appropriate
• Responsible and accountable for resource issues directly related to the research studies as delegated
• Liaise with Divisional and related departments (i.e. pharmacy and laboratories) as appropriate
• Ensure adequate study supplies are maintained; order further stocks/supplies as required
• Contribute to local, national and international research nurse networks to exchange and enhance knowledge and expertise
• Participate in a peer network of support, information and learning with other research nurses at UCLH

GENERAL

• Adhere to the UCLH Service Commitment "Putting Patients First" and adopt a professional approach to customer care at all times.
• Comply with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and treat staff, patients, colleagues and potential employees with dignity and respect at all times.   •    Take personal responsibility for promoting a safe environment and safe patient care by identifying areas of risk and following the Incident, Serious Incidents and Near Misses reporting policy and procedure.
• Take personal responsibility for ensuring that UCLH resources are used efficiently and with minimum wastage, and to comply with the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs).
• Comply with Trust policies for personal and patient safety and for prevention of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI); this includes a requirement for rigorous and consistent compliance with Trust policies for hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment and safe disposal of sharps.
• In accordance with the Trust's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to undertake work and alternative duties as reasonably directed at variable locations in the event of and for the duration of a significant internal incident, major incident, or pandemic.
• Be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures, the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Data Protection Act.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.

OTHER

• These guidelines are provided to assist in the performance of the contract but are not a condition of the contract. The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post holder.
• All staff will be regularly assessed on their knowledge, skills and behaviour, and application of all aspects of the job description, in line with the Trust’s Personal Development Review (PDR) process.
• Staff will also be expected to abide by the relevant code of professional practice relating to their discipline.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.

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