Senior Research Nurse/Coordinator - Band 6

Job overview

The role of Senior Research Nurse/Coordinator is to provide specialist knowledge and expertise to a Research Delivery Team based within Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The postholder will provide leadership for the delivery of a portfolio of studies under the direction of the Lead Research Nurse/Coordinator.  The post holder is accountable for the assessment, planning, organisation and on-going care of research participants according to study protocols, and the role will involve all aspects of study co-ordination and recruitment of patients to research studies.  The post holder is expected to work flexibly with all members of the research team and relevant multidisciplinary teams across a number of specialties.  This will involve close liaison with clinical teams and community settings, as well as with appropriate Research, Innovation and Genomics (RIG) Departments and other Clinical Specialists.  Workloads are managed by the individual and not supervised.

Furthermore, the post-holder will be expected to work alongside the RIG Professional Services team and the local Governance and Oversight Group to ensure studies meet GHNHSFT Key Performance Indicators. They will act as keyworker for patients and carers throughout their clinical trials experience, and will line manage staff within a team. The post-holder will actively promote research amongst clinicians, service users and the wider NHS.

Main duties of the job

The post of Senior Research Nurse / Coordinator is a part of the Research Delivery Team based within Gloucester and Cheltenham General Hospital.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required (see job description for full details):

- Strong organisational skills and able to work on own initiative.

- Able to line manage, train and develop staff.

- Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively to a wide multidisciplinary team and patients.

- Ability to work independently and be an excellent team player.

- Ability to work flexible hours & travel between hospital sites as required to meet service needs.

- Adaptability to ensure achievement of objectives within constantly changing environments.

- Clinical skills: venepuncture, specimen collection, clinical observations and assessments.

This job description is an outline only and does not contain an exhaustive list of duties; the post holder may therefore be required to undertake additional responsibilities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Feasibility and Study set-up

- Contribute to the set-up of research studies within the wider research team.  Liaise with the RIG Professional Services Team, Principal Investigators, support departments, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure a thorough feasibility process.

- Able to identify and plan strategies for recruiting patients into trials. Working with Principal Investigators to develop initiatives to increase patient involvement.

- Ensure trial protocols are followed and that trials are conducted according to the national research legislation, Research Governance Framework, RIG Standard Operating Procedures, GHNHFT policies and Good Clinical Practice.

- Lead on, and maintain an expert research knowledge of a portfolio of trials, acting as a reference point for team members, train research team and wider healthcare team to ensure safety of all trial participants, and attend multi-disciplinary meetings

- Liaise with MDT members to establish procedures for the safe set up and smooth running of clinical trials and act as a resource and contact point in matters concerning trial patients and trial protocols with all stakeholders. Assist in achieving GHNHSFT and NIHR research KPIs.

Study Delivery/Monitoring

- Ensure the safety and wellbeing of clinical trial patients, including safe administration of treatments and drugs that are given within the context of a clinical trial, as applicable to professional registration and Trust POPAM policy.  Reporting of serious adverse events to all relevant personnel following the relevant SOPs.

- Assess patients as required by trial protocols and take appropriate and timely action for patients with trial related complications/toxicities.  May be required to take blood, test urine samples and administer treatments for which training has been given, as applicable to professional registration, RIG SOPs and Trust POPAM policy.

- Responsible for the coordination of clinical trials, assist in the day to day running of the Research Delivery Teams. Take an active role in line management, recruitment and development of staff.

- Act as a key worker for patients throughout their clinical trial experience. Provide continuity of care for patients and carers throughout the trial programme. Receive informed consent and provide ongoing information, education and support to clinical trial patients and their carers.

- Ensure trial records are accurately maintained, including, but not limited to: records in nursing/medical paper and electronic notes, case report forms, trial site files. Ensure that trust procedures and policies are followed and in accordance with Good Clinical Practice and RIG SOPs.  Responsible for ensuring accurate study records are maintained on EDGE (Clinical Trials IT system).

Professional Development, Education and Training

- To maintain own personal & professional development, including keeping evidence required for revalidation/professional registration accreditation

- Act as a credible clinical role model

- Practice in a confident and competent professional manner

Management and Leadership

- Assessment and training of junior staff within the research delivery team, in line with identified training needs. Line management; coordinating the team, delegating duties and supporting their personal and practice development. This includes annual and performance management where necessary.

- Work closely with the Lead Research Nurse/Coordinator and Research Matrons, and the Governance & Oversight Group to monitor performance and ensure research is conducted according to current regulations.

- Take responsibility for recruiting and retaining team members in conjunction with the Lead Research Nurse/Coordinator.

- Support the induction of new staff to the research team.

Communications and Working Relationships

- The post-holder will be expected to communicate with a variety of stakeholders at all levels including but not limited to National Clinical Trials Units, Pharmaceutical companies, and other research Sponsor organisations, Clinical Research Network staff, researchers, support service staff and clinicians both within Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and beyond.

Other

- Take an active role in research promotion for staff and patients. Provide teaching on clinical trials to healthcare professionals assist with educating patients and relatives about clinical trials and assist with the induction and education of new team members. To raise the profile of research and deliver research education days to members of the public.

- Assist in the development and teaching of local standard operating procedures for the trials team and contribute to quality assurance programmes in the Network and Trust.

- Provide cover for other Senior Research Nurses/Coordinators during periods of absence including sick leave, annual leave and when positions are vacant across the research delivery teams.

- Coordinate, set up and maintain Research Co-ordinator / Nurse led clinics.

- Act as Principal Investigator for clinical trials when appropriate.

- Provide, maintain and facilitate a high standard of clinical trial practice across a broad portfolio, developing and promoting effective channels of communication both verbally and electronically.  Network with multidisciplinary team to access expert knowledge and practice to facilitate trial patient journey.

General Working Conditions

- Travelling between Cheltenham General & Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals. Occasional community or home visits to patients.

- Occasional lifting of boxes of A4 paper, A4 files and similar (up to 5kg) and transporting these to other sites

- The post involves a combination of sitting and standing plus walking

- There is a need to use a computer

- Travel to other sites for meetings, training and education purposes.

- Requirements to concentrate on information for long periods of time (e.g., concentrating for periods of time over an hour at a time when reviewing research applications or preparing reports).

- 50% of time spent working in an open plan office

- 50% of time spent in clinical areas