Clinical Research Facilitator

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Reading is seeking a Clinical Research Facilitator to support multi-disciplinary research projects. This role involves educating staff, coordinating research studies, and ensuring compliance with governance. Ideal candidates will have experience in research governance, a related degree, and strong skills in project planning and collaboration. The position offers an opportunity to work closely with the University, contributing to impactful research and clinical practice.',

Qualifications

• Experience of research governance.
• Experience working in an NHS or healthcare setting.
• Attended recognized external research training courses.

Responsibilities

• Support individual research projects from inception to close down.
• Plan and design research projects, including data collection methods.
• Negotiate trial agreements between sponsors and research investigators.

Skills

Understanding of research governance

Project planning

Medical terminology knowledge

Advanced computer literacy

Education

Degree; or Health Service professional qualification

Job description

As an essential part of the Corporate Directorate, the Research and Innovation (R&I) Department aims to develop, support and monitor clinical and non-clinical research throughout the organisation to help the Trust achieve its quality values of growing a quality culture, promoting patient safety, enhancing clinical effectiveness and providing patient-centred care.

The role of the Clinical Research Facilitator is essentially threefold: to educate staff about best practice in clinical and non-clinical research; to facilitate multi-disciplinary research projects across the Trust in collaboration with the University of Reading (Research Governance and to ensure that research activity is accurately processed, documented and recorded. The role will be centred around facilitating research projects for the areas of shared focus in the Partnership.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic motivated person to join the research team at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust focusing on our collaborative Research Portfolio

You will work as part of the R&I Governance team with a focus on delivering on our investigator-led collaborative portfolio studies between the Trust and the University. You will be supported by a network of professionals across the Royal Berkshire Hospital and the University of Reading. We need someone who can engage with stakeholders, offer help, ongoing support, training and education to a number of departments across both organisations.

The primary duty of the post holder will be to work with research delivery teams and the wider multi-disciplinary team in reviewing, setting up and coordinating and driving our collaborative investigator led studies. We are looking for individuals who have experience in a range of areas such as applying to Research Ethics Committees, monitoring and working within Research Governance policies and ensuring studies have all Regulatory approvals, whilst maintaining accurate track of projects progress.

You will play a key role in supporting Chief and Principal Investigators, co-ordination and performance of research studies as well as staff training and development.

Attention to detail and the ability to work both as part of a team and autonomously are essential requirements for this role.

About us

Diversity makes us interesting... Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical Research

1.1. Working with a range of healthcare professionals, the post holder will support individual research projects from inception, implementation to close down as well as giving expert advice and promoting the sharing of learning from research.

1.2. To advise on and carry out the planning and design of research projects, including data collection methods, protocol, analysis and clinical trial agreement review, presentation of information and project evaluation.

1.3. To negotiate trial agreements between commercial and non-commercial sponsors and research investigators.

1.4. To track and monitor research study income and expenditure.

1.5. To work alongside clinical teams and recruit into clinical research studies

1.6. Together with the R&I Leads and R&I Committee, to establish, maintain and strategically develop a structure for clinical research within the Trust for inclusion in the NIHR portfolio.

1.7. To organise research meetings as required and when called upon, to make formal presentations of research findings at specialty research/clinical governance meetings.

1.8. To manage personal workload, determining priorities in the context of local and Trust-wide research strategy and contribution to the Trust-wide Research Strategy.

1.9. To actively promote and facilitate clinical research projects which involve all appropriate stakeholders, including patients, different staff groups and other organisations.

1.10. To participate in specialty research / clinical governance and assurance arrangements, as appropriate to Clinical Research, and pro-actively seek opportunities to build links between departments and promote innovation Trust-wide.

1.11. To represent the department at the Trust Research and Innovation Committee and other Trust/external meetings as necessary or as requested by Line Manager / the Head of Research and Innovation.

Please note - For all internal candidates, this vacancy would only be available on a secondment basis. You would therefore need to seek approval from your current manager before applying.

Person Specification

• Degree; or Health Service professional qualification; or equivalent experience
• Experience of research governance
• Work within the NHS or other healthcare setting research methodology, achievement and innovation.
• Have attended recognised external research training courses/meetings
• Evidence of multi disciplinary working
• Practical clinical experience from any field

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• An understanding of research governance, national research priorities, and the role of external bodies including IRAS, MHRA, NIHR, NICE and the Healthcare Commission
• Ability to plan projects and guide clinical staff through the research process to an appropriate end point
• Ability to use own judgment based on information available and to seek advice when unsure of appropriate response
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Advanced computer literacy
• Ability to manage change effectively at organizational, team and individual levels

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.