Clinical Trials Assistant

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust is seeking a motivated band 3 clinical trials assistant to support research studies and patient care. This role offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic research team, assisting in clinical delivery and administration tasks. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and IT skills. Benefits include ongoing training and a supportive work environment. Flexible hours and travel to various locations in Southampton are required, making this a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic individual.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 'A' Level/NVQ3 in a relevant field.
• GCSE Level 4 or above in Maths and English.
• Experience of working with data is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist in delivering clinical research studies and patient care.
• Manage administrative tasks to support research activities.
• Participate in patient care and undertake clinical tasks.

Skills

Admin and clerical skills

Advanced keyboard skills

General IT skills

Advanced Microsoft Office skills

Good written and verbal communication skills

Experience of working with data

Education

'A' Level/NVQ3 or equivalent in a relevant subject area

GCSE Level 4 or above in Maths and English

Degree/Higher education or equivalent (desirable)

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. This band 3 clinical trials assistant post is only open to internal applicants and is located in the rheumatology research team covering a wide range of rheumatology related conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus and Sjögren's syndrome. The role reports to the band 7 rheumatology research team leader and band 8 clinical research facility matrons.

Do you want to make a difference? Are you looking for a new and different career pathway whilst developing clinical and research delivery skills? We have a unique opportunity for enthusiastic band 3 clinical trials assistants with the appropriate skills to join our research team to begin, or further, a career in clinical research delivery.

We have a team of around 300 research nurses, allied health professionals, midwives and clinical trials assistants working together across the Trust, within our award‑winning teams to bring exciting research opportunities to UHS for the benefit of our patients and the future of healthcare. The research team is composed of multidisciplinary researchers from hospital and university backgrounds, embedded and working in collaboration with clinical services and teams, aiming to deliver a variety of studies to improve patient care and outcomes.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI‑generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Specific to this role we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti‑racist, anti‑discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Working in clinical research you will join an enthusiastic, driven and caring research team, to help provide support to embedded research teams across the Trust and within our dedicated NIHR clinical research facility, for new and existing studies. Our team participates in research within many different specialities across the Trust and in the community i.e. in colleges, universities and patient’s homes. There are always opportunities to gain knowledge and experience within a number of these specialities.

Job Summary

• Assist in the delivery of clinical research studies including direct patient care and administrative support.
• Develop and maintain clinical knowledge and skills to provide a high standard of care to patients and volunteers participating in research.
• Participate in the direct care of patients and, within scope of competence, undertake a range of clinical tasks and observations including but not limited to venesection, blood pressure (manual and electronic), recording ECGs and measuring height and weight (anthropometric measurements).

There is no set shift rotation and the majority of the time you will work core hours Monday to Friday; however we expect that you will also have the ability to work a variety of flexible hours including longer days, night, and weekends on an ad hoc basis as per any research study requirements. A willingness to travel to various locations in and around Southampton is also needed.

Enthusiasm, self‑motivation, flexibility and drive will be required to ensure the success of this post. Clinical research experience is not essential for the role, full research training will be given; we have an excellent induction and ongoing education programme. You will be involved in all aspects of the research process from study start‑up, recruitment and delivery to study close. Team‑working skills, flexibility and drive will be required, and you will need to have good written and verbal communication skills, proficient IT skills and experience of working with data are also key. You will work in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, implementing studies to translate scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes.

Person Specification

Trust Values

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Skills and competencies

• Admin and clerical skills
• Advanced keyboard skills
• General IT skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• ‘A’ Level/NVQ3 or equivalent in a relevant subject area
• GCSE Level 4 or above or equivalent in Maths and English
• Evidence of continuing professional development and willingness to undertake further training.
• Experience of working with data
• Interest in clinical research.
• Ability to work as part of a team, work under own initiative and independently outside the dept without direct supervision.
• An understanding of confidentiality issues
• Ability to work in a large open plan office where there may be noise distractions
• Willing to travel to various locations in and around Southampton.

Desirable criteria

• Degree/ Higher education or equivalent
• Experience of clinical research.
• IT related qualifications
• ICH GCP Trained
• Previous NHS or other healthcare environment experience
• Venesection experience/ willingness to learn