Motor Neurone Disease Association Research Specialist Nurse

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is seeking a Research Specialist Nurse focused on Motor Neurone Disease. You will drive regional MND research and trials, and lead a patient-centred research service across the South West, liaising with MDTs and care teams to support recruitment and data quality.

You will provide expert guidance on MND research participation, navigate patients through trials, and ensure care needs are recognised throughout the research process within the NHS framework.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse or Healthcare Professional with registration to NMC/HCPC.
• GCP training and research governance knowledge.
• Specialist knowledge of MND and related care.
• Postgraduate level qualification or equivalent.
• Leadership experience in health/research settings.
• Experience delivering clinical research and trials.
• Ability to work autonomously within a networked team.
• Strong collaboration and communication across sites.
• Willingness to learn, develop systems and meet targets.
• Meticulous attention to data quality and study protocols.

Responsibilities

• Drive MND research and clinical trials across the South West.
• Lead and develop an MND patient-centred research service.
• Collaborate with MDTs to coordinate trials and care pathways.
• Maintain data integrity across regional databases for studies.
• Support recruitment targets and disseminate findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Research governance

GCP knowledge

Clinical trials

Data management

NHS experience

Leadership

Communication

Autonomy

Teamwork

Travel across sites

Education

NMC/HCPC registration

GCP training

MND specialist knowledge

Postgraduate qualification

Leadership qualification

Research delivery experience

Autonomous working

Teamworking

Willingness to learn

Attention to detail

Tools

Databases

IT skills

Job description

Motor Neurone Disease Association Research Specialist Nurse

1.To act as a specialist in knowledge in MND (motor neurone disease) and MND patients research participation as well as advise on the complex nursing care of MND patients when participating in MND research. To proactively support MND patients and their carers and health colleagues across the South West region to promote inclusion of MND patients into research across the South West region.

2. Proactively lead and develop an MND person-centred research service as part of an MND research nurse network. Working alongside patients and carers as well as stakeholders across the South West region.

3. To ensure that everyone diagnosed with MND in the South West region has access to the support and opportunity to take part in research across the region, working across organisations and linking closely with complex care services and research delivery teams and research leads.

4. To support people with MND to navigate the research process, providing information about current MND research opportunities, identifying research that people living with MND are eligible for, explaining what is involved, and supporting people with their application and ongoing involvement in trials--while ensuring their complex care needs are recognised and supported throughout.

Main duties of the job

• Contribute to the progress of MND research and clinical trials, dedicating 100% of efforts to supporting, delivering, and leading initiatives that contribute to breakthroughs in MND care and understanding.
• Collaborate effectively with the MND Association to support the strategic development and growth of the Research Nurse Network in the South West region.
• Oversee and support clinical trials across the region and research efforts aimed at improving outcomes for people living with MND, playing a pivotal role in facilitating high-quality research and trial execution
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the South West region to ensure studies are conducted smoothly and in full compliance with protocols, legislation, and relevant guidelines.
• Maintain and manage clinical research databases for MND studies, ensuring accuracy and currency of all research data to support impactful finding. Also ensuring the data is pulled from the differing services across the south west region and these complex data sets are interpreted correctly for the purposes of research.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

1 To drive collaborative opportunities within the MDT team. Working closely with care coordinators and other MDT members, emphasising seamless coordination, shared goals, and effective communication across departments to enhance complex care delivery in research for MND patients, and ensure alignment with the latest research insights and objectives.

2 To champion the diverse and often complex care needs of people living with MND by working in a manner that facilitates inclusion and collaboration, within and beyond the MND Association.

3 Responsibilities include coordination of care of people living with MND on trials and studies, ensuring effective communication between Care Centre / Networks and research teams, with a strong focus on meeting complex care requirements during research participation.

• Serve as an expert resource for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, offering information and support on MND research and clinical trials.
• Handle additional responsibilities essential to the efficient operation of MND research network and trial initiatives, such as patient meetings to disseminate study findings for example or work within MDT groups to align MND patient research participation in current care pathways.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Person Specification

Knowledge

• oKnowledge of the Research Governance Framework and the International Conference on Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice Guidelines
• oIn depth knowledge of clinical trials & research methodologies
• oHigh level of interpersonal and communication skills
• oIn-depth knowledge of data collection and data entry for clinical trials
• oGood leadership skills and proven managerial ability
• oPertinent clinical skills
• oIT skills including ability to work with databases
• oAbility to organise and prioritise own workload and work to tight deadlines
• oAbility to think strategically and make independent decisions
• oCritical appraisal skills
• oExtensive experience of clinical research within the NHS setting
• oBroad and recent clinical experience relevant to the post
• oLine Management experience within the NHS
• oProven record of meeting participant recruitment targets
• Experience of delivering commercial and academic research

Qualifications

• oRegistered Nurse or Healthcare Professional, currently registered with UK regulatory body NMC/HCPC
• oResearch Training (e.g., GCP, degree module, informed consent)
• oSpecialist knowledge of MND disease and patients
• oPost graduate /Master's level qualification or equivalent
• oManagement or Leadership Qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience of delivering commercial and academic research
• oAbility to work autonomously
• oWillingness to learn, instigate and develop efficient working systems
• oAbility to work cohesively as a member of a team
• oWillingness to undertake any necessary training and development to enhance work performance
• oWillingness and ability to work across sites including community
• oMeticulous attention to detail

Dispostion

• oHigh level of interpersonal and communication skills
• oFlexible and adaptable
• oCommitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role

Other

• oWillingness to travel between sites across the south west region

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.

£49,387 to £56,515 a yearPer Annum Pro Rata