Research Facilitator

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust is seeking a Research Facilitator to coordinate and manage research projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate should have project management experience and an understanding of research governance. Responsibilities include supporting project setup, conducting audits, and maintaining research databases. This role offers opportunities for professional growth within a supportive research team.

Benefits

Opportunities for professional growth

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Ability to coordinate various research study stages and regulatory processes.
• Experience in project management within a healthcare or research environment.
• Strong organizational skills for managing multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide research management support for a portfolio of projects.
• Coordinate feasibility reviews and manage project timelines.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and assist with audits.

Skills

Project management skills

Understanding of research governance

Communication skills

Data management

Education

Relevant degree or qualification

Tools

EDGE database system

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Overview

The Research and Innovation department is supported by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and local Research Delivery Network to open and promote studies at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This includes local research as well as commercial, non-commercial and student research within varied specialties and themes. The Department provides setup and delivery team support to researchers across the Trust to help them deliver high quality research to local and national performance targets.

The Research Facilitator will provide research management support to studies undertaken at the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated team-player who will play a key role in coordinating the setup of studies at the Trust. There are plenty of opportunities to grow, as we are striving to grow our team and contribute to the New Hospital Build programme at Hillingdon.

The post holder will be responsible for coordinating the setup of a portfolio of research projects at various stages, from expressions of interest and feasibility to regulatory submissions and operational setup. Additionally, the post holder will provide advice on regulatory and governance requirements for all aspects of research. They will assist the Head of Research and Innovation in creating and implementing research governance systems as required by the DHSC or NIHR. This involves maintenance of research databases and systems, which are designed to provide accurate, timely information about research activity within the Trust; monitoring and conducting audits on clinical research, understanding and supporting the reporting of adverse events, analysing complex research information, answering queries from researchers about the research project application processes; monitoring the costing process of R&D projects, running the R&D web site, arranging meetings; ensuring the office supplies are ordered and invoices are processed in a timely manner; and working with national database or web based systems in support of managing research submissions. The post-holder will be expected to work flexibly with all members of the research team and relevant multidisciplinary teams across several specialties. The post holder will be a motivated team player with an interest in pursuing a wider knowledge and understanding of clinical research.

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute Hospital in the London Borough of Hillingdon and offers a wide range of services including accident and emergency, inpatient care, day surgery, outpatient clinics and maternity services. The Trusts services at Mount Vernon Hospital include routine day surgery, delivered at a modern treatment centre, a minor injuries unit and outpatient clinics.

The safety and well-being of our patients and of our staff is paramount and we are making urgent improvements to address this particularly in infection prevention and control. We are making progress and going forward by working in partnership with local GPs, charities, community services, academic partners, our local authority, neighbouring hospitals and the wider North West London Integrated care system, and ensuring that we listen and work in partnership with our local population. We are absolutely focused on ensuring that our hospitals provide high quality, safe and compassionate care, while drive forward the building of the new Hillingdon Hospital.

We have over 3,500 members of staff that are proud to care for nearly half a million people, with a vision to be an outstanding provider of healthcare through leading health and academic partnerships, transforming services, to provide the best care where needed.

Responsibilities

1. Research Management support

   1. To provide project management skills to setup a portfolio of research projects at the Trust, ensuring that studies are setup in a timely manner in line with DHSC and NIHR High Level Objectives by coordinating research governance reviews, completing contractual agreements and issuing capacity and capability for research projects.
   2. To work in accordance with Research Governance Framework, HRA Guidance, ICH GCP and EU/UK guidelines to facilitate regulatory compliance.
   3. To communicate complex, sensitive information and procedures with a range of staff internally and externally across the organization, including explaining processes on obtaining ethical and NHS R&D Capacity and Capability for research projects to researchers.
   4. To coordinate feasibility reviews where appropriate.
   5. Lead on reviewing study amendments for all clinical research studies to assess financial, resource and safety implications to the site, consult with necessary departments and resolve any queries prior to issuing continuation of capacity and capability within agreed timelines.
   6. Coordinate with clinicians, sponsors, research managers, delivery staff, support departments to assess finance implications in amendments to research studies and negotiate costs to finalise contract amendments to all clinical research studies.
   7. Undertake audits of clinical research projects.
   8. To assist with regulatory inspections.
   9. Line manage and/or supervise the work of junior facilitators and administrators as required and play a key role in supporting the work of the research office team.
   10. To coordinate Research passport process and work with HR to issue honorary contracts or Letters of Access.

2. Data Management

   1. To create and maintain document templates, online and off-line filing systems, trackers and alerts, as necessary.
   2. To report on study setup or patient recruitment as required using the EDGE database system to compile reports.
   3. To extract information from web-based databases and from Excel files to support production of reports.

3. Research Study Support

   1. To ensure appropriate document version control, set up and maintain site files, maintain amendment logs for studies.
   2. To assist with close-out of studies.
   3. To prepare for archiving and destruction of studies.

4. Research Administration

   1. To manage the Generic R&D Inbox and forward emails to the right people for their attention.
   2. To maintain accurate distribution lists.
   3. To be responsible for monitoring office supplies and help order office supplies or equipment via the Trust eProcurement system.
   4. To help raise invoices through the Finance department.
   5. To book in received goods and arrange payment of invoices.
   6. To maintain a database of all finance invoices received to ensure that they are processed within an acceptable timeframe.
   7. To assist with preparing agendas and other meeting papers, take minutes.

5. Other Duties

   1. To provide cover for other administrative staff as and when required.
   2. To undertake any other administrative duties as requested by the Head of Research and Innovation and Director of Research and Innovation.
   3. To contribute to process improvement in the department.