Research Nurse / Clinical Research Practitioner

Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Leeds; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Leeds is seeking an experienced Research Nurse to coordinate clinical research trials and ensure patient safety. The role involves managing patient care pathways, adhering to high standards of clinical practice, and engaging with multidisciplinary teams. Successful candidates must hold relevant nursing qualifications and have experience in clinical research, especially in Oncology. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research, helping improve patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse or Clinical Research Practitioner registered with Nursing & Midwifery Council.
• Experience in Oncology/Haematology/Clinical Research Delivery.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage clinical research trials and patient care pathways.
• Ensure patient safety and provide patient-centred care.
• Adhere to ICH/GCP standards and Trust SOPs.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Time management

Knowledge of clinical trial process

IT skills

Willingness to undergo training

Education

Registered Nurse Adult (Level 1 or 2)

Post registration qualification in speciality (Research or Oncology)

Research qualification (e.g. certificate/MSc)

GCP/ICH recognised recent training

Job description

Research Nurse / Clinical Research Practitioner

Afantastic opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated Research Nurse to join the team at SJUH Clinical Research Facility. Join our Early Phase clinical research team and play a key role in delivering cutting-edge clinical trials that directly improve patient outcomes. The successful candidate must hold a registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Allied Health Professional (AHP), or be Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) registered.

We are looking for a dynamic individual to manage a varied portfolio of clinical research trials involving Early Phase / First in Human / Experimental Medicine and Advanced Therapy Investigational Medicinal Products (ATMPs). The post-holder will lead the coordination of trial protocols, manage patient care pathways and be part of a team delivering innovative therapies and complex care. The successful candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to draw on expert knowledge and expertise.

This exciting and complex, high-risk trial portfolio is rapidly evolving and expanding to include a multitude of different investigational products across multiple disease specialities, testing new treatments, new techniques and new devices, to potentially benefit patients.

Main duties of the job

The Clinical Research Facility at St James University Hospital is a 17 bedded flagship NIHR Clinical Research Facility delivering a large and active portfolio of transitional and clinical research, which covers development of biomarkers, early phase trials and Advanced Therapies. The portfolio includes industry sponsored, academic and NIHR studies covering a wide range of specialities.

The successful candidate will be required to work within a team of Research delivery staff, with the expectation of significant engagement in all aspects of trial coordination and management. This is a key role and requires involvement in feasibility, patient recruitment, trial visit coordination and delivery, data collection and query resolution. You will ensure patient safety and wellbeing is maintained, working to high standards to provide patient-centred care, whilst adhering to ICH/GCP standards and Trust SOPs. You will help ensure participants receive the highest quality care while contributing to clinical research.

Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment delivery competency is desirable. If the successful candidate is a registered nurse, achieving this competency will be essential, in line with our induction program.

Shifts are generally Monday‑Friday, however flexibility will be required from the successful candidate to cover early and late treatment visits, as well as occasional weekend and night shifts, to meet service needs.

About us

Research is at the heart of our Trust. Leeds Teaching Hospitals is involved in research at all levels, developing and trialling new treatments for patients. We believe that being involved in cutting‑edge research helps us provide better care to our patients.

Over the next 5 years, we aim to be the best Trust to deliver high‑quality clinical research and to champion research amongst our staff. We also aim to support and grow our world‑class clinical infrastructure and assets for research and innovation.

We have a very proactive Research Academy. It offers an extensive programme of education and training tailored to meet the needs of individuals, teams involved in clinical research delivery in Health and Social Care.

Our five Trust values are part of what make us different. They have been developed by our staff. They are:

• Accountable
• Empowered

Job responsibilities

The post holder will contribute actively to the conduct, coordination and delivery of the Early Phase Research Portfolio, under the leadership of the Senior Research Nurse/Midwife/AHP. Working effectively with the immediate and broader multidisciplinary team (MDT), being responsible for ensuring that high standards of clinical care planning, delivery, safety and patient satisfaction is to a very high standard, compliant with Trust policy, study protocol requirements, local and national guidance and legislation.

The post holder will support the Senior Research Nurse/Midwife/AHP, Principle Investigators and associated multidisciplinary colleagues in the planning, scheduling, conduct, recruitment, patient care, support and data collection required for all studies within the department. They will be responsible for developing their own clinical practice, maintaining competencies (related to the research portfolio) and where appropriate taking delegated responsibility for the clinical elements of studies in line with Trust policies and study protocols.

Working effectively and proactively with agreed external agencies and collaborative partners, the individual will adhere to agreed study pathways and processes to derive accurate and robust data capture, and ensure pharmacovigilance is maintained.

The post holder will be involved in ensuring that research undertaken within the department safeguards the wellbeing of patients and is conducted within the confines of ICH Good Clinical Practice Guidelines for Research, EU directive, UK Governance Framework and other relevant UK legislation pertaining to the conduct and delivery of research.

The post holder will act as a role model developing the research team and ensuring effective management of the department in the absence of the Senior Research Nurse/Midwife/AHP.

During exceptional times of need, you will contribute to clinical service, as agreed with the Matron for the CSU and in line with the Trust’s escalation policy.

Person Specification

Skills & behaviours

• Willing to undergo training as necessary
• Knowledge of research specific issues (please demonstrate this by giving examples)
• Excellent time management skills (please give examples)
• Excellent Communication and interpersonal skills (please give examples)
• IT skills (please give examples)
• Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment competent
• Intra‑venous access and cannulation skills
• Knowledge of clinical trial process (please demonstrate)
• Knowledge of ICH‑GCP & research governance framework

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse Adult (Level 1 or 2) or Clinical Research Practitioner registered (including registration to AHCS) currently registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council
• Post registration qualification in speciality (Research or Oncology)
• Recognised teaching/ assessing qualification
• Research qualification (e.g. certificate/MSc in clinical research)
• GCP/ICH recognised recent training

Experience

• Experience of computer databases and administration (please give examples)
• Relevant clinical experience (Oncology/ Haematology/ Clinical Research Delivery/ advanced clinical skills such as SACT delivery)
• Experience of working in a clinical research environment (clinical research experience)

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.