Research Nurse/Facilitator

East Of England Community Health And Care Nhs Trust; Huntingdon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

East Of England Community Health And Care NHS Trust is seeking a Research Facilitator to support the adoption of NIHR portfolio studies into clinical services across the Trust and to promote research opportunities for patients and communities.

The role collaborates with NIHR RDN East of England and may involve engagement across academic partners to develop research readiness and support ethical approvals and governance processes.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent research knowledge.
• Evidence of continuous personal, professional development.

Responsibilities

• Establish key lines of communication with Leadership Teams to maximise opportunities.
• Communicate with research participants and multidisciplinary team involved in care.
• Liaise with RDN East of England and partner organisations.

Skills

Listening skills

Interpersonal skills

IT skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Education

Degree qualified

MSc (Desirable)

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job summary
This post is to support the Trust Research Team in the facilitation of the adoption of research studies which are currently on the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) portfolio into clinical areas throughout the Trust and in the promotion of other research opportunities. This includes being a part of developing into new clinical areas and expanding opportunities for patients to be a part of community led research
The aim of the role is primarily to support our clinical services to participate in all relevant NIHR Portfolio Studies, including commercial research, to develop the research culture and the readiness of services to deliver Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPS). The post holder is also likely to collaborate with other academic institutions and research networks such as the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) East of England (EoE).
The applicant may already be working within a clinical area and wish to have more dedicated time to increasing and supporting the adoption of research within their specialism but must be able to also support the research team on research activities outside of their clinical role speciality.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work towards achieving maximum engagement with portfolio studies, which are relevant to our services. This includes identifying barriers and exploring solutions, building research readiness, assisting with scoping for suitable studies, participating in the clinical set-up process, identification of potential participants, consenting participants, treating participants as per the research protocol in studies relevant to the post holder's professional competencies, ensuring that the studies recruit to time and target and study close down.
The post holder will contribute to continuing to develop the research culture across the Trust, including supporting the Research Champions programme. The post holder will provide support to clinical investigators in obtaining approval from the NHS Trust and have obtained a favourable opinion from Research Ethics Committees. The post holder will become familiar with each research protocol and its application in practice, including procedures and documentation, to ensure safe and accurate conduct and recording within the study. Identify, screen and recruit eligible participants into research studies according to specific protocols and guidelines.
Co-ordinate recruitment for a local portfolio of clinical studies across participating sites and practices.
Job responsibilities
Communication

• Establish key lines of communication with Leadership Teams to ensure research opportunities are maximised.
• Communicate with research participants, their relatives/carers and with the multi-disciplinary team involved in the provision of care associated with the research study.
• Liaise with RDN EoE, network facilitators and relevant partner organisations.
• Liaise with other relevant corporate colleagues, such as Data Services.
• Attend the Research Team meetings (virtual or in person depending upon current Trust recommendations).
• Attend and contribute to other clinical specialist meetings, as required, relating to research or other projects.

People Management

• Support the day-to-day supervision of staff.
• Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in annual objective setting, appraisal and KSF process.

Research and Development Activity

• The post holder will undertake research and development activity as part of their role and will be required to facilitate the development and conduct of research within the Trust, in particular facilitating high quality research relating to research topics prioritised by the NIHR and/or Trust.
• Actively work with colleagues to help develop the profile and capacity of research across the Trust.

Governance and Compliance

• Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient, family, staff, records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• Any data that is taken, shared as part of a phone call, or transported, faxed, or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.
• The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
• The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
• If it is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with a professional body, it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.
• Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role, as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and RDN East of England.
• The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required.
• The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

Qualifications
Essential

• Educated to degree standard or have relevant and recent research knowledge and experience to equivalent of degree level.
• Evidence of continuous personal, professional development.

Desirable

• Post-graduate qualification e.g. MSc.
• Clinical registration.
• Relevant and recent specialist healthcare knowledge.

Experience
Essential

• Good knowledge of clinical research infrastructure in the UK. Understanding of the requirements of ICH Good Clinical Practice.
• Good knowledge of the role of the clinical research facilitator; understanding the issues and process of gaining informed consent. Experienced in the knowledge of research methods. Experience of project management and delivery of projects in a timely manner. An understanding of the complexity of service delivery within a community setting.
• Experience of working with patients, service users and general public.
• Good working knowledge of equality and diversity. Good knowledge of confidentiality and data protection. Experience of collaborating with multi-disciplinary groups. Participating in leading and enabling individual and team development. Report writing and presentation skills. Practical problem-solving ability.

Desirable

• Experience of Clinical Trial delivery (non-CTIMP and CTIMP). Experience of submitting commercial EOIs.
• Experience of delivering commercial research. Experience of research governance. Experience of working in an NHS environment. Experience and understanding of working with the NIHR and RDN. Experience working in a Community Care setting.

Skills
Essential

• Effective listening and interpersonal skills. Self-motivated. Ability to work autonomously using own initiative, and as a member of a small team, as well as part of the wider multidisciplinary team. Ability to work across boundaries, integrating with multidisciplinary staff to achieve the objectives of the project.
• Sound IT skills, able to confidently use word processing packages, email, spreadsheets and presentations. Persuasive manner: able to establish positive working relationships with a range of health care professionals, NHS managers and corporate colleagues.
• Ability to organise, prioritise and co-ordinate work of self and others where there are conflicting demands and workload pressures. Able to be calm and diplomatic under pressure. Must be able to deal with the public and colleagues in a pleasant and polite manner at all times.

Desirable

• Ability to maintain records consistent with policies, procedures and regulations to be used for reporting and governance purposes.
• Teaching skills.

Working within professional boundaries and self awareness
Essential

• Aware of the range of emotions in self and in others. Has a realistic knowledge of personal strengths and areas for development. Can demonstrate flexibility of approach. Shows a realistic appreciation of the challenges of working with children and young people or vulnerable adults. Shows respect for others' feelings, views and circumstances. Accepts responsibility and accountability for own work and can define the responsibilities of others. Recognises the limits of own authority within the role. Seeks and uses professional support appropriately. Understands the principle of confidentiality. Demonstrates professional curiosity.
• Working within professional boundaries: accepts responsibility and accountability for own work and can define the responsibilities of others. Recognises the limits of own authority within the role. Seeks and uses professional support appropriately. Understands the principle of confidentiality. Demonstrates professional curiosity.
• In highly stressful situations keeps own feelings in check, takes constructive action and calms others down. Has a range of mechanisms for dealing with stress, can recognise when to use them and does so. Listens to personal comments without becoming defensive.

Other
Essential

• Ability to travel across the Trust wide geography sometimes at short notice. Ability to manage own diary and workload. Adhere to all safeguarding standards.

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.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Contact
Head of Multi-professional Practice and Education: Lynne Fanning, [e-mail], 07789170514

Closing date: 09 November 2026