Senior Health Care Research Assistant (Adult)

Transformationunitgm; Norwich; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits at a leading NHS trust for a Senior Health Care Research Assistant. This role offers a fixed-term contract within a dynamic research team, focusing on clinical trials and patient care. You'll engage in various tasks, from data entry to participant interaction, all while receiving comprehensive training. This is your chance to contribute to groundbreaking research and enhance your skills in a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. Join a team dedicated to providing exceptional care and making a difference in the lives of patients in the community.

Benefits

Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service

Discounted Gym Memberships

Excellent Pension Scheme

Free Park & Ride Service

On-site Nursery

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare or research is beneficial but not required.
• Training provided for those new to research roles.

Responsibilities

• Assist in clinical trials and maintain research unit cleanliness.
• Document participant data accurately and respond to clinical emergencies.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Basic IT Skills

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Care/Health

Job description

Main area Research and development Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract 23 months (Fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity) Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 234-24-R047

Employer Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Quadram Institute Town Norwich Salary £24,625 - £25,674 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 23/05/2025 23:59 Interview date 10/06/2025

Senior Health Care Research Assistant (Adult)

NHS AfC: Band 3

At NNUH it is our privilege to provide healthcare to over one million people across Norfolk and surrounding areas. Our vision is to ‘provide the best care for every patient’, and if this inspires you and you share our values, we really want you to join our team.

NNUH is currently the busiest Trauma Unit in the East of England caring for almost 850 trauma patients annually many with complex care needs. We are enhancing our urgent and emergency care specialist services for patients with significant injuries as a result of trauma and have an ambition to become a Major Trauma Centre.

Our values support our vision and guide the behaviour of everything we do, these are:

People-focused

We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues, to provide a safe and caring experience for all.

Respect

We act with care, compassion and kindness and value others’ diverse needs.

Integrity

We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do.

Dedication

We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest professional standards.

We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and our hospital.

We want all our staff to achieve a balance between work and personal life and understand how important flexible working can be. We welcome applications on a full or part time basis, various shift patterns and hybrid working, where roles allow.

At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH), we know the benefits diversity can bring to our organisation such as creativity, innovation and compassion. All of which have a direct impact towards our staff and patient experience. We are committed to being a Hospital for All – being equitable and inclusive, and a place where all feel a sense of belonging. We therefore particularly encourage and welcome applications from candidates who are underrepresented in NNUH’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people with diverse abilities and people within the LGBT+ community.

Job overview

Fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity for 23 months

An exciting 23-months fixed term contract/secondment opportunity has arisen for a Healthcare Research Assistant to join the Research Nursing Team at the NNUH, Clinical Research Facility based at the Quadram Institute part of the Norwich Research Park. CRF-QI offers an excellent way of conducting research, supporting the delivery of clinical studies for a wide range of specialties throughout the Trust as well as our close partners, The Quadram Institute Bioscience and The University of East Anglia.

This is a great opportunity to join an experienced research team, to build upon current skills and knowledge, working across different specialties.

If you are considering applying for this post on a secondment basis, please discuss with your Line Manager prior to applying to ascertain whether this could be supported.

Main duties of the job

Previous experience of working with research studies would be beneficial but not a necessity as training would be provided.

Specific to the delivery of clinical trials and in addition to core HCA clinic service duties, this role includes significant amount of research study office admin activities (data entry, booking appointments, follow-ups, etc.) as well as house-keeping of the research unit.

The post holder will work under the supervision of the Clinical Research Nursing team at the Clinical Research Facility- QI. The post offers an exciting opportunity to develop research skills, working on a variety of National Institute for Health and Care Research as well as commercial sponsors studies.

Working for our organisation

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
• Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
• On-site Nursery
• On-site cafes offering staff discounts
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Obtain blood samples and basic measurements from participants in accordance with the protocol for the study. Be aware of normal measurements and report any concerns and abnormal results to the RN/CRP/RM.
• To carry out duties as specified within the Trust’s approved core task list for Senior Health Care Assistants qualified to NVQ Level 3 in Care/Health/Health and Social Care
• To accurately document all information collected from participants countersigned by a senior member of the team and record in the research study database
• To respond appropriately to clinical emergencies to ensure the participant receives appropriate care. Be aware of role in emergency situations.
• To be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies/procedures/nursing guidelines when undertaking any activities.
• To make participants welcome to the clinical area and participate in the recruitment process under the supervision of the RN/CRP/RM.
• To provide and deliver a high standard of individualised personal care.
• To keep the clinical area clean and tidy maintaining a safe environment. Ensure all clinical waste and soiled linen is disposed of in line with Trust policy.
• To adhere to Trust infection control procedures demonstrating an understanding of cross infection.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.

Person specification

Qualifications

• City and Guilds NVQ Level 3/Diploma in Care/Health/Health and Social Care or equivalent experience

Experience

• Some experience in phlebotomy (on-job training would be provided)
• Some previous nursing/care assistant role experience in NHS.

Skills

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Evidence of team working
• Basic I.T. and computer skills
• Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH’s PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Job Description, which includes a Person Specification, provides a full outline of responsibilities and requirements for this role. Please use your supporting statement to demonstrate how you meet the person specification.

Visa and Immigration

If you are wishing to apply for this role and would require sponsorship (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer), you can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this post by assessing your circumstances against criteria specified on the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job.

Travelling to work

Staff parking is available onsite; however, this is limited during core working hours. We have more capacity in the evening and at weekends and can usually provide spaces during those hours.

We look to allocate these spaces fairly. Our Travel Office have a set of criteria that staff must meet in order to qualify. If you qualify for a space, you may be placed on a waiting list if we are at full capacity.

The NNUH is served by a number of public buses, and we offer generously discounted monthly passes with First Bus & Konect.

The Costessey Park and Ride runs regularly each day from 06:30 (from P&R) to 20:45 (from NNUH) and this service is free for NHS staff. There is a regular Thickthorn P&R service as well which is free. Applications to the Travel Office are required for this service. We also have a discounted service from the airport P&R if you purchase a bundle. Please see Konect website for further details.

The NNUH host multiple bicycle racks and a salary sacrifice scheme. We also benefit from a Beryl station onsite.

If you work at another Trust site, please discuss travel and parking arrangements at interview.

DBS

If this post involves working with children or adults the application form will ask for information regarding previous convictions as you will be required to undertake a Criminal Record and Barring Check known as a DBS check.

If you are a new employee or registering with the Staff Bank you will need to meet the cost of this unless your salary is less than point 9 of Afc

NHS Service

Should you be appointed to the post we will need to establish any previous NHS service via the ESR IAT and we will accept the submission of your application as your agreement to this.

UK Registration

You will need to have current UK professional registration where this is a requirement of the role.

Application

Following candidate feedback and to reduce our dependency on paper, all our communication with you regarding your application will be by email so could you please check your e-mails (and Spam) regularly.

We value equality in our team and recruit from all sections of the community. We recognise there is a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and if you meet the minimum criteria detailed in the person specification and have a disability, you may wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme by indicating this in the relevant section on your application.

We look forward to receiving your application and if you do not hear within the next four weeks this will usually mean that you have not been short-listed. However, if you wish to confirm this please contact the person indicated on the advert.

Flexibility

Whilst every effort will be made to recruit to the post as it is advertised, there may be occasions where we consider alternative working patterns, such as part time working, or contract types, such as secondments, depending on circumstances. Should you wish to work in a different working pattern to that stated in our advertisement, please indicate this in the supporting statement to your application.

Useful Information

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates about the exciting career opportunities available at NNUH - @NNUHjobs

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.