This is a secondment post which is open to qualified midwives or nurses, who will be responsible for operational research delivery within Women’s and Children’s Services, maximising recruitment into research studies within the Trust. This will involve leading research studies, establishing study feasibility, pre-trial setup, recruitment of participants, education and monitoring of research patients and the collection and documentation of accurate data. The post holder will ensure that any research undertaken safeguards the well-being of research participants and is conducted to Good Clinical Practice.
Please note interviews will be held in person at Watford General Hospital on the 1st October 2025
Prior to the interview you will be invited to a pre-interview Excel based assessment. This will be conducted on 29th September 2025 remotely through MS teams and will use MS Excel. Please ensure you have access to a computer with both of these applications available. We will be in touch on the email provided to arrange the pre-interview Excel based assessment.
Core hours Monday to Friday, occasional requirements for working outside core hours based on service needs

Clinical activities to be performed initially under supervision, with expectation increasing level of autonomy and independent working

• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings, helping to identify patients eligible for clinical trials.
• Assist with recruitment of patients to clinical trials using trial eligibility criteria on studies running in maternity.
• Assist in the smooth running of clinics by obtaining results and scans to be seen prior to patients’ appointments.
• Book investigations as directed by medical, nursing, midwifery staff and clinical trial assistants.
• Assist patients with quality of life and other questionnaires as necessary.
• Deal with telephone queries from patients and their carers with the support of the research nurse/midwife. Refer queries to other to another member of the multidisciplinary team as required.
• Be involved in the administration of experimental and/or unlicensed intravenous investigational medicinal products.
• Perform phlebotomy, including cord blood extractions and heel prick testing.
• Assist in the safe handling, storage and shipping of bloods, histology specimens and other body fluids required for research purposes.
• Learn to become the patient’s guide and advocate through the complex decision-making process involved in considering participation in trials. Enable patients to articulate reasons for trial participation or refusal
• Learn how to communicate sensitive disease and diagnostic information and be able to deal with the emotional impact of bad news.
• Reporting to research midwife/research nurse on research delivery outputs and escalation of concerns.

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us.
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.
Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.
We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.
www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net
If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick “Member of the Armed Forces Community” on the application form.
We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

• Understand international, national, and local policies and legislation relating to clinical trials.
• Learn to prepare for external inspections (eg MHRA) and internal audits
• Register/randomise patients into trial protocols
• Learn to extract clinical data from patients’ casenotes and transfer the data into the trial Case Report Forms
• Assist in accurate and complete data collection, updating and maintenance of databases and computerised systems.
• Take responsibility for filing and safe storage of clinical trials data sheets and for sending to Clinical Trials Units as appropriate
• Help to deliver, and manage clinical trials, establishing and maintaining channels of communication amongst staff and departments to ensure policies and protocols are understood and adhered to.
• Understand the role of clinical trials units and liaise with units as necessary
• Attend and participate in unit meetings and seminars
• Adequate training to Level 3 safeguarding
• To facilitate the informed consent process and
• Liaise with clinical research study personnel outside the hospital as necessary
• Communicate effectively with participants, the research team and other professional as appropriate to ensure that the trials protocol and SOPs are adhered to
• To facilitate the informed consent process to ensure the potential research participant (and family) fully understands the nature of the clinical trial/study.
• To co-ordinate the care of your own caseload of clinical research study participants
• To comply with and participate in the Trust’s framework of clinical governance within the ward or department area, seeking advice or guidance where necessary
• To ensure that clinical research study recruitment records are accurately maintained, and staff informed of the progress of clinical studies
• Able to travel to other sites

Please refer the Job description for details