Clinical Research Nurse

at  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

This post presents an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated nurse, interested in helping to improve patient outcomes to join the Head & Neck Research Team as a Band 6 Research Nurse.
The Head & Neck Research Team currently consists of 4 Research Nurses and a Research practitioner. They are supported by a team of Clinical trial coordination staff. We manage the recruitment and support of patients enrolled to clinical trials receiving various treatments and trial interventions across medical and clinical oncology.
Research nursing is an exciting and developing role, supported through the R& I division with a good education and development package in place to ensure that staff reach their potential.
This post presents an excellent opportunity to join the Head & Neck Research Team and manage a varied portfolio of oncology studies. This can include early and late phase international studies with investigational drugs, investigator led studies looking at radiotherapy dosing, biomarker studies and quality of life questionnaire studies.
The post holder will work a wide multi-disciplinary team of consultants, clinical research nurses and clinical trial administrators, key workers, research fellows and specialist nurses.
Key responsibilities of the post include the coordination of the trial protocols and support for trial patients. Central to this role is the responsibility of assessing and managing the care pathways including the delivery of all specified treatments for participants in research.
A background in oncology, flexibility in working, excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Experience in clinical research and/or with patients with Head & Neck cancers would be desirable.
An informal discussion about the post is strongly recommended.
Please visit our website to see the developments at The Christie.
http://www.christie.nhs.uk/
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination of a defined group of clinical trials from set up to archiving and meeting agreed patient recruitment targets.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Research Co-ordination
Work autonomously in all areas of practice relating to clinical research.
Understand and deliver care in accordance with regulatory approved clinical research protocols.
Understand the process for obtaining NHS permissions (R&D approval) for conducting clinical trials at site. As project lead, ensure permissions are in place prior to any patient recruitment.
Participate in clinical trial feasibilities and risk assessments of clinical trial protocols.
Ensure all clinical trial activities are recorded in appropriate systems in a timely manner.
Awareness of trial specific, regional and national targets. Identify and implement strategies for recruiting patients to clinical trials ensuring that targets for patient recruitment are delivered.
Delegation and oversight of research related activities to research team members (clinical and administrative) and ensure compliance with SOPs and ICH/GCP.
Arrange and facilitate clinical trial related meetings.
Involvement in appropriate financial remunerations for clinical trial activity.
Clinical Service and Professional Responsibilities
Assimilation of highly complex information relating to clinical trials and communication to patients at a level appropriate to their understanding. Ensure highly sensitive information is communicated to patients, relatives, and carers regarding prognosis
Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of specialist care pathways in conjunction with appropriate personnel.
Demonstration of expert knowledge in specialist area to maintain clinical excellence.
Demonstrate awareness of divisional and trust strategic objectives including performance indicators and metrics.
Escalation of governance issues impacting on delivery of job purpose.
To act as a primary contact point for the clinical trial patients and act as adviser to other health care professionals.
Responsibility for maintenance and development of professional knowledge and practice by attending mandatory and specialist training in accordance with local policy.
Ensuring care delivery standards in accordance with trial protocol, local policy, NMC Code of Practice Conduct and current best practice.