Clinical Research Nurse

at  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Please note that this post is offered as a permanent contract at 37.5 h/week.
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Research and Innovation Division at The Christie. We are looking to appoint a Clinical Research Nurse to the Breast research delivery team within The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
This post presents an opportunity to join an established research team with a varied portfolio of clinical trials as a Clinical Research Nurse (CRN). The Breast disease research team is responsible for a varied portfolio of academic and commercial clinical trials from phase I to IV.
Key responsibilities of the post include supporting the coordination of the patient’s pathway through an agreed portfolio of clinical trials across the breast disease group. Excellent communications skills in all forms are required for this role, to support the efficient running of the portfolio & to manage challenging clinical conversations with patients and their families.
The successful candidate will be someone with excellent organisational & time management skills, will be the key contact for patients referred for and being treated on breast clinical trials.
Central to this role is the responsibility of assessing and managing the complex needs of patients participating in a clinical trial.
Experience in oncology is essential.
The Clinical Research Nurse will be involved in varied portfolio activities including; clinical care of patients, patient recruitment and management, supporting the team with data query resolution, reviewing protocol amendments, providing patient-centred insights to the research delivery team by supporting both the patients and the team through all aspects of clinical research in the breast research team.
With support from the team the CRN will ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the patients is a priority and maintained within the requirement of the multi-regulatory frameworks for clinical research ensuring compliance with ICH/GCP standards and Trust SOPs.
By utilising national frameworks for auditing patients experience, the CRN will ensure that patients participating in studies in the breast disease portfolio will have the best possible experience.
Will raise the profile of the clinical research nurse and clinical trials within the trust, by engaging in promotional events relating to clinical research, with attendance and contributions at local, national and international meetings.
Demonstrate awareness and contribute to divisional, Trust and national objectives and strategies.
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.
The Breast disease team is a large established research team of nurses and consultants with clinical trial coordination and project management support. The portfolio is driven to deliver treatment opportunities to as many patients with breast cancer at The Christie as possible.
There is a close working relationship with all members of the team with a strategy to increase recruitment thus offering patients more opportunities to be involved in clinical research.

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.
• Development and maintenance of a high-quality service by:

Ø Overseeing the safe administration of all licensed and unlicensed medicinal products within the context of a clinical trial.
Ø Overseeing assessment and evaluation of treatment toxicities and initiation of appropriate intervention.

Ø Contribute to development of specialist Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines.

• Provide education and support for non-research staff in the delivery of protocol driven treatment for all patients.
• Participate in monitoring and audit activities within research team
• To carry out non-medical prescribing within scope of professional practice and in accordance with local policies and procedures and national legislation (optional and depending on clinical service needs).

Personal Education, Training and Development

• Maintain professional development whilst evaluating own specialist knowledge and practice through a process of appraisal and personal development planning.
• Promote the role of the clinical research nurse as an integral part of the healthcare system.
• Increase and maintain awareness of current advances in cancer treatments, research and nursing practice thereby maintaining the highest standard of care for patients with cancer and implementing evidence-based care by continuing professional development.
• Participation in trust-wide education programmes and study days.
• Obtain clinical supervision as appropriate.
• To keep up to date with departmental, Trust, UK and EU developments for the management of clinical research ensuring timely, effective implementation of changes.
• Attendance at team and divisional meeting

Staff Management and Development

• To Support the Senior Clinical Research Nurse in the induction and continued supervision of junior members of staff, ensuring compliance with regulatory compliance and legislation.
• Support the development of specialist study days within own research team.
• Assist in the provision of specialist education and training in relation to clinical trials to all key stakeholders.
• Disseminate information by attendance and /or presentations at local, national and international conferences/meetings
• Contribute to the development of members of the research team

• 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.
• Development and maintenance of a high-quality service by