Clinical Research Practitioner

at  Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Are you wanting to expand your clinical research experience or are you looking for a new challenge in your career? If so this could be the opportunity for you.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, reliable and conscientious team player to join our busy Research Team delivering high quality research within the Family Health Division at NUH. The post holder will be expected to work alongside existing members of the Research Teams to ensure safe delivery of a broad range of clinical trials across Family Health. The post holder must be prepared to work flexibly over both sites and in all specialties within the division including Children’s, genetics, sexual health, maternity and the children’s CRF.
Team members will have the opportunity to take ownership of their own portfolio of clinical trials including study set up, whilst being supported by experienced members of the Research Team. We are committed to staff development for which there is a range of opportunities for personal, leadership and clinical development and this is supported as far as possible within the context of the commitment to deliver the clinical research workload.
The post holder will be working independently across all NUH sites depending on the needs of the service. The post holder will be required to work flexibly over a five day week as part of a seven day service with occasional out of hours working including weekends.
Full training will be provided to the post holder.
In addition to the below summary you need to familiarise yourself with the full Job Description and Person Specification documents attached to this advert.
The post holder will be responsible for the running of complex clinical trials both non-commercial and commercial, as well as other types of clinical research within the Family Health portfolio. The role involves acquiring an in-depth knowledge of trial protocols and their application in practice and will include recruitment, education and monitoring of patients in clinical trials and the collection and documentation of accurate data in line with Good Clinical Practice. Experience of liaising with and maintaining good working relationships with other health professionals across all clinical disciplines at all levels is essential.
To attend Multi-disciplinary meetings and appropriate clinics, wards and labour ward to screen and recruit new participants.
To work with the Research team in coordinating the patient’s journey through the clinical trial pathway.
Collect, record and maintain data for participants to clinical trials, providing guidance to other clinical, administrative and research staff ensuring recruitment into clinical trials meets all targets.
We are changing the lives of millions of people through outstanding clinical research developed by world-leading clinicians, academics and scientists in Nottingham.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the biggest and busiest acute hospitals in England, employing over 20,000 staff. We provide care to over 2.5million residents of Nottingham and its surrounding communities and specialist services to a further 3-4million people from neighbouring counties.
Clinical research is central to the care we provide for every patient. We deliver over 400 clinical trials across all specialties working as part of the healthcare team, supported by experts in every part of the research process.
Our NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre is translating research discoveries into new treatments for common diseases including asthma and arthritis. Central to our research is Nottingham’s expertise in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Supporting all of our research is the NIHR Nottingham Clinical Research Facility; providing infrastructure, skills and knowledge essential to the delivery of high quality experimental medicine research for adults and children.
Through our dedicated Research Futures multi-professional school, we support the development of knowledge, skills and careers for all clinical and non-clinical roles in research. Our vision is to drive the next generation of scientific discovery and enable every member of our research workforce to realise their full potential.
Clinical
Assist research nurses/ACP’s/Clinicians in delivery of patient care to research participants.
Support and co-ordinate obtaining and processing of blood and tissue samples in the clinical
setting as well as optimising recruitment via clinics and MDT’s.
Work alongside research nurses ensuring samples are collected and recorded per protocol.
Review and record treatments, adverse events and response to treatment to relevant study
documentation including source data and case report forms including electronic data entry.
Plan, prepare and participate in monitoring visits and respond to trial data queries.
Communication
To function as a member of the Family Health Team to provide
dedicated clinical trials support to research within the Family Health field. Working within a multidisciplinary team, to co-ordinate a caseload of patients participating in local, national and
international clinical trials in various treatment types.
Disseminate information to consultants regarding new trials on the National Institute of
Health Research trial portfolio as well as non-adopted clinical trials, to enable optimal patient
recruitment.
Ensure ethics and R&D approval and indemnities are in place before recruitment of first
patients to a newly set up trial. Facilitate the set-up of trials on site i.e. SSI submission via
IRAS account, liaise with trial centre and other relevant staff to organise trial set-up visits.
Liaise with clinical teams to organise and ensure that trial specific investigations are
undertaken as and when required, obtain the results, ensure eligibility and randomise the patient.
Liaise with medical staff to record organise and ensure the timely administration of treatment
and any necessary follow up investigations and visits.
Liaise with histopathology ensuring tissue samples are stored via Tissue Bank guidelines,
organising storage and catalogue of samples kept.
To ensure effective communication with support departments to request and obtain specific
trial related information. E.g. Radiology copy scans, histological status and tissue samples.
Organise the collection, storage and shipment of protocol specific samples. Explain,
dispense and collect patient quality of life questionnaires and diaries. Liaise with designated
Pharmacist to co-ordinate the availability and dispensing of trial drugs if required.
Provide information to allow for invoices to be raised for payments where appropriate.
Contribute to and supply verbal and written information on the teams portfolio of trials and
the number of patients recruited to the R&I team, hospital/university staff, local/Network
meetings, regulatory bodies etc., as required.
Managerial
Maintain patient’s records and accurately document data collected in case report forms and
medical notes, ensuring correct storage and maintaining confidentiality.
Actively and independently participate in trial set up including gaining relevant permissions
and submitting SSI forms.
To record trial activity on data systems and plan yearly Audits on recruitment as required by
the clinicians.
Forward trial data in a timely manner to the trial co-ordinating centre and liaise with their
personnel as necessary.
Attend local and national meetings and feedback to members of the team.
Professional
Work alongside medical and nursing staff to assist in the informed consent process by giving
information to patients concerning trials and allowing them to reach a fully informed decision
about participation.
To have specific and specialist knowledge of the patient pathway with regard to individual
patients diagnosis and the treatment options that are available to them.
In discussion with the team leader, report adverse and serious adverse events to the
relevant trial centre and site personnel, within the agreed timelines to ensure trial procedures
and patient safety parameters are met.
Act as a contact point for the patient and their relatives. Maintaining contact with and
providing ongoing information and support to the patient in a sensitive and professional
manner. Refer to other specialists as required in order to provide optimal patient care.
Participate in Continued professional development and undertake additional training as
required per Knowledge Skills Framework and research staff competence framework.
Speciality Specific
Assist in the review of trial protocols and identify resource implications for the site.
Identify patients suitable for entry into clinical trials by attending clinics and Multi Disciplinary
Team meetings.
Ensure trial protocols are adhered to and that all personnel involved in trials are aware of any changes or protocol amendments. Liaise with trial centres and relevant departments in order
to promote a good working environment and ensure the smooth running of clinical trials for patients.
Work at all times according to regulations described in NUH Policies, procedures and Standard Operating Procedures, Good Clinical Research Practice and European Directive and R&I Standard Operation Procedures.
NOTE: The duties and responsibilities of the post will be undertaken in accordance with the policies,
procedures and practices of the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which the Hospital will amend from time to time. Copies are available on each Ward and Department.
It is the individual’s responsibility to keep up-to-date with these and other policy document

Please refer the Job description for details