Senior Research Nurse/ Practitioner

at  Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Do you have excellent communication and management skills? Are you patient focused and motivated to offer new treatments and treatment pathways to our patient population?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Research Nurse/Practitioner band 7 to manage our established research delivery team within our cross site R&I department. Previous research knowledge and staff management experience is essential. The post holder is required to lead a team to deliver the research and innovation in specialities across all Frimley Health sites.
We are looking for a motivated, skilful, patient focused individual with excellent communication and time management skills to join our team. Proficiency in IT and accuracy skills are essential. Team work is at the forefront of our success.
The team currently recruits and manages patients in commercial and non commercial studies, involving new treatments and treatment pathways as well as retrospective data collection. Clinical work and administrative work play and important part for this post.
Management of staff, including appraisal, workload, performance and adherence to Trust policies.
Patient recruitment and management within studies.
Management of documentation to support all research activity from set up to close down of research projects
Internal liaison with Consultants, research staff and clinical staff within Frimley Health and external study management in conjunction with Clinical Research Organisations, sponsors and other health care providers
Data entry and data management
Supporting junior staff in development and training. Supporting the Clinical Trials Manager with the day to management of the service.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust provides NHS hospital services for around 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and south Buckinghamshire.
As well as delivering excellent general hospital services to local people, we provide specialist heart attack, vascular, stroke, spinal, cystic fibrosis and plastic surgery services across a much wider area.
We have three main hospitals - Frimley Park in Frimley near Camberley, Heatherwood in Ascot and Wexham Park near Slough.
Our three core values , and the behaviours that support them, guide everything we do and set out what we expect of our staff in the way they treat patients, visitors, service users and each other, Committed to Excellence, Working Together and Facing the Future .
We are also proud to host the Defence Medical Group South East at Frimley Park with military surgical, medical and nursing personnel working alongside the hospital’s NHS staff providing care to patients in all specialties.
Responsible to the Head of Research and Research Operations Manager

EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Act as a resource for colleagues and patients in relation to clinical trials. Ensure all relevant health care professionals are educated and supported as required enabling them to care for clinical trial patients
Represent Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust as an expert research nurse in external events such as national and international conferences, committees etc.
Participate in the identification of training and education needs of Trust staff and support the planning, organisation and presentation of educational programmes relating to research
Attend trial investigator/research nurse meetings and conferences when required
Maintain links with other clinical trial nurses and clinical nurse specialists across the network to share knowledge and to provide mutual support
Maintain awareness of current advances in relevant treatments, research and nursing practice and use this knowledge to maintain high standards of care for patients
Disseminate research by assisting in the preparation of posters/research papers for meetings, conferences and publications
Attend relevant MDTs, working groups and business meetings to disseminate information about performance and to speak about potential new clinical trials and service development as required
Assist in the development of Patient Information and information to General Practitioners for patients participating in clinical trials
Continually update and maintain own professional development in research through attendance at local and national training programmes and other relevant education and training programmes
Disseminate findings from own professional development using written reports, presentations and the implementation of educational initiatives
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of research related articles particularly those related to clinical trials and contribute to the service’s database

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Work autonomously and assist in the management of a caseload of clinical trial patients whilst working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Maintain effective communication with patients, carers and professionals to ensure high quality service delivery
Identify suitable patients for entry into clinical trials by attending clinics (screening notes) and relevant Multi-disciplinary Team meetings
Maintain accurate documentation of patient events in maternity/medical notes
Ensure patients are fully informed prior to entry into clinical trial programmes
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of treatment options, treatment side effects and disease processes to support patients in making an informed treatment choice
Provide ongoing information, education and support to patients (and their significant others), all levels of maternity staff regarding clinical trials and specific trial treatments
Take and assist in consenting patients, randomise patients to treatment arms
Ensure that trial specific investigations are undertaken as required by the trial protocol and obtain results in order to establish eligibility and safety to enter the trial
Ensure the safe administration of treatments and drugs that are given within the context of a clinical trial.
Monitor treatment toxicity/side effects and initiate changes to treatment or treatment cessation as required by trial protocols
Report and record adverse events which occur whilst patients are under trial therapy to the trial co-ordinator/Principal Investigator and relevant local and regulatory authorities
Provide continuity of care to patients and their carers throughout the trial programme. Provide specific advice and psychological support as appropriate. Refer to other specialists as required to ensure optimum patient care.
Act as a primary contact point for the trial participant
Maintain accurate patient trial documentation, complete Case Report Forms, including the use of electronic data capture systems and ensure relevant information is recorded in patients’ medical notes. Ensure that the EDGE integrated Research database is kept up to date with all trial related activity.
Perform phlebotomy, blood and urine spinning as required by trial protocols, ensure the safe handling, storage and transportation of samples