Lead Research Nurse

Job Overview

The Lead Research Nurse is a senior member of the Research and Development Team with overall responsibility for research support provided by the research nurses, clinical trials practitioners and pharmacy trials staff. This includes:

• Responsible for managing and providing effective senior professional leadership for all research nurses and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). To include developing individuals and practice through effective recruitment, appraisal, continual professional development, discipline, therefore ensuring the provision of a safe and evidence based service to all research participants.
• Responsible for the delivery of commercial and non-commercial research to time and target at the Trust; including robust feasibility, quick set-up, proactive study performance management to monitor progress of all commercial studies and support sponsors and sites to ensure studies are delivered to time and recruitment target.
• Management and work planning of nursing and AHP Workforce, recruitment, appraisal, training, sickness/absence and expenses.
• Responsible for contributing to the R&D Group meetings and attendance at other relevant Trust‑wide meetings, as appropriate.

• To be responsible for the management of nursing aspects of clinical research studies, including provision of robust feasibility reviews for studies involving patient consent.
• Jointly responsible, with the Head of RD&I, for the delivery of research to time and target.
• Responsible for providing professional, managerial and development liaison for research health professionals between wards and departments.
• Responsible for carrying out workforce planning to scope potential models for research nurse and research‑AHP management across the Trust and use this information to inform longer‑term planning.
• Responsible for service development and research strategy implementation, as directed by the Head of RD&I.
• To manage the clinical research support team. This is to include the team working to a defined set of competencies, with access to relevant training and for maintenance of training records for relevant staff.
• To ensure that all risks relating to the role are dealt with or escalated in accordance to Trust policy to ensure legal compliance, patient safety and data integrity.
• To deputise for the Head of RD&I as required.
• Act as provider of nursing expertise and to ensure Trust‑wide compliance for research nurses with statutory responsibilities and requirements of the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Develop and implement nursing policies, procedures and guidelines in support of evidence based practice and expansion of the scope of professional practice with regards to implementing the Trust Research Strategy.
• Ensure robust local induction into the Trust for a new research nursing and AHP staff.
• Ensure that all research activity carried out by research nurses is performed according to ICH GCP guidelines, NMC code and UK Policy Framework for research and Health and Social Care; and all other legislation and guidance relating to clinical trials, including the Trusts Standard operating Procedures and Internal Guidance.
• Ensure that Adverse events/Serious Adverse Events (AE/SAE) are reported according to Trust SoPs and Research Protocols and that lessons are learnt, practice changed and sustained. This includes the use of the Trusts Datix system to capture and report on risk events.
• Ensure patients/carers are provided with written information relevant to the research study and are given the opportunity to discuss the research study or clinical trial adequately at the out outside and during the course of the research or clinical trial in which they ae being asked to participate (i.e., informed consent).
• To ensure the safe custody and administration of drugs and therapeutic substances in accordance with legal requirements and in line with Standard Operating Procedures and Trust Policy to ensure all staff adhere to these standards.
• Support patients in making an informed treatment choice by providing specialist knowledge in relation to the disease process, treatment options and treatment side effects.
• Maintain high…