Clinical Research Nurse

Job overview

Clinical Research Nurse/ Staff Nurse Band 5-6 development;  Agile Clinical Research Nurse Team and Clinical Research Facility.

If you believe that nursing is about making a real difference to patient’s lives then clinical research can provide a stimulating and rewarding career for you.

An exciting opportunity is available within the NIHR Clinical Research Facility and Agile Research Nursing Team. This Band 5-6 development role is ideal for a motivated registered nurse seeking a career in clinical research across varied specialties and studies.

Within the Agile Team, you will provide flexible support across Research & Innovation, working with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality research and improve patient access to innovative treatments and studies.

Within the NIHR Clinical Research Facility, you will support trial delivery, assessments, treatments and data collection. 
Both teams offer a structured competency programme to develop research and cancer nursing expertise while coordinating safe, compassionate, patient-centred care.

Strong communication, organisation and time management skills are essential for delivering safe, quality care, collaborating across teams, building effective relationships and managing competing priorities.

Both roles offer the opportunity to develop specialist research skills and contribute to improved patient outcomes. If you are passionate about innovation, learning and excellent patient care, we would welcome your application.

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Both roles will deliver a diverse portfolio of studies, provide high-quality care and support recruitment, retention, data collection, query resolution and protocol amendments throughout the participant journey.

Working with multidisciplinary teams, you will protect participants’ safety, rights and wellbeing in line with research governance, ICH-GCP, Trust policies and regulatory requirements.

You will use participant feedback and experience measures to improve research delivery and participant experience. 

You will promote research nursing through awareness, engagement and education, sharing best practice and supporting a positive research culture.

You will support departmental, Trust and national research priorities, helping deliver studies that improve outcomes, practice and innovation, with opportunities for development and collaboration across specialties.

An ability to work evenings, night shifts and weekends is a requirement of the job.

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 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 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites.  We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Clinical Research Nurse/ Staff Nurse Band 5-6 development

Clinical Research Co-ordination
•    Work under supervision 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) and for conducting clinical trials at site. 
•     Has an awareness of the requirement to ensure that all clinical trial activities are recorded in appropriate systems in a timely manner.  
•    Support the research team with the conduct of studies within set competencies and in accordance with regulatory approved clinical research protocols.
•    Attend clinical trial related meetings where appropriate. 

Clinical Service and Professional Responsibilities
•    With the oversight of a senior clinical research nurse understand protocol design and be able to deliver care in accordance with a clinical trial protocol. 
•    Support patients and their carers when receiving complex and sensitive information in relation to their treatment and prognosis.
•    Demonstration of research knowledge when caring for patients receiving treatment within the context of a clinical trial protocol.
•    Report incidents using hospital systems and be aware of appropriate health and safety policies to refer as required. 
•    To act as a contact point for the clinical trial patients and other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
•    Responsible for maintenance and development of professional knowledge and practice by attending mandatory and specialist training in accordance with local policy. 
•    Deliver care in accordance with trial protocol, local policy, NMC Code of Practice Conduct, GCP and current best practice.
•    Maintenance of a high-quality service by:
- The safe administration of all licensed and unlicensed medicinal products within the context of a clinical trial.
- The assessment and evaluation of treatment toxicities + escalation of concerns as appropriate
•    Assist in the provision of 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 as required
•    Have an awareness of the risk assessment process in relation to clinical trials.

Personal Education, Training and Development
•    Maintain professional development whilst evaluating own specialist knowledge and practice through a process of appraisal, reflective practice and personal development planning.
•    Support senior colleagues in raising awareness of the role of the clinical research nurse as an integral part of the healthcare system.
•    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 clinical research nurse meetings.

Staff Management and Development
•    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 including student nurses. 
•    Disseminate information by attendance and /or presentations at meetings where appropriate.
•     Contribute to the development of members of the research team
•    Participate in appraisals (o