Senior Clinical Research Nurse

We are recruiting two Senior Clinical Research Nurses to join our established research teams: one in Haematology and one in Lymphoma.

These roles offer the opportunity to deliver a diverse and expanding portfolio of clinical trials in haematological malignancies and lymphoma, including industry-sponsored and academic studies, from early to later phases.

We seek motivated individuals with an interest in research and leadership. You will lead and manage a team of Clinical Research Nurses and coordinate a portfolio of trials from set-up to closure and archiving, ensuring safe, effective and high-quality delivery.

You will work closely with consultants, clinical fellows, research nurses, pharmacists and trial coordinators in a multidisciplinary environment. You will also join an established group of senior research nurses, benefiting from peer support, shared learning and professional development.

Experience in oncology and clinical research, flexibility and excellent communication skills are essential. Relevant haematology or lymphoma experience and previous leadership or management experience are desirable.

We encourage informal discussions before applying and offer the opportunity to spend time with the relevant team. Flexible working requests will be considered.

Key responsibilities of these posts include the leadership and management of a team of Clinical Research Nurses within the respective Haematology or Lymphoma research team, supporting the Clinical Research Matron. You will ensure that research is conducted safely and effectively within the requirements of a highly regulated clinical research environment, while safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of patients participating in clinical trials.

You will interact with a wide range of research professionals across The Christie, including the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility, as well as commercial partners, other NHS organisations, research bodies and the wider research community. You will be expected to take a proactive approach to your own professional development, while demonstrating initiative and expertise in team development, education and training.

By utilising national frameworks and patient experience measures, you will contribute to ensuring that patients participating in studies within the Haematology or Lymphoma research portfolios receive the best possible experience throughout their involvement in clinical research.

Other responsibilities include raising the profile of Clinical Research Nursing and clinical trials both within the Trust and externally, participating in promotional and engagement activities related to clinical research and contributing to the delivery of Divisional, Trust and national research objectives and strategies.

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.

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.
– Oversee the process for obtaining NHS permissions (R&D approval) for clinical trials within team. As project lead, ensures permissions are in place prior to any patient recruitment.
– Undertake feasibility and risk assessments of clinical trial protocols in conjunction with Team Leader, Principal Investigator and Senior Clinical Trials Co-Ordinator
– Ensure all clinical trial activities are recorded in appropriate systems in a timely manner.
– Awareness of trial specific, regional, and national targets.
– Initiate new recruitment strategies for recruiting patients to clinical trials including engagement with the research network.
– In conjunction with Team Leader lead on the delegation of all trial related activities to research team members (clinical and administrative) and ensure compliance with SOPs and ICH/GCP.
– Work with team leader and sponsor companies in the preparation and negotiation of financial contracts for individual trials.
– Arrange and facilitate clinical trial related meetings.
– In conjunction with Team Leader, oversee 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 careers regarding prognosis
– Responsible for 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.
– Set up processes/patient pathways in conjunction with appropriate personnel from specialist research areas to promote a cost-effective timely service for individual protocols (shared care pathways, specialist clinics, etc.).
– Support Team Leader in delivering 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 (e.g., GCP) 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:

o Overseeing the safe administration of all licensed and unlicensed medicinal products within the context of a clinical trial.

o Overseeing assessment and evaluation of treatment toxicities and initiation of appropriate intervention.

o 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 programs 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 meetings.

Staff Management and Development

– In conjunction with the team leader, provide the induction, continued supervision and management of the research teams.
– In conjunction with the team leader, be responsible for ensuring all members of the research nurse team undergo regular appraisal and support appropriate training and development opportunities in line with role requirements.
– Lead on the development of specialist study days within own research team
– Provide 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
– Be responsible for the development of members of the research team.

EU DIRECTIVE ICH/GCP

All personnel involved in clinical research have a responsibility to ensure that clinical trials are conducted in accordance with the EU Directive and ICH/GCP.