Clinical Research Nurse | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

This post presents an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated nurse, interested in helping to improve patient outcomes, to join the Upper GI Research Team as a Band 6 Clinical Research Nurse. The Team currently consists of 4 Research Nurses, 1 Research Practitioner and is supported by a team of Clinical Trial coordination staff. We manage the recruitment and support of patients enrolled on a varied portfolio of phase 1 to 3 clinical trials specialising in patients with gastro-oesophageal tumours. These include cancers of the stomach and oesophagus. Research nursing is an exciting and developing role, supported through the R& I division with a good education and development package in place to ensure that staff reach their potential. You will work collaboratively with the other members of the study team and with the wider multi-disciplinary research community, including a team of consultants and specialist nurses, to deliver high quality cancer research and an excellent patient experience. Key responsibilities of the post include the coordination of the trial protocols and support for trial patients. Central to this role is the responsibility of assessing and managing the care pathways including the delivery of all specified treatments for participants in research., 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.
• Understand the process for obtaining NHS permissions (R&D approval) for conducting clinical trials at site. As project lead, ensure permissions are in place prior to any patient recruitment.
• Participate in clinical trial feasibilities and risk assessments of clinical trial protocols.
• Ensure all clinical trial activities are recorded in appropriate systems in a timely manner.
• Awareness of trial specific, regional and national targets. Identify and implement strategies for recruiting patients to clinical trials ensuring that targets for patient recruitment are delivered.
• Delegation and oversight of research related activities to research team members (clinical and administrative) and ensure compliance with SOPs and ICH/GCP.
• Arrange and facilitate clinical trial related meetings.
• Involvement in appropriate financial remunerations for clinical trial activit
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 carers regarding prognosis
• Contribute to 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.
• Demonstrate awareness of 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 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:
1. Overseeing the safe administration of all licensed and unlicensed medicinal products within the context of a clinical trial. 2. Overseeing assessment and evaluation of treatment toxicities and initiation of appropriate intervention. 3. 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 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 divisional meeting
Staff Management and Development
• To Support the Senior Clinical Research Nurse in the induction and continued supervision of junior members of staff, ensuring compliance with regulatory compliance and legislation.
• 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.
• Disseminate information by attendance and /or presentations at local, national and international conferences/meetings
• Contribute to 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.
  
  Vital skills for the successful candidate will include excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enthusiasm for clinical research, attention to detail and flexible working. Strong and relevant clinical NHS experience is also essential. Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice guidelines (GCP) is key to enable the nurse to be the patients advocate at every stage of care.
A background in oncology, especially in upper GI cancers or clinical research is desirable., Disability Confident About Disability Confident A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 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 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.