Senior Research Midwife, Band 6

We are looking for a self-motivated individual to work alongside the Research Delivery Team and to contribute towards the set-up of research studies within the wider teams. The role will include research promotion for staff and patients, and the post-holder will contribute towards the set-up of research studies within the wider research team.
This role is a split role, meaning any successful applicants will spend 50% of their hours working clinically. This will involve rotating around the inpatient areas of the Maternity Unit and providing antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care to birthing people and their babies.
Additional Contract Details: This is currently fixed term but we are in the progress of securing funding to create a permanent role., The post of Senior Research Midwife provides specialist knowledge and expertise to a Research Delivery Team based within Cheltenham General Hospital, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, research clinics within the Research Facility Centre and community settings. They will provide leadership for the delivery of a portfolio of studies under the direction of the Lead Research Nurse/Coordinator. For some studies this will involve the post-holder ensuring that patient's care and treatment, assessment, follow-up and data collection are coordinated according to the appropriate research protocols.
The post-holder will be expected to work alongside the Research & Innovation Professional Services team and the local Governance and Oversight Group to ensure studies meet GHNHSFT Key Performance Indicators. They will act as keyworker for patients and carers throughout their clinical trials experience, and will line manage staff within a team. The post-holder will actively promote research amongst clinicians, service users and the wider NHS.
The post-holder will be expected to split their working hours 50/50 between the role of Specialist Research Midwife and Clinical Midwife. The role of a Band 6 clinical midwife will include rotating between the inpatient areas of the Maternity Unit and the post-holder should be competent and comfortable with skills such as venepuncture, cannulation and suturing.

Working for our organisation
As our most valuable asset, we understand that happy, fulfilled staff will offer their best, and we aim to achieve this by providing a supportive team approach.
We have a large team comprising midwives, maternity care assistants, maternity support workers and obstetricians, and we clearly link in with other members of the wider multidisciplinary team.
We have a comprehensive mandatory training programme including PROMPT as well as many opportunities for you to develop personally.
We have several shared decision making councils, giving all staff a voice within the department.
We recognise that some staff may experience difficult situations. To support them, we have, alongside our lead midwives and senior midwifery team, an excellent PMA team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Feasibility and Study set-up
-Contribute to the set-up of research studies within the wider research team. Liaise with the R&I Professional Services Team, Principal Investigators, support departments, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure a thorough feasibility process
- Able to identify and plan strategies for recruiting patients into trials. Working with Principal Investigators to develop initiatives to increase patient involvement.
- Ensure trial protocols are followed and that trials are conducted according to the national research legislation, Research Governance Framework, R&I Standard Operating Procedures, GHNHFT policies and Good Clinical Practice.
- Lead on, and maintain an expert research knowledge of a portfolio of trials, acting as a reference point for team members, train research team and wider healthcare team to ensure safety of all trial participants, and attend multi-disciplinary meetings
- Liaise with MDT members to establish procedures for the safe set up and smooth running of clinical trials and act as a resource and contact point in matters concerning trial patients and trial protocols with all stakeholders. Assist in achieving GHNHSFT research KPIs.
Study Delivery/Monitoring
- Ensure the safety and wellbeing of clinical trial patients, including safe administration of treatments and drugs that are given within the context of a clinical trial, as applicable to professional registration and Trust POPAM policy. Reporting of serious adverse events to all relevant personnel following the relevant SOPs.
- Assess patients as required by trial protocols and take appropriate and timely action for patients with trial related complications/toxicities. May be required to take blood, test urine samples and administer treatments for which training has been given, as applicable to professional registration, R&I SOPs and Trust POPAM policy.
- Responsible for the coordination of clinical trials, assist in the day to day running of the Research Delivery Teams. Take an active role in line management, recruitment and development of staff
- Act as a key worker for patients throughout their clinical trial experience. Provide continuity of care for patients and carers throughout the trial programme. Receive informed consent and provide ongoing information, education and support to clinical trial patients and their carers.
- Ensure trial records are accurately maintained, including, but not limited to: records in nursing/medical paper and electronic notes, case report forms, trial site files. Ensure that trust procedures and policies are followed and in accordance with Good Clinical Practice and R&I SOPs. Responsible for ensuring accurate study records are maintained on EDGE (Clinical Trials IT system).
Other Duties
- Take an active role in research promotion for staff and patients. Provide teaching on clinical trials to healthcare professionals assist with educating patients and relatives about clinical trials and assist with the induction and education of new team members. To raise the profile of research and deliver research education days to members of the public.
- Assist in the development and teaching of local standard operating procedures for the trials team and contribute to quality assurance programmes in the Network and Trust.
- Provide cover for other Senior Research Nurses/Coordinators during periods of absence including sick leave, annual leave and when positions are vacant across the research delivery teams.
- Coordinate, set up and maintain Research Co-ordinator / Nurse led clinics. Act as Principal Investigator for clinical trials when appropriate.
- Provide, maintain and facilitate a high standard of clinical trial practice across a broad portfolio, developing and promoting effective channels of communication both verbally and electronically. Network with multidisciplinary team to access expert knowledge and practice to facilitate trial patient journey.
COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post-holder will be expected to communicate with a variety of stakeholders at all levels including but not limited to National Clinical Trials Units, Pharmaceutical companies, and other research Sponsor organisations, Clinical Research Network staff, researchers, support service staff and clinicians both within Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and beyond.
Managerial Role
- Assessment and training of junior staff within the trials team, in line with identified training needs. Line management; coordinating the team, delegating duties and supporting their personal and practice development. This includes annual and performance management where necessary.
- Work closely with the Lead Research Nurse/Coordinator and Research Matrons, and the Governance & Oversight Group to monitor performance and ensure research is conducted according to current regulations.
- Take responsibility for recruiting and retaining team members in conjunction with the Lead Research Nurse/Coordinator.
- Support the induction of new staff to the research team.
Professional Role
- To maintain own personal & professional development, including keeping evidence required for revalidation/professional registration accreditation
- Act as a credible clinical role model
- Practice in a confident and competent professional manner
MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB
- Managing the resources available to deliver trials to time and target
- Liaising and working with principal investigators, departments such as pathology, pharmacy, radiology, haematology, biochemistry and NIHR, clinical trials units
- Delivering educational sessions to Trust staff at all levels
- Meeting NIHR High Level Objectives and GHNHSFT Key Performance Indicators
- Implementing and promoting Good Clinical Practice for research.
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORKING CONDITIONS
- Travelling between Cheltenham General & Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals. Supporting research clinics within the Research Facility Centre. Occasional community or home visits to patients.
- Occasional lifting of boxes of A4 paper, A4 files and similar (up to 5kg) and transporting these to other sites
- The post involves a combination of sitting and standing plus walking
- There is a need to use a computer
- Travel to other sites for meetings, training and education purposes.
- Requirements to concentrate on information for long periods of time (e.g., concentrating for periods of time over an hour at a time when reviewing research applications or preparing reports).
- 50% of time spent working in an open plan office
- 50% of time spent working in clinical areas (talking to patients, taking blood, testing urine samples and administering some treatments)
The health and wellbeing of our staff and patients remains the priority of the Trust. Vaccination remains the best chance we have of conquering COVID and the Trust encourages everyone to take up this offer.
Please note, this vacancy may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received, so please apply as soon as possible if you are interested. The Recruitment Team are unable to accept any applications after the position has closed on NHS Jobs.

Band 6
Join us at an exciting time for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! We have an ambitious plan for our journey to Outstanding and are looking for aspirational, committed individuals to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.
As a former winner of England for excellence award: Tourism destination of the year, the beautiful city of Gloucester and the scenic regency spa town of Cheltenham are fantastic places to work and live.
As a hospital Trust we are currently involved in over 100 clinical trials and studies, whilst also providing acute elective and specialist services to a population of over 620,000.
By joining Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust new colleagues can look forward to a warm welcome and a future full of opportunities and support.