Please note that this post is offered as a permanent contract at 37.5 h/week.
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Research and Innovation Division at The Christie. We are looking to appoint a Senior Clinical Research Nurse to the Lung research delivery team within The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
This post presents an opportunity to join an established research team with a varied portfolio of clinical trials as a Senior Clinical Research Nurse (sCRN). The Lung cancer research team is responsible for a varied portfolio of academic and commercial clinical trials.
Key responsibilities of the post include supporting the coordination of the patient’s pathway through an agreed portfolio of clinical trials across Lung. Excellent communications skills in all forms are required for this role for difficult clinical conversations with patients and their families. Experience of line management and excellent leadership skills are required.
The successful candidate will be someone with excellent organisational, time management, leadership skills to be the key contact for patients and wider MDT who are being considered for Lung clinical trials.
Central to this role is the responsibility of assessing and managing the complex needs of patients participating in a clinical trial.
Management of staff and evidence of service improvement are vital
Experience in oncology and research is essential.
This position involves leading and managing a group of research nurses while supporting the Research Nurse Team Leader. Ensuring that research is conducted within the requirements of a multiregulated clinical research environment and safeguarding patient wellbeing are key responsibilities. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, in line with The Christie values. The role requires a strong motivation and the ability to work independently. A background in oncology and research is essential, along with experience in leadership and flexibility in working.
The sCRN will interact with a variety of research professionals across The Christie, including the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility, as well as across Manchester and wider networks. A proactive approach to self-development and the ability to demonstrate initiative and expertise in team development and wider training programmes are important. By utilising national frameworks for auditing patient experiences, the sCRN will ensure that patients in the Lung disease portfolio studies have the best possible experience while participating in clinical research.
Additionally, the role involves raising the profile of the clinical research nurse and clinical trials within the trust by engaging in promotional events related to clinical research and contributing at local, national, and international meetings.
The Lung disease team consists of nurses and consultants with clinical trial coordination and project management support. The portfolio is driven to deliver treatment opportunities to as many patients with Lung at The Christie as possible.
There is a close working relationship with all members of the team with a strategy to increase recruitment into these niche protocols thus offering patients more opportunities to be involved in clinical research. We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated individual to join our team, to help develop streamlined ways of cross-team working and to provide our research patients with the best possible experience.
The team is highly collaborative in its working practices in order to promote the teams achievements throughout the R&I division, NIHR and with our commercial sponsors with regular reviews of performance & clinical trial feasibilities and service improvement to ensure the highest possible experience for the team and our patients and their families.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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:
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 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.
This advert closes on Wednesday 6 Nov 2024
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