Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced research nurse/midwife or Allied Health Professional leader to join KCH as the Head of Research Workforce
This post has been created as a consequence of the sustained increase in research activity within the Trust. KCH has been the top recruiting Trust in the UK to NIHR Portfolio studies - with over 30,000 recruits during the 2022 calendar year.
The Head of Research Workforce will be a key part of the senior R&D management team and will lead, in conjunction with the R&D Director, on various initiatives to help deliver the ambitious research strategy. The post holder will be responsible for the leadership and management of the Clinical Research Delivery Workforce - this comprises of approximately 220 staff - 95 research nurses/midwives and 12 AHPs/clinical scientists, with the remainder research managers, clinical trial practitioners, clinical trial coordinators, research associates, research assistants and clinical research administrators- organised into nine Research Delivery Units within KCH.
The post holder will further develop and implement the overall R&D Strategy, in conjunction with the R&D Director, and ensure effective systems are in place to performance manage all research activities within the Trust. A strategy for the development of research nurses, Allied Health Professionals and other members of the Research Workforce will be developed and implemented focusing on both academic and research delivery elements.
Main duties of the job
- Provide professional leadership and direction for all clinical research nurses/ AHPs/Research Practitioners across the organisation. This would be in partnership with Research Matrons and Research Managers of the relevant RDUs.
- Direct line management (including professional supervision where applicable) of band 8a CRN funded research matrons, research managers and a number of band 7 senior R&D research nurses. To include Performance Development Reviews and ongoing senior support.
- Research representative for the NIHR workforce meetings and other relevant Trust committees
- Acts as the senior advocate for clinical research delivery staff across the organisation, engaging with senior management to seek resolution of any issues they may face.
- Take an advisory role in the recruitment, selection and retention of research nurses/ AHPs/Research Practitioners across the trust, ensuring adherence to trust policies
- Act as an expert source of advice and clinical expertise to staff within the hospital engaged in clinical research.
- Provides forums of support for Allied Health Professionals, research nurses, trial practitioners and other research delivery staff
- Responsible for monitoring and maintaining adequate staffing levels within R&D.
- Ensure that regular training needs analysis for research nurses, AHPs and trial practitioners are undertaken with signposting to appropriate opportunities.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King's to another level.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Works within the NMC scope of Professional Practice and Code of Conduct.
- Work in accordance with the DoH Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) regulations.
- Advise on and be proficient in clinical skills relevant to research practice - e.g. cannulation, venepuncture, ECG recording.
- Ensure appropriate Health Care Governance measures are in place to develop safe, effective clinical trials.
- Operate a visible leadership model, ensuring accessibility for staff, patients and the public so that open and honest communication channels are created
- Ensuring maintenance and delivery of relevant Trust standards in relation to quality of care and patient experience
Responsibility for Patients
- Ensure research teams provide on-going information, education and support to patients (and their significant others) regarding clinical trials and specific trial treatments.
- Lead on public and patient involvement (PPI) and EDI in research as per NIHR and Trust clinical R&D strategy. Ensure research active staff participate in appropriate trust activities for example on the annual International Clinical Trials Day.
- Promotes PPI and EDI in the development of nursing/AHP/Practitioners research programmes
- Investigate, support and report on complaints and incidents where relevant. Ensure these are dealt with in a timely fashion and appropriately and that steps are taken to implement preventative measures.
- Consistently promote quality and safety of patients, visitors and staff, thus enabling the Trust to meet its regulation requirements
- Ensures that the health and wellbeing of patients is at the centre of all activities and that all staff engage and communicate with patients as appropriate
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development
- As a member of the R&D senior management team, contribute towards the overall strategic direction of the department, including developing strategy documents, policy, SOPs and workforce planning, where pertaining to clinical research delivery in conjunction with the R&D Director of Strategy and the R&D Director of Operations.
- Support the R&D directors in developing a long-term strategy for the employment, accountability, management, development and education of research nurses/AHP/Practitioners within the Trust
- Be conversant with scientific trial protocols submitted for approval to the R&D department and advise on clinical aspects of risk as part of the approval process.
- Leads on identifying areas of clinical research delivery practice requiring further development, in order to improve patient care and service provision.
- Plays a leading role in the promotion of clinical research internally and externally in alignment with Trust and NIHR strategies
- Link with Kings Academy representatives to provide a platform for innovation, practice and service development in clinical research
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Works within the NMC scope of Professional Practice and Code of Conduct.
- Work in accordance with the DoH Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) regulations.
- Advise on and be proficient in clinical skills relevant to research practice - e.g. cannulation, venepuncture, ECG recording.
- Ensure appropriate Health Care Governance measures are in place to develop safe, effective clinical trials.
- Operate a visible leadership model, ensuring accessibility for staff, patients and the public so that open and honest communication channels are created
- Ensuring maintenance and delivery of relevant Trust standards in relation to quality of care and patient experience
Responsibility for Patients
- Ensure research teams provide on-going information, education and support to patients (and their significant others) regarding clinical trials and specific trial treatments.
- Lead on public and patient involvement (PPI) and EDI in research as per NIHR and Trust clinical R&D strategy. Ensure research active staff participate in appropriate trust activities for example on the annual International Clinical Trials Day.
- Promotes PPI and EDI in the development of nursing/AHP/Practitioners research programmes
- Investigate, support and report on complaints and incidents where relevant. Ensure these are dealt with in a timely fashion and appropriately and that steps are taken to implement preventative measures.
- Consistently promote quality and safety of patients, visitors and staff, thus enabling the Trust to meet its regulation requirements
- Ensures that the health and wellbeing of patients is at the centre of all activities and that all staff engage and communicate with patients as appropriate
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development
- As a member of the R&D senior management team, contribute towards the overall strategic direction of the department, including developing strategy documents, policy, SOPs and workforce planning, where pertaining to clinical research delivery in conjunction with the R&D Director of Strategy and the R&D Director of Operations.
- Support the R&D directors in developing a long-term strategy for the employment, accountability, management, development and education of research nurses/AHP/Practitioners within the Trust
- Be conversant with scientific trial protocols submitted for approval to the R&D department and advise on clinical aspects of risk as part of the approval process.
- Leads on identifying areas of clinical research delivery practice requiring further development, in order to improve patient care and service provision.
- Plays a leading role in the promotion of clinical research internally and externally in alignment with Trust and NIHR strategies
- Link with Kings Academy representatives to provide a platform for innovation, practice and service development in clinical research
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse or Midwife, RGN, RM. RSCN, RN
- Significant post-registration experience
- Masters' level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Expert knowledge of clinical research supplemented
- Recognised management or leadership course or equivalent experience
- Evidence of recent continued professional development
Desirable
- Good Clinical Practice Certificate
- Evidence of recent continued professional development
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of clinical research within various NHS settings and specialties
- Expert Knowledge of the clinical trial life cycle including experience of the set up and performance management of clinical research studies
- Knowledge of current national systems and structures for the approval, management and monitoring of clinical research studies
- Ability to analyse and interpret research management information and to make judgments regarding highly complex research management issues
- Experience of commercial and academic research
- Extensive knowledge of the requirements of the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care and the Medicines for Human Use Clinical Trials Directive
- Experience of the clinical care of patients enrolled in commercial, non-commercial and academic research
- Experience of developing, implementing and following standard operating procedures
- Experience of managing funding streams for research staff
- Ability to plan, manage and deliver complex projects, involving multiple agencies, individuals and a range of tasks
- Experience of managing teams, including a range of nursing and non-nursing staff and with responsibility for professional development and conduct issues
Desirable
- Project management skills
- Delivery of GCP training
- General business management experience
- Involvement with external bodies having an engagement in clinical research
- Experience of working at a senior level and across organisational boundaries including HEI, regulators and funding agencies
- Experience of managing studies to define metrics, including recruitment, implementation of contingency planning, project plans, risk analysis and innovative strategies
- Demonstrable experience of effective change management resulting in improved outcomes
- A track record of managing innovation and service improvement
- Experience of being able to balance competing priorities and meet personal and divisional targets within a fluctuating and demanding workload
- A track record of continuous managerial, educational and professional development
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to think strategically and make independent decisions
- High level analytical and critical thinking
- Ability to work autonomously
- Ability to lead, manage and motivate a team
- Ability to deal with difficult/sensitive situations
- Able to use initiative, make decisions and analyse problems and implement effective and appropriate solutions
- Attention to detail and presentation of work
- Willingness to learn, instigate and develop efficient working systems
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Willingness to undertake any necessary training and development to enhance work performance
Desirable
- Assertive, confident, articulate and literate
- Demonstration of self-directed development
- Engages effectively across boundaries, breaking down silos, while operating in partnership with stakeholders towards a shared vision
- Has effective strategies for dealing with and managing own limitations
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse or Midwife, RGN, RM. RSCN, RN
- Significant post-registration experience
- Masters' level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Expert knowledge of clinical research supplemented
- Recognised management or leadership course or equivalent experience
- Evidence of recent continued professional development
Desirable
- Good Clinical Practice Certificate
- Evidence of recent continued professional development
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of clinical research within various NHS settings and specialties
- Expert Knowledge of the clinical trial life cycle including experience of the set up and performance management of clinical research studies
- Knowledge of current national systems and structures for the approval, management and monitoring of clinical research studies
- Ability to analyse and interpret research management information and to make judgments regarding highly complex research management issues
- Experience of commercial and academic research
- Extensive knowledge of the requirements of the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care and the Medicines for Human Use Clinical Trials Directive
- Experience of the clinical care of patients enrolled in commercial, non-commercial and academic research
- Experience of developing, implementing and following standard operating procedures
- Experience of managing funding streams for research staff
- Ability to plan, manage and deliver complex projects, involving multiple agencies, individuals and a range of tasks
- Experience of managing teams, including a range of nursing and non-nursing staff and with responsibility for professional development and conduct issues
Desirable
- Project management skills
- Delivery of GCP training
- General business management experience
- Involvement with external bodies having an engagement in clinical research
- Experience of working at a senior level and across organisational boundaries including HEI, regulators and funding agencies
- Experience of managing studies to define metrics, including recruitment, implementation of contingency planning, project plans, risk analysis and innovative strategies
- Demonstrable experience of effective change management resulting in improved outcomes
- A track record of managing innovation and service improvement
- Experience of being able to balance competing priorities and meet personal and divisional targets within a fluctuating and demanding workload
- A track record of continuous managerial, educational and professional development
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to think strategically and make independent decisions
- High level analytical and critical thinking
- Ability to work autonomously
- Ability to lead, manage and motivate a team
- Ability to deal with difficult/sensitive situations
- Able to use initiative, make decisions and analyse problems and implement effective and appropriate solutions
- Attention to detail and presentation of work
- Willingness to learn, instigate and develop efficient working systems
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Willingness to undertake any necessary training and development to enhance work performance
Desirable
- Assertive, confident, articulate and literate
- Demonstration of self-directed development
- Engages effectively across boundaries, breaking down silos, while operating in partnership with stakeholders towards a shared vision
- Has effective strategies for dealing with and managing own limitations
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
