Job summary
Applications are invited for the post of senior Clinical Research Fellow (ST4+ equivalent) in Neonatal Medicine. This is a half time post (20 hours/week) created to recruit and manage patients in a commercial Phase 2b interventional neonatal research study within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) and to support the neonatal unit's ambitions and delivery of research as part of the hospital's newly-awarded NIHR Clinical Research Facility.
Basic salary £27,664.50 per annum for 5 basic sessions per week (20 hours). This post does not attract a banding supplement for out of normal hours work. The post will be for the duration of 1 year in the first instance, and may be extendable subject to satisfactory progress. Applicants who wish to work part time will also be considered.
Main duties of the job
Duties will be mainly within the neonatal department, but will also involve some related laboratory work processing study samples. The successful applicant will be responsible for the day-to-day organisation and running of a Phase 2b Clinical Research study, and will work closely with the local principal investigator and other members of the research team on this trial. Duties will include recruitment of participants, clinical oversight of the participants, completion of study information and data collection, teaching and training of medical and nursing staff, attendance at study meetings and availability for monitoring visits.
The post holder will develop effective internal working relationships with key research and clinical staff across Women's and Children's Division, with parents of babies enrolled into clinical trials, and with Research and Development departmental staff. Externally the post holder will liaise with colleagues in other NHS Trusts and organisations and will collaborate in particular with academic research colleagues at Quadram Institute Bioscience and the University of East Anglia.
About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We also work closely with our partners on the Norwich Research Park and Norwich Radiology Academy to take forward our ambitious targets for research and development.
The NICU of NNUH is a major regional centre operating within the East of England Neonatal Operational Delivery Network. It undertakes a full range of neonatal intensive care, including neonatal surgery.
In 2022, our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit cared for almost 1000 infants and delivered over 2000 days of intensive care, 2400 days of high dependency care, and5000 days of special care.
The neonatal department has an active research programme and is involved in several major national and international NIHR and commercial studies, including early phase studies
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for the full details of the post and the person specification.
Full GMC with licence to practise required on application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for the full details of the post and the person specification.
Full GMC with licence to practise required on application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full registration with the GMC and with Licence to Practise;
- Basic medical qualification (MB BS or equivalent)
Desirable
- Higher degree
- MRCPCH or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Medically qualified with previous experience of working in a UK tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit
- Evidence of achievement of Foundation competencies in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice including: o Maintaining good medical practice o Professional behavior and probity o Delivery of good acute clinical care
- Minimum of 2 years' experience in Paediatrics
Desirable
- Experience in neonatal intensive care
- Experience of working at middle grade/registrar level in a UK tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit
Personal skills
Essential
- Interest in all aspects of neonatal research
- Good Clinical Practice certification (or willingness to obtain GCP certification on appointment)
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to present research in a clear and easy to understand way for parents and professionals
- Flexible, enthusiastic and persuasive; willing, friendly and approachable.
- Good use of initiative and leadership
- Excellent organisational and record-keeping skills
- Neonatal practical skills
- Communication Skills: Capacity to communicate effectively at different levels, e.g. with babies, young people and their families
- Empathy & Sensitivity: Capacity to take in others' perspectives and treat others with understanding
- Managing Others & Team Involvement: Capacity to work cooperatively with others and work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
- Problem Solving & Decision Making: Demonstrates an analytic approach to practice. Capacity to bring a range of approaches to solving problems
- Coping with Pressure: Capacity to manage acute situations under pressure. Demonstrates initiative & resilience to cope with changing circumstances
- Organisation & Planning: Capacity to achieve a balance between urgent and important demands
- Vigilance & Situational Awareness: Capacity to monitor acute situations that may change rapidly
Desirable
- A sound understanding of Good Clinical Practice
- Ability to write up research and to publish in peer-reviewed journals
- Ability to present research in a clear and easy to understand way for parents and professionals
- Previous participation in research trials
- Previous experience of obtaining informed consent, and recruitment to clinical trials
Knowledge
Essential
- Trust vision, values, strategic objectives and key work programmes
- Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of the professional code of conduct and guidance issued by the GMC and adhere to this
- Knowledge of neonatal medicine appropriate for position held
Clinical skills
Essential
- Clinical Knowledge & Expertise: Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge & judgement. Potential to develop excellent diagnostic skills
- Competence in key Neonatal procedures
- Successful completion of NLS or equivalent
Desirable
- Personal Attributes: Shows aptitude for practical skills, e.g. hand-eye co-ordination, dexterity
Fitness to Practice
Essential
- Child Protection Training
- Meets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice)
Desirable
- Newborn Life Support provider qualification
Circumstances
Essential
- Ability to provide complete details of employment history
Audit, Research and Publications
Essential
- Research Skills: Demonstrates understanding of importance of audit, risk management & research. Desire to contribute to development of the specialty of neonatology
Desirable
- Evidence of relevant academic & research achievements , e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements
- Evidence of active participation in audit and/or risk management
Teaching skills
Essential
- Evidence of contribution to teaching and training of others
Desirable
- Teaching: Evidence of experience in organising teaching programmes
Communication and Language Skills
Essential
- Good relationships and communication with patients
- Good working relationships with colleagues
- All applicants to have demonstrated skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical/research topics with patients and colleagues which could be demonstrated by one of the following: a) that applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English; or b) have the following scores in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 6, Reading 6, Writing 6 However, if applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full registration with the GMC and with Licence to Practise;
- Basic medical qualification (MB BS or equivalent)
Desirable
- Higher degree
- MRCPCH or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Medically qualified with previous experience of working in a UK tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit
- Evidence of achievement of Foundation competencies in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice including: o Maintaining good medical practice o Professional behavior and probity o Delivery of good acute clinical care
- Minimum of 2 years' experience in Paediatrics
Desirable
- Experience in neonatal intensive care
- Experience of working at middle grade/registrar level in a UK tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit
Personal skills
Essential
- Interest in all aspects of neonatal research
- Good Clinical Practice certification (or willingness to obtain GCP certification on appointment)
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to present research in a clear and easy to understand way for parents and professionals
- Flexible, enthusiastic and persuasive; willing, friendly and approachable.
- Good use of initiative and leadership
- Excellent organisational and record-keeping skills
- Neonatal practical skills
- Communication Skills: Capacity to communicate effectively at different levels, e.g. with babies, young people and their families
- Empathy & Sensitivity: Capacity to take in others' perspectives and treat others with understanding
- Managing Others & Team Involvement: Capacity to work cooperatively with others and work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
- Problem Solving & Decision Making: Demonstrates an analytic approach to practice. Capacity to bring a range of approaches to solving problems
- Coping with Pressure: Capacity to manage acute situations under pressure. Demonstrates initiative & resilience to cope with changing circumstances
- Organisation & Planning: Capacity to achieve a balance between urgent and important demands
- Vigilance & Situational Awareness: Capacity to monitor acute situations that may change rapidly
Desirable
- A sound understanding of Good Clinical Practice
- Ability to write up research and to publish in peer-reviewed journals
- Ability to present research in a clear and easy to understand way for parents and professionals
- Previous participation in research trials
- Previous experience of obtaining informed consent, and recruitment to clinical trials
Knowledge
Essential
- Trust vision, values, strategic objectives and key work programmes
- Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of the professional code of conduct and guidance issued by the GMC and adhere to this
- Knowledge of neonatal medicine appropriate for position held
Clinical skills
Essential
- Clinical Knowledge & Expertise: Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge & judgement. Potential to develop excellent diagnostic skills
- Competence in key Neonatal procedures
- Successful completion of NLS or equivalent
Desirable
- Personal Attributes: Shows aptitude for practical skills, e.g. hand-eye co-ordination, dexterity
Fitness to Practice
Essential
- Child Protection Training
- Meets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice)
Desirable
- Newborn Life Support provider qualification
Circumstances
Essential
- Ability to provide complete details of employment history
Audit, Research and Publications
Essential
- Research Skills: Demonstrates understanding of importance of audit, risk management & research. Desire to contribute to development of the specialty of neonatology
Desirable
- Evidence of relevant academic & research achievements , e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements
- Evidence of active participation in audit and/or risk management
Teaching skills
Essential
- Evidence of contribution to teaching and training of others
Desirable
- Teaching: Evidence of experience in organising teaching programmes
Communication and Language Skills
Essential
- Good relationships and communication with patients
- Good working relationships with colleagues
- All applicants to have demonstrated skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical/research topics with patients and colleagues which could be demonstrated by one of the following: a) that applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English; or b) have the following scores in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 6, Reading 6, Writing 6 However, if applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence
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).
