Lead Research Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide on-going professional leadership and management for research delivery teams in the CRDC

Responsible for management of the CRDC staffing departmental budget and staff establishment control, including ensuring appropriate allocation of financial resources. Ensure that expenditure is monitored against budget and maintain financial control.

Responsible for ensuring that research & clinical workforce meet the Trusts obligations in compliance with ICH Good Clinical Practice in Research (GCP) and other legislation as relevant.

Responsible for meeting the Trusts obligations in compliance with external audits and regulatory inspections by relevant bodies.

Responsible for making recommendations, providing advice and able to prepare strategic reports/briefings for the Head of Department, steering/reference groups and others as required.

Contribute to the CRDC-wide strategic planning of research, identifying potential impacts on wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary.

Ensuring delivery of the CRDCs strategic objectives including key performance indicators such as delivering recruitment and retention targets.

Together with the Heads of Department/CRDC Management Team, be responsible for ensuring the safe and effective conduct of clinical research within the CRDC according to best practice, national directives and legislation.

Provide leadership to non-research clinical staff engaged in research to provide an assurance framework, which minimises the risk to patients and meets the requirement of the Department of Health Research Governance Framework and all other regulatory requirements.

Lead on the development of new clinical procedures needed to deliver research protocols development and update of policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) as required.

Budget holder and signatory; will authorise expenditure and be responsible for selecting suppliers of out-sourced research services or authorising such purchases, taking into account cost, quality, delivery time and reliability.

In addition, the postholder will need to negotiate costings with commercial sponsors in conjunction with study delivery teams

Maintain records of all audit and monitoring and of corrective action taken and to report findings as relevant.

Together with the Deputy Head of Research (Quality & Safety) and Head Research Nurse, lead on the preparation for inspections and reviews by regulatory bodies including the MHRA and sponsors.

Provide expert support and advice to clinical staff on the design and delivery of research services within their units in order to meet statutory, regulatory and Trust research quality standards.

Foster strategic links with NHS, primary care, academic institutions, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The post holder will require specialist knowledge commercial contract research and the needs of the industry

Maintaining strategic relationships with partners to ensure UHSx is considered for new studies. Additionally, horizon scanning across various systems (EOI tools, ODP etc) to ensure the CRDC is considering feasibility of running studies at an early stage.

Co-ordinate national and international multicentre research studies, including large complex pharmaceutical clinical trials, which utilise the UHSx staff and facilities. Initiate and develop robust systems and proportionate risk assessment and governance processes for the management of commercial research in community settings.

Jointly responsible with the CRDC Business Manager to develop the workforce plan required to support the hub and spoke delivery model, fostering an agile workforce.

Responsible for all aspects of team/departmental staff management, including staff development, appraisal, performance management, identification of training requirements, managing sickness absence and the grievance and disciplinary procedures.

To support, motivate and develop staff within the team.

To manage a team and drive delivery of a range of initiatives and projects.

Influence, support, co-ordinate and take the initiative to obtain co-operation or agreement to alter ways of working, particularly where the need for change cannot easily be identified for example as a result of subtle changes to GCP and research governance processes.

Provide leadership and standards of best practice, promoting ethical and professional practice within a multi-disciplinary network.

Plan for development within CRDC research delivery teams including identifying when new posts are required to support and expand the CRDCs portfolio.

Provide expert advice and leadership for the day-to-day management of research protocols, supporting clinical researchers in the implementation of their studies.

Responsible for ensuring that the highest standards of patient care maintained during participation in research.

With the Head Research Nurse, manage the research delivery teams strategy to support effective patient care, Ensure the necessary supervision of research delivery teams and students is in place to enable compliance with UHSx and NMC policies and code of conduct.

Uphold standards of care that are consistent with recommended standards for a range of patients/volunteers including adult, maternity and childrens services.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse/Midwife
• Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area of research or nursing

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience in the delivery of commercial clinical trials
• Leadership experience in clinical setting
• Substantial experience of managing a research nursing team to deliver commercial clinical trials.

People Management

Essential

• Proven staff management skills
• Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals.
• Highly developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams
• Ability to present complex and sensitive information to large groups of staff at all levels (board level to junior staff) both internally and externally and through a variety of media

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Cross-Site

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Brighton

BN2 5EP

Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)