Haematology and Oncology Research Nurse

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

This is a great opportunity to become a member of the HOPE cancer trials team. We have an ever changing diverse portfolio of clinical haematology and oncology trials including those exploring compounds at the early stages of development. We offer a commitment to support training and professional development needs and the opportunity to develop interests and skills in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Main duties of the job

The appointee's main responsibilities will include providing senior skilled nursing care to ensure the safe and efficient running of research studies within the designated facility. This includes ensuring the research has full approval to proceed; screening and recruiting participants, collecting data and data entry.
The appointee will also identify barriers to recruitment and assist in finding solutions to overcome these.
To be responsible for the assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of care, using agreed frameworks.
To manage and participate in the co-ordination of research studies within the facility and provide research skills and senior clinical care for patients undergoing investigations.
The role requires the development and maintenance of clinical practice skills and competencies including venipuncture, cannulation, IV and oral drug administration, analysis of blood samples, vital sign measurements, Basic Life Support/ILS and other advanced skill as required for specific studies.
The post holder will provide the highest standards of patient care in line with research protocols and will ensure that such research safeguards the well-being of the patients and is conducted within ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines for research.

About us

We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals. We have our very own Children's Hospital and run one of the country's leading heart centres.

Our team is made up of more than 17,000 staff providing a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We work with partners at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University providing world-class teaching to nurture and develop the next generation of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, many of whom go on to spend their working lives with us.

Our purpose is to provide 'Caring at its best' and our staff have helped us create a set of values that embody who we are and what we're here to do. They are:

We focus on what matters most
We treat others how we would like to be treated
We are passionate and creative in our work
We do what we say we are going to do
We are one team and we are best when we work together

Our patients are at the heart of all we do and we believe that 'Caring at its best' is not just about the treatments and services we provide, but about giving our patients the best possible experience.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (leicestershospitals.nhs.uk)

Date posted

27 April 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£33,706 to £40,588 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-5061875-CHU-A

Job locations

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Infirmary Square

Leicester

LE1 5WW

Job description

Job responsibilities

Manages a personal caseload of clinical trials and patients independently with minimal supervision/mentoring from Principle Investigators/senior research nurses/team leaders.
To ensure relevant approvals are in place prior to commencing each trial.
To ensure all work is undertaken in line with the research protocol, ICH-GCP and Research Governance guidelines.
To act as one of the primary points of contact for clinical trials patients.
To educate other staff as to the responsibilities of the role and function of the research nurse and disseminate information on specific studies.
Observe patients and monitor treatment/toxicity side effects; escalating findings accordingly.
To maintain Professional Accountability for nursing research practice at all times.
Identifies, screens and recruits patients for the clinical trial using agreed protocols in accordance with ICH-GCP and Research Governance.
Provides education and support for patients in research trials.
Work with the lead clinician to evaluate clinical trial proposals, identifying potential patient populations and evaluating cost implications of the trial.
Work with the R&I Co-ordinator to ensure all clinical trial documentation has appropriate ethical committee and Trust approval providing feedback to the lead clinician and research directorate.
Participate in set-up/initiation/monitoring visits, site audits and study close-down meetings carried out by sponsoring organisations and regulatory authorities.
Provide on-going audit reports as required by the trial protocols and Research & Innovation department/ethics committee.
Responsible for resolving data queries raised by sponsoring organisations.
Demonstrates commitment to the role of patient advocate for patients considering or participating in clinical trials.
Required to hold a phone for a short period of time to monitor freezers/fridges and possible for study purposes.
To provide mentorship and supervision for other research professionals and staff within and outside the department.
Act as a resource for ward based nurses wishing to undertake research once competencies have been achieved.
Responsible for assisting with the completion of study costing templates along with assisting with invoicing and the recovery of income for commercial research as per financial contract agreement.
Act as a role model for excellence in research.
Management and co-ordination of specified trials and take responsibility for :
Organisation of any necessary tests and investigations as detailed within the protocol.
Sample preparation (e.g. blood, urine, tissue and faecal samples): retrieval,
centrifuging, pipetting, slide making and preparation for storage, liaising with the hospital and external laboratories when appropriate.
Undertaking high risk clinical duties (advanced therapies)
Maintaining logs of stored samples and freezer temperatures.
Maintaining adequate stock levels of sample kits.
Organising the logistical aspects of diagnostic specimens, packaging, and shipment, including handling of dry ice.
Organising and completing follow up assessments including toxicity, Quality of Life assessments and telephone assessments.
Resolving data queries raised by sponsoring organisations.
Archiving all study related material including patients notes after study closure.
Reporting and submitting of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) from this site
within stipulated timeframes to sponsor organisations and the Research and Innovation Office.
Tracking Serious Unexpected Event reporting
Maintaining and updating study specific site files.
Notifying General Practitioners of their patients involvement in a clinical trial.

Please see job description/person specification for full details on the role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Manages a personal caseload of clinical trials and patients independently with minimal supervision/mentoring from Principle Investigators/senior research nurses/team leaders.
To ensure relevant approvals are in place prior to commencing each trial.
To ensure all work is undertaken in line with the research protocol, ICH-GCP and Research Governance guidelines.
To act as one of the primary points of contact for clinical trials patients.
To educate other staff as to the responsibilities of the role and function of the research nurse and disseminate information on specific studies.
Observe patients and monitor treatment/toxicity side effects; escalating findings accordingly.
To maintain Professional Accountability for nursing research practice at all times.
Identifies, screens and recruits patients for the clinical trial using agreed protocols in accordance with ICH-GCP and Research Governance.
Provides education and support for patients in research trials.
Work with the lead clinician to evaluate clinical trial proposals, identifying potential patient populations and evaluating cost implications of the trial.
Work with the R&I Co-ordinator to ensure all clinical trial documentation has appropriate ethical committee and Trust approval providing feedback to the lead clinician and research directorate.
Participate in set-up/initiation/monitoring visits, site audits and study close-down meetings carried out by sponsoring organisations and regulatory authorities.
Provide on-going audit reports as required by the trial protocols and Research & Innovation department/ethics committee.
Responsible for resolving data queries raised by sponsoring organisations.
Demonstrates commitment to the role of patient advocate for patients considering or participating in clinical trials.
Required to hold a phone for a short period of time to monitor freezers/fridges and possible for study purposes.
To provide mentorship and supervision for other research professionals and staff within and outside the department.
Act as a resource for ward based nurses wishing to undertake research once competencies have been achieved.
Responsible for assisting with the completion of study costing templates along with assisting with invoicing and the recovery of income for commercial research as per financial contract agreement.
Act as a role model for excellence in research.
Management and co-ordination of specified trials and take responsibility for :
Organisation of any necessary tests and investigations as detailed within the protocol.
Sample preparation (e.g. blood, urine, tissue and faecal samples): retrieval,
centrifuging, pipetting, slide making and preparation for storage, liaising with the hospital and external laboratories when appropriate.
Undertaking high risk clinical duties (advanced therapies)
Maintaining logs of stored samples and freezer temperatures.
Maintaining adequate stock levels of sample kits.
Organising the logistical aspects of diagnostic specimens, packaging, and shipment, including handling of dry ice.
Organising and completing follow up assessments including toxicity, Quality of Life assessments and telephone assessments.
Resolving data queries raised by sponsoring organisations.
Archiving all study related material including patients notes after study closure.
Reporting and submitting of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) from this site
within stipulated timeframes to sponsor organisations and the Research and Innovation Office.
Tracking Serious Unexpected Event reporting
Maintaining and updating study specific site files.
Notifying General Practitioners of their patients involvement in a clinical trial.

Please see job description/person specification for full details on the role.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse on appropriate part of the register with current NMC Registration
Evidence of on-going professional development
Clinical Research Experience
Willing to undertake any necessary training relevant to the post
Post registration experience

Desirable

Experience of the clinical care of patients enrolled in research studies
Evidence of specialist training or willingness to undertake additional specialist/academic training

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of research design and methodology
Awareness of current national systems and structures for the approval, management and monitoring of clinical research in the NHS

Desirable

Knowledge of the clinical trial lifecycle, including experience of the set up and performance management of clinical research studies

Skills

Essential

IT/database skills
Ability to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate patient care
Ability to provide clear clinical leadership
Ability to evaluate patient eligibility for entry into clinical trials against defined protocols

Desirable

Clinical skills including: chemotherapy, ECG, venipuncture

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse on appropriate part of the register with current NMC Registration
Evidence of on-going professional development
Clinical Research Experience
Willing to undertake any necessary training relevant to the post
Post registration experience

Desirable

Experience of the clinical care of patients enrolled in research studies
Evidence of specialist training or willingness to undertake additional specialist/academic training

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of research design and methodology
Awareness of current national systems and structures for the approval, management and monitoring of clinical research in the NHS

Desirable

Knowledge of the clinical trial lifecycle, including experience of the set up and performance management of clinical research studies

Skills

Essential

IT/database skills
Ability to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate patient care
Ability to provide clear clinical leadership
Ability to evaluate patient eligibility for entry into clinical trials against defined protocols

Desirable

Clinical skills including: chemotherapy, ECG, venipuncture

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).