Mental Health Research Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key areas of responsibility

To take a lead role in completing the feasibility assessments of potential new studies in the trust, assisting the Research Manager and Research Delivery Manager.

To lead on the site set up and delivery of Mental Health Studies, recruiting to time and target, site file management, and site selection/ sponsor monitoring visits.

To identify participants to NIHR RDN portfolio studies according to specific protocols and guidelines and assist clinicians in obtaining informed consent from those participants.

To build awareness of mental health studies running in Trusts across Yorkshire and Humber (and nationally, where possible) and consider whether these studies could be opened in other sites.

To attend multidisciplinary team meetings regularly to aid identification and recruitment of participants to commercial and non-commercial studies. To present research protocols to multi-disciplinary teams to encourage participation.

To actively promote Mental Health studies and raise awareness of RDU initiatives by attending trust wide forums and conferences.

To liaise closely with the Research Manager and Research Delivery Manager, principal investigator/research team and other services involved in the delivery of research studies.

To provide verbal and written information and support to research participants and their carers for the duration of their involvement in the research project, and to assist participants with the completion of questionnaires, and interviews, as necessary.

To undertake home visits when necessary to engage with and recruit service users to research projects.

Coordinate assessment and follow-up as necessary in accordance with research protocol, ensuring adherence and escalating where appropriate.

To assist the RDU and Research Delivery Manager to monitor patient recruitment

Identify areas of low patient recruitment and liaise with RDU and Research Delivery Manager to identify strategies for improving.

To ensure that any data collection is conducted according to specific research protocols and adheres to the Data Protection Act 1998 and according to Good Clinical Practice guidelines.

To be responsible for the recording of patient recruitment and adverse events on the Data Entry System (EDGE).

To provide information / reports on recruitment.

To attend project management group meetings for specific research projects which may, on occasion, involve travelling outside the region.

Be willing to engage in flexible working hours to facilitate study visits.

To provide support for research projects to obtain approvals from Health Research Authority and NHS Ethics.

To provide support to participants, and other team members, for assessments and follow-up.

To liaise with other Research Nurses (RN), Allied Health Professionals (AHP) and Clinical Studies Officers (CSO) across regional Mental Health Trusts to ensure the needs and higher level objectives of the RDN are met.

To maintain a working knowledge of relevant mental health practice and to promptly disseminate up to date information, protocol amendments etc. to personnel working on research projects.

To provide information and education on research projects to interested parties, in verbal and written format as well as face to face and virtual presentations.

To support and supervise band 5 staff and other staff by completing regular supervision sessions and annual professional development reviews (PDRs), monitoring periods of sickness and annual leave, and documenting supervision appropriately.

To cover duties of other RNs/ AHPs/ CSOs when required.

To work at all times according to Good Clinical Practice, Research Governance and Trust guidelines.

To undertake any other duties, which may be required from time to time, as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and needs of the service.

Undertake any research training that is a requirement for the post.

To support and promote the Trusts Research Champions Network to increase engagement with clinicians and clinical services.

To support and work with SHSC Lived Experience Research partnership to increase services user engagement with research and identify opportunities for service user volunteers to support research.

Service Development

• Participate in local campaigns to help raise awareness of our research to staff, service users, carers and the public (via events and health awareness days, for example).
• Contribute to the maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), guidance, and procedures.
• Contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the RDU pages on the Trusts website and intranet, including updating revisions to current studies and guidance, where necessary.
• Undertake mandatory and non-mandatory training related to the role, to maintain up to date technical and professional knowledge relevant to the post and attend research meetings as required.

Service User Involvement

• Promote service user involvement in research and research development
• Support the development of patient and public involvement groups and Patient Research Ambassadors.

Human Resources

• Post holder will participate in regular supervision and undertake annual PDR as per Trust policy
• Supervise B5/B4 staff as necessary, providing regular supervision and PDR
• Attend all required Trust mandatory training and any training needed to fulfil requirements of the role

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Specialist mental health knowledge and understanding of the mental health research agenda
• Understanding of NHS Research Management and Governance and NHS Ethics processes
• Understanding of basic research skills and methodologies.
• Understanding of GCP, HRA and ethical considerations

Training and Qualifications

Essential

• oRGN/ RN Mental Health/ RN Learning Disability with current valid registration with the NMC.

Desirable

• oEvidence of additional research training skills.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of recruiting participants to research projects
• Experience of working independently and being part of a dispersed team.
• Experience of working in a clinical research environment.

Desirable

• Experience of working on commercial research.
• Experience of supervising staff within a clinical and or research environment

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

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Research Development Unit

Distington House, Atlas Way

Sheffield

S4 7QQ

Employer's website

https://www.shsc.nhs.uk/working-us (Opens in a new tab)