Research Nurse

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Research Nurse to join our team at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting and facilitating the development of mental health research in Sheffield.

Main Responsibilities

• Take the lead on the set up and delivery of Mental Health Studies, recruiting to time and target, site file management and monitoring visits.
• Provide information and education on research projects to interested parties, in verbal and written format and presentations.
• Actively promote Mental Health studies and raise awareness of RDU initiatives by attending trust wide forums and conferences.
• Assess the suitability of patients to take part in clinical trials and other high quality studies.
• Provide patients taking part in studies with specialist information regarding their participation.
• Provide high standards and continuity of care for participants during the research study.
• Work as part of a team to co-ordinate and manage research within expected timelines.
• Participate in the process of initial and on-going informed consent for the research participant prior to carrying out procedures and treatments as agreed within the protocols.
• Liaise closely with the principal investigator/research team and other services involved in the delivery of research studies.

Working for Our Organisation

We are passionate about providing the very best care to the people we support, and we're looking for amazing people who share this passion to join us.

Our staff, service users, carers and families all come from such diverse backgrounds and all have expertise and stories to share.

It's essential that you feel supported in your role, that the people who you work with are as passionate as you are and that your health and wellbeing is taken care of.

We offer a range of training and education opportunities, including apprenticeships, work experience and placements, as well as the chance to get involved in research.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

The Mental Health Research Nurse will work in Sheffield, to support and facilitate the development of mental health research. The successful applicant will be based in SHSC Research Development Unit (RDU) and work with Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Research Network (CRN) staff and staff in NHS Trusts to enable the uptake of new studies and support researchers ensuring that NIHR CRN portfolio and commercial studies successfully recruit participants to time and target.

The post holder will be employed by Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• To take the lead on completing the feasibility assessments of potential new studies in the trust.
• To lead on the site set up and delivery of Mental Health Studies, recruiting to time and target, site file management and sponsor monitoring visits.
• To identify participants to NIHR CRN portfolio/commercial studies according to specific protocols and guidelines and assist clinicians to obtain 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 of appropriate services for recruitment of participants to MHRN and commercial studies.
• To present research protocols to multi-disciplinary groups 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 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.
• To assist the RDU and Research Manager to monitor patient recruitment.
• Identify areas of low patient recruitment and liaise with RDU and Research Delivery Manager to identify mechanism 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.
• To provide support for research projects to obtain approvals from Health Research Authority and NHS Ethics.
• To provide support for assessments and follow-up.
• To liaise with other Research Nurses (RN) and Clinical Studies Officers (CSO) across regional Mental Health Trusts to ensure the needs of the CRN and commercial sponsors are met.
• To maintain a working knowledge of relevant mental health practice and to 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 research nurses and research assistants by completing regular supervision sessions and annual professional development reviews (PDR's), monitoring periods of sickness and annual leave.
• To cover duties of other RNs/ 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.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

• Essential criteria
  • 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 the national and local health and social care environment.
  • Understanding of basic research skills and methodologies.
  • Experience of communicating complex information with service users and carers.
  • Experience of presenting to a range of audiences, face to face and virtual.
• Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of GCP, HRA and ethical considerations.

Training and Qualifications

• Essential criteria
  • RGN/RN Mental Health with current valid registration with the NMC (for Research Nurse only).
  • Degree (or equivalent qualification) in a subject relevant to mental health research or mental health professional qualification.
  • Clinical Registration.
• Desirable criteria
  • Good Clinical Practice.
  • Evidence of additional research training skills.
  • Clinical Measures and Phlebotomy trained.

Experience

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

Other

• Essential criteria
  • Ability to manage and prioritise own workload.
  • Demonstrated ability to organise time and workload across projects and to work flexibly where the pattern of work is unpredictable.
  • Good communication skills, both verbal and written, including ability to use Microsoft applications including Word, Excel and Power point.
  • Ability to work on own initiative.
  • Advanced organisation skills.
  • Excellent inter-disciplinary/ interagency communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Adaptable and self-motivated.
  • Proactive, self-directed learner.
  • Proven administrative skills.

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