Crf Clinical Research Practitioner

Would you like to be part of finding treatments for the future at the NIHR OXFORD COGNITIVE HEALTH CLINICAL RESEARCH FACILITY?

As a Band 5 Clinical Research Practitioner / Research Assistant, working in the only Mental Health CRF in the UK, you would be part of our friendly, multidisciplinary team, offering our research participants exceptional care as they follow their study journey.

A variety of research studies are currently run at The Oxford Cognitive Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) in Warneford: from National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and other grant funded studies through to commercial clinical trials. Studies include observational cohort studies through to CTIMPs, covering a wide variety of disease indications from healthy volunteers to those suffering from specific conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, and dementia.

This role provides opportunities to develop, gain experience and knowledge in the field of mental health and neuroscience clinical research. Clinical experience and some familiarity with mental health conditions is essential, but no research experience is necessary. We have lots of training available and an extensive induction programme is offered to ensure staff build confidence and skill within the role.

**Specific tasks will be**:

- Responding to enquiries from potential participants
- Pre-screening potential participants by phone and arranging screening visits
- Obtaining informed consent and conducting screening interviews, including the CDR, MINI and C-SSRS rating scales
- Venepuncture and blood-spinning by centrifuge
- Arranging and attending MRI scans and other clinic visits
- Being a point of contact for trial participants
- Completion of trial forms and prompt data entry to the online database

Experience of the above procedures would be an advantage, but the post-holder will be joining an experienced team and full training will be given.

The Oxford Cognitive Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) was established in 2011, to support intensive research studies that are not feasible to conduct within the routine clinical care setting primarily in areas of mental health and neurosciences.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

**Our values are**: “Caring, safe and excellent”

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

The OH CRF has been awarded more than £4 million over the next five years by the NIHR. The OH CRF is one of 28 facilities across England to benefit from nearly £161 million that has been awarded to expand early phase clinical research delivery in NHS hospitals.

OH CRF staff have opportunities for training with the NIHR, UKCRF network, University of Oxford and many other study specific opportunities. Research Assistants may be able to expand their research experience by undertaking research themselves through working with leaders in the field at the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry and with nurse academics at Oxford Brookes University.