Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Research Assistant
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Job Overview
Are you a healthcare or research professional with an interest in delivering clinical research in the NHS?
Do you have experience with in mental health services or with vulnerable adults, preferably in a research setting?
The Research Delivery Team at Central and North West London NHS Trust is looking for a Clinical Research Assistant to join their team to support recruitment to and coordination of clinical research in the Trust. The postholder will primarily cover clinical services in the borough of Hillingdon, although their main office base will be in Kentish Town.
This post is hosted by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and supported by the North London Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN), which forms part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) which was established by the Department of Health and aims to improve the speed, quality, and integration of research, ultimately resulting in improved patient care.
Main duties of the job
The role will be based in the Research Delivery Service at Noclor Joint Research Office, hosted by Central and North West London NHS Trust. This role also involves working across multiple organisations within North West London to ensure people with mental health, dementia, learning disabilities, neurodegenerative and neurology problems have access to research opportunities.
You will work across the Trust in clinical services to recruit patients to a range of National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) portfolio studies. You will also promote research engagement actively assisting research teams with patient recruitment and data collection. You will be expected to have a good working knowledge of ICH GCP and be able to competently coordinate research trials, and to be involved in supporting junior staff in the team.
You should be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of the challenges of research delivery in the NHS, particularly within mental health. The ideal candidate should have effective communication skills, good organisational skills, flexibility, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to work autonomously. A willingness to travel to sites across London is essential as the roles are based within services, as well as an ability or willingness to learn phlebotomy is essential.
Working for our organisation
The Research Delivery Service is a diverse, social and outgoing team. As part of your role, you’ll have the opportunity to try out new ideas in response to challenges that arise, with the support of your manager and wider team. We believe in succeeding together, not in spite of one another.
The role will also bring opportunities to develop your clinical and leadership skills. For example, previous research assistants have now been promoted within the team, gone onto senior roles within the NHS, completing PhDs and DClinPsy training. We also work with other Research Delivery Services in London under Noclor which provides opportunities for shared learning and creative thinking. In addition, we are an outgoing and social team who encourage, motivate and support one another.
The Research Delivery Service works with a diverse population in North West London and is important to us that we reflect this. Our diverse team and leadership team are examples of how we embrace, celebrate and learn from each other’s cultures which helps to shape our clinical practices when interacting with our clients. Furthermore, it is key that team members uphold our values and work together for our clients with respect, dignity and compassion.
Our staff care for people in hospital and in the community, helping them to recover and go on to lead full and productive lives. We aim to be the best organisation of our kind in the country.
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Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Key responsibilities
Duties will be allocated to the postholder according to qualifications and experience.
They are likely to involve some or all of the following:
- Patient recruitment and retention in studies.
- To attend multidisciplinary team meetings regularly to aid identification of appropriate Trusts/wards etc within the RDN for recruitment of participants to RDN studies.
- To identify participants to NIHR adopted studies according to specific protocols and guidelines, and assist clinicians to obtain informed consent from those participants.
- 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 as necessary.
- To co-ordinate treatment, assessment and follow-up as necessary in accordance with research protocol, taking the lead on complex interventional research studies.
- To provide support and supervision to junior research staff.
- To identify areas of low patient recruitment and liaise with the Research Delivery Manager to identify mechanism for improving.
- To work at all times according to Good Clinical Practice, Research Governance and Trust guidelines.
- To ensure that any data collection is conducted according to specific research protocols and adheres to the Data Protection Act 1998 and according to ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
- To facilitate the recording of patient recruitment on EDGE.
- To provide information / reports on recruitment when requested by the Research Delivery Manager to provide support to research teams for assessments and follow-up of study participants.
- To provide support to research teams for assessments and follow-up of study participants.
- With appropriate training, take clinical samples for studies; coordinate tissue sample collection and dispatch to relevant departments or research centres.
Service mapping
- To work with R&D staff, Trust and university employees to co-ordinate existing information into a comprehensive overview of services and service user support services across the CNWL region.
- To develop, catalogue and maintain appropriate filing systems and other office management systems to record such information.
Communication and Collaboration
- To attend, contribute and lead in project management group meetings for specific research projects.
- To liaise with other CRA/CRPs working under Noclor NHS Research Office to ensure effective delivery of research across the organization.
- Work collaboratively with clinicians, research teams, academic partners, and external stakeholders.
- Promote research awareness and engagement among patients, carers, and clinical teams.
- To provide information and education on research projects adopted by the RDN to interested parties in a variety of formats.
- To maintain a working knowledge of relevant practice and to disseminate up to date information, protocol amendments etc. to personnel working on research projects.
- To liaise with Noclor, academic staff, the wider Trust personnel, and external contacts.
- To maintain position of integrity, appreciating the need for confidentiality when dealing with staff and issues appertaining to this post.
- To offer advice and support to research active staff, patients and carers, as appropriate.
Training and Professional Development
- To keep up to date with relevant training and develop skills and knowledge to be able to complete your delegated duties.
- To participate positively in regular supervision, appraisals and continuous professional development.
- Complete all mandatory training including Infection Prevention & Control.
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Governance and Policy
- Work in accordance with Trust, NIHR, and regulatory policies and procedures. It is the post holder's responsibility to ensure they keep up to date with these policies and other policy documents.
- To support the Head of Research Compliance and Research Delivery Manager to ensure and monitor adherence to current National and Trust research governance policy of RDN adopted studies running within the Trust.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of local SOPs and best practice guidance.
Resource Management
- To assist and support the Research Delivery Service in the establishment of an efficient working environment, making the most effective and efficient use of staff, supplies and services.
- To utilise all available resources to the maximum benefit of the service, being aware of financial and operational implications of research activity
Research and Development
- To assist with the creation and delivery of relevant Noclor training packages
- To contribute to the development of the research capacity of service user and carer interests and organisations
- To support the development of clinical service mapping and provision of high-quality information to the service
- To develop, catalogue and maintain the appropriate filing systems and other office management systems to record that information.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a healthcare-related field.
- ICH Good Clinical Practice
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience working in research delivery/patient recruitment in clinical research
- Understanding of clinical trials in the field of dementia, long-term conditions or neurodegenerative diseases and social care
- Knowledge of the NHS Research Ethics Committee and R&D application processes
Desirable criteria
- Project management experience
- Experience working in an NHS based health or social care environment with service user contact
- Demonstrable knowledge of research design and methods including an understanding of the analytical process
- Good working knowledge of GCP principles and how to ensure regulatory compliance with clinical trials
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent organisational skills including the ability to establish appropriate documentation and record keeping
- Proven time management skills including the ability to manage own workload within defined parameters
- Experience of public speaking
- High level of interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills to work with clinical and management colleagues at all levels across a range of organisations
Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to receive, analyse and handle large volumes of complex, sensitive and highly confidential information
- Ability to travel across the North West London region
- Demonstrable ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences and through a variety of mediums with confidence, empathy and enthusiasm.
- Evidence of accuracy and attention to detail in data collection and recording
- Phlebotomy trained or willingness to learn
Values
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates initiative and makes decisions independently when necessary
- Flexible and proactive approach to problem-solving and service delivery
- Contributes to a culture of psychological safety, “we not me”, and of continuous improvement
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in research participation
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