Job summary
- Main area
- MND Research nurse
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 4 years (Travel between south west region)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 216-LD-DC8099069
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospital Plymouth
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 Per Annum Pro Rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Motor Neurone Disease Association Research Specialist Nurse
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
1.To act as a specialist in knowledge in MND (motor neurone disease) and MND patients research participation as well as advise on the complex nursing care of MND patients when participating in MND research. To proactively support MND patients and their carers and health colleagues across the South West region to promote inclusion of MND patients into research across the South West region.
2. Proactively lead and develop an MND person‑centred research service as part of an MND research nurse network. Working alongside patients and carers as well as stakeholders across the South West region.
3. To ensure that everyone diagnosed with MND in the South West region has access to the support and opportunity to take part in research across the region, working across organisations and linking closely with complex care services and research delivery teams and research leads.
4. To support people with MND to navigate the research process, providing information about current MND research opportunities, identifying research that people living with MND are eligible for, explaining what is involved, and supporting people with their application and ongoing involvement in trials—while ensuring their complex care needs are recognised and supported throughout.
Main duties of the job
- Contribute to the progress of MND research and clinical trials, dedicating 100% of efforts to supporting, delivering, and leading initiatives that contribute to breakthroughs in MND care and understanding.
- Collaborate effectively with the MND Association to support the strategic development and growth of the Research Nurse Network in the South West region.
- Oversee and support clinical trials across the region and research efforts aimed at improving outcomes for people living with MND, playing a pivotal role in facilitating high-quality research and trial execution
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the South West region to ensure studies are conducted smoothly and in full compliance with protocols, legislation, and relevant guidelines.
- Maintain and manage clinical research databases for MND studies, ensuring accuracy and currency of all research data to support impactful finding. Also ensuring the data is pulled from the differing services across the south west region and these complex data sets are interpreted correctly for the purposes of research.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1 To drive collaborative opportunities within the MDT team. Working closely with care coordinators and other MDT members, emphasising seamless coordination, shared goals, and effective communication across departments to enhance complex care delivery in research for MND patients, and ensure alignment with the latest research insights and objectives.
2 To champion the diverse and often complex care needs of people living with MND by working in a manner that facilitates inclusion and collaboration, within and beyond the MND Association.
3 Responsibilities include coordination of care of people living with MND on trials and studies, ensuring effective communication between Care Centre / Networks and research teams, with a strong focus on meeting complex care requirements during research participation.
- Serve as an expert resource for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, offering information and support on MND research and clinical trials.
- Handle additional responsibilities essential to the efficient operation of MND research network and trial initiatives, such as patient meetings to disseminate study findings for example or work within MDT groups to align MND patient research participation in current care pathways.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Knowledge of the Research Governance Framework and the International Conference on Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice Guidelines
- • In depth knowledge of clinical trials & research methodologies
- • High level of interpersonal and communication skills
- • In-depth knowledge of data collection and data entry for clinical trials
- • Good leadership skills and proven managerial ability
- • Pertinent clinical skills
- • IT skills including ability to work with databases
- • Ability to organise and prioritise own workload and work to tight deadlines
- • Ability to think strategically and make independent decisions
- • Critical appraisal skills
- • Extensive experience of clinical research within the NHS setting
- • Broad and recent clinical experience relevant to the post
- • Line Management experience within the NHS
- • Proven record of meeting participant recruitment targets
Desirable criteria
- Experience of delivering commercial and academic research
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Registered Nurse or Healthcare Professional, currently registered with UK regulatory body NMC/HCPC
- • Research Training (e.g., GCP, degree module, informed consent)
- • Specialist knowledge of MND disease and patients
- • Post graduate /Master’s level qualification or equivalent
- • Management or Leadership Qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience of delivering commercial and academic research
Aptitude
Essential criteria
- • Ability to work autonomously
- • Willingness to learn, instigate and develop efficient working systems
- • Ability to work cohesively as a member of a team
- • Willingness to undertake any necessary training and development to enhance work performance
- • Willingness and ability to work across sites including community
- • Meticulous attention to detail
Dispostion
Essential criteria
- • High level of interpersonal and communication skills
- • Flexible and adaptable
- • Commitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role
Other
Essential criteria
- • Willingness to travel between sites across the south west region
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Gemma Cochrane
- Job title
- Deputy Directorate Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 202082
- Additional information
Catherine Pitman - [email protected]
Liz Househam - 01752 433442 or [email protected]
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