Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Responsibility for Leading and Managing

·         Provide professional leadership and direction for all clinical research nurses/ AHPs/Research Practitioners across the organisation. This would be in partnership with Research Matrons and Research Managers of the relevant RDUs.

·         Direct line management (including professional supervision where applicable) of band 8a RRDN funded research matrons, research managers and  a number of band 7 senior R&D research nurses. To include Performance Development Reviews and ongoing senior support.

·         Research representative for the NIHR workforce meetings and other relevant Trust committees.

Clinical Responsibilities

·        Works within the NMC scope of Professional Practice and Code of Conduct. 

·        Work in accordance with the DoH Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) regulations. 

·        Advise on and be proficient in clinical skills relevant to research practice - e.g. cannulation, venepuncture, ECG recording.

Responsibility for Patients

·         Ensure research teams provide on-going information, education and support to patients (and their significant others) regarding clinical trials and specific trial treatments. 

·         Lead on public and patient involvement (PPI) and EDI in research as per NIHR and Trust clinical R&D strategy. Ensure research active staff participate in appropriate trust activities for example on the annual International Clinical Trials Day.

·         Promotes PPI and EDI in the development of nursing/AHP/Practitioners research programmes.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

·         As a member of the R&D senior management team, contribute towards the overall strategic direction of the department, including developing strategy documents, policy, SOPs and workforce planning, where pertaining to clinical research delivery in conjunction with the R&D Director of Strategy and the R&D Director of Operations.

·         Support the R&D directors in developing a long-term strategy for the employment, accountability, management, development and education of research nurses/AHP/Practitioners within the Trust.

Responsibility for Finance Management and Physical Resources

• Ensure that resources are used effectively and in accordance with agreed policies and procedures.

• Works with R&D finance team and R&D Director of Operations, to plan and manage funding of research nurse /AHP/Practitioners posts.

• Identifies funding opportunities for new research posts and submits bids to secure funding in collaboration with R&D Managers/Matrons and lead nurses.

Responsibility for Research and Development

·         Initiates and leads a programme of nurse led research at the Trust, working with senior nursing leaders to promote the continued development of research awareness, research competence and scholastic activity (e.g. writing for publishing, critical appraisal, presenting at conferences) in the application of research into nursing practice.

·         To lead on identifying funding opportunities for nursing /AHP /Practitioners led research and support nursing colleagues in writing grant applications and navigating the ethics and research approvals process.