Clinical Research Practitioner

An exciting opportunity is now available at University Hospital Southampton NHSFT for highly motivated and enthusiastic practitioners to join our clinical research delivery teams. This is a new role within UHS to complement our existing team of 300 research nurses, allied health professionals and clinical trial assistants. With roles in respiratory and other specialities, this is a fantastic opportunity to develop your clinical and research skills through supporting the delivery of a wide range of clinical research studies.

We run a 24/7 service, though most of your time will be spent working Monday to Friday office hours. The research delivery teams work closely with clinical colleagues to deliver world-class and ground-breaking research to our patients. The research teams work together across the Trust to deliver a variety of studies, in all clinical specialities to improve patient care and outcomes.

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.

What we can offer you

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Your Responsibilities

What you’ll do

You will provide specialist research and clinical care to paediatric research participants within the scope of your education and training. This includes identifying and approaching eligible patients, consenting patients, and supporting the delivery of study interventions and clinical investigations and the data collection required for the individual studies.

You will take on the responsibility for managing and coordinating delegated research studies; you will be guided and mentored by our experienced senior research nurses and Allied Health Professionals to develop within your role providing gold standard care to our patients.

Working in clinical research, protecting the patient from harm and maintaining their rights is essential and may involve acting as a patient advocate.

What we’re looking for

You will have significant patient facing experience caring for a children, ideally in the acute setting. You will be educated to Foundation degree level or NVQ Level 6 in a Physiological or Physical Sciences, Healthcare Science or related field OR be able to demonstrate clearly equivalent level of theoretical and practical knowledge.

You will have a keen interest in clinical research; experience in research is preferable but not essential as full research training and supervision will be given. You will be expected to work towards achieving the relevant competencies and experience to be eligible to apply for accreditation as a clinical research practitioner with the Academy of Health Care Science. You will be supported fully to achieve this.

You will work to international standards of clinical research governance to deliver complex research, so the ability to understand and implement new information is essential. The role involves using many clinical and research IT systems, so computer experience and skills are essential.

We are currently supporting a range of COVID-19 studies across the teams, so there may be the need for you to work in direct clinical care with COVID positive patients.

Please note that this role will be working within the Paediatric Research team within our dedicated clinical research facility. There will be a requirement for the successful applicant to be able to undertake paediatric venesection as part of their role. The paediatric team work across both the hospital setting as well as in the community and a car driver is essential.

Additional information

Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 18th April 2023

Should you have any queries, please use the contact details below to get in touch