The Postholderwilljoin a Team of Principal Investigators (Clinical Consultants in Endocrinology

Job Profile

Core job information
Job Title / Clinical Research Facilitator
Dept./School/Inst. / William Harvey Research Institute / Section/Centre/Unit / Endocrinology
Career Family / Technical / Grade / 4
Working hours per week / 35 / Appointment period / 12 months (in the first instance)
Reports to (job title) / Principal Investigators / Current location / Charterhouse Square
Job purpose

• The postholderwilljoin a team of Principal Investigators (Clinical consultants in endocrinology and paediatric endocrinology), Clinical Research Fellows and Clinical Research Assistants working on clinical and translational projects regarding rare endocrine diseases. The team is involved in the 100000 Genome Project.

• The postholder will have clinical and administrative duties during the project. Duties will involve the recruitment of patients, sample talking and care and monitoring of patients during the studies. Possibility working on the 100000

• The post is available immediately for 1 Year with a view of possible extension. The postholder will join the Centre for Endocrinology, which is part of the William Harvey Research Institute, Barts & the London, Queen Mary University of London.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Requirements / Essential/Desirable
Qualifications / First degree or equivalent qualification in a biology or health-related, nursing, or social sciences discipline, or clinical training in a relevant discipline
Postgraduate qualification with some focus on health or social research and/or research methods / E
D
Experience / Experience of conducting or facilitating health research in UK higher education or an NHS environment
Experience of clinical trials
Experience of collecting, recording and presenting complex data Experience of multi-disciplinary or cross organisational working
Experience of delivering complex or multiple research studies
Experience of working within the NIHR CRN family of networks / E
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D D
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Knowledge, skills & abilities / Knowledge of conducting research, research terminology, methods and study designs
Knowledge of recruitment and retention issues in UK Clinical Trials UK Research governance and research ethics processes
Data protection issues
Ability to work both autonomously, and as part of a team
Ability to deliver to set goals and objectives
Ability to motivate and influence
Ability to analyse problems and implement solutions
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to develop collaborative relationships with external parties Ability to operate in a political environment and interact with complex stakeholder groups
Good IT skills and proven competence in Microsoft Office suite of packages
Excellent organisational and time management skills
Ability to set up efficient systems and undertake detailed and accurate electronic record keeping using databases or spreadsheet programmes
Excellent facilitation and data collection skills
Excellent presentation skills
Able to demonstrate an understanding of equality and diversity, and its practical application
Clinical skills an advantage, but are not essential
Supervision of junior staff / E D E E E E E E
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Attitude & disposition / Flexible and co-operative
Self-motivated
Hardworking
Willingness to learn new skills / E
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Other circumstances / Willingness to work flexible and sometimes long hours as studies demand
Ability to start work at relatively short notice / E
D
Freedom to Act & Decision Making (depth of control, supervision received, use of judgement & initiative, analytical ability)
Main Duties and Responsibilities of the Role

A. General

1. The primary role of this post will be to look after two cohorts of patients with endocrine disease (+- their families) and facilitate the projects regarding these cohorts in various ways including recruitment, coordination, administrative, clinical and experimental elements.
2. Facilitation of clinical studies and trials within the Department and within collaborating partners.

B. Main Duties

The Clinical Research Facilitatorwill be required:-

1. To recruit patients to clinical studies.

1. To implement clinical trial protocols ensuring patient care and safety at all times.

1. To enter patient data into computer or paper based database and documentation and keep UKCRN recordsup-to-date.

1. Keep strict records on data and sample movement in and out of the unit.

1. To maintain links with referring clinicians, collaborating laboratories and general practitioners to ensure appropriate communication with these colleagues regarding referrals and results.

1. Set up contracts and follow procedures for new centres entering the study.

1. To set up and maintain contacts with patients and their family members to ensure all information is appropriately passed and recorded.

1. To monitor progress of patients taking part in the study, and as necessary collate additional data to support the protocol.

1. To look after patients when visiting the Department in accordance with good clinical practice.To be able to take samples and perform endocrine tests, if necessary under supervision. If necessary visit patients in their homes to collect history and samples for thestudy.

1. To confirm by telephone details, willingness to participate and explain study procedures.

1. To become familiar with the genetic background of the disease and competent in explaining them. To be ready to attend courses regarding genetics.

1. Be prepared to initiate novel aspects of the project

1. Be prepared to collect samples from collaborating centres within London.

1. To operate independently and as part of team to ensure smooth running of this study.

1. To use forward planning and set goals to assure that the study proceeds to target.

1. To adopt flexible working practices where required.

1. To review study progress with the project medical co-ordinator at least weekly or more often if necessary.

1. Update and maintain website set up for patients.

C. Communication

1. Prepared to telephone patients at their home to verify details and explain study details where appropriate arrange meetings.

1. Communicate the study details in a simple and friendly manner.

1. Responsive to patient questions or concerns regarding the nature of the study procedures.

1. Prepared to provide feedback on the study progress in the form of a newsletter to participating practices and their patients.

1. Expected to notify the project co-ordinator and/or the general practice of any problem with the patient or family member participation in the study.

D. Education and training

1. Be encouraged to attend an applicable study days in relation to genetics and clinical trials.

1. Be encouraged undertake necessary training and acquire skills to permit independent operation in the field.

1. Become familiar with programs for genetic studies (family tree drawing) in addition to basic keyboard and computer skills to permit entry of data.

1. Be expected to support the project medical andexperimental colleagues in the education and training of other staff should this be necessary.

1. Be expected to identify own training needs and to remain up to date with current professional thinking.

E. Other

1. To act at all times in the interests of patients and the organisation to ensure good clinical practice.

1. To be accountable for the care and counselling provided whilst undertaking study procedures and to conform at all times to the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses, Midwives and Health visitors.

1. To maintain patient confidentiality in all aspects of the study including the storage of personal data on computers.

1. To maintain professional confidentiality in all aspects of the studies being conducted within the facility.

1. To participate in evaluations of study progress and to adjust working practices to meet revised procedures where necessary.

1. To wear appropriate uniform and/or identification badges when on the facility if required.

1. To conduct his or herself with due regard to the Colleges Equal Opportunities policy.

1. To ensure that they are fully aware of and comply with the College’s/Trust’s policies and procedures in relation to confidentiality, health and safety at work, COSHH regulations, infection control, safe handling of drugs, and all local safety rules regarding fire, chemical, radioisotope and gene manipulation hazards, and to ensure that these are implemented and followed at all times.

1. These duties will be subject to review in line with the changing requirements of the Centre, Institute, School or College, and with the development needs of the postholders as identified through regular review/appraisal processes.

1. The duties of the post outlined above are not exhaustive, and the postholder will be expected to be co-operative and flexible, undertaking such administrative and other duties as may from time to time be reasonably expected of a member of clinical research grade staff in a university.

Working Environment

• Demonstrate specialist skills, knowledge and expertise in clinical and research practice.
• Draw on knowledge of a range of theories to inform research practice.
• Develop strategies for the management and delivery of care for their specific research project workload/client groups.
• Day to day co-ordination of work ensuring research projects are being run in an effective and safe manner.
• Use forward planning and set goals to assure that the service functions in an exemplary fashion.
• To act as a change agent to facilitate, initiate, manage and evaluate change in order to improve quality of patient care.
• Create, maintain and take responsibility for a healthy and safe working environment.

Freedom to Act & Decision Making

• Management and assessment of patients before, during and after clinical trials will be according to pre-defined protocols and decision making will be with reference to and support from trials research fellows and senior Consultant physicians when required.

• Be responsible for the collection of accurate data, completing case record forms and ensuring that all projects are carried out in accordance with ICH-GCP, established protocols and applicable Standard OperatingProcedures.

• Draw on knowledge of a range of theories to inform research practice.

• Make informed decisions in the provision of care to the patient group by using knowledge of resources.

• Ensure that the results of evaluation are used to sustain or improve quality of patient care and the research process.

• Assist in the organisation and implementation of research project workloads and clients of research staff acting as a facilitator and resource.

Communication & Networking

• Patients and their carers
• Research team staff, such as nurses, research fellows, administrative and technical staff.
• Trust/College R&D staff
• Hospital consultants, junior medical doctors
• General practitioners
• Nurse specialists (community based) in cardiovascular disease
• Clinical genetics consultants and laboratory staff
• Basic scientist working on the project
• Practice nurses and nurse practitioners
• Participate in senior group meetings/events with internal and external groups and organisations

Finance/Resource Management
To keep exact records of costs of reagents, travel expansesof patients, courier expenses
People Management
The post will help to supervise other members of the department, such as team technicians and other non-medical staff such as PhD students, MSc students etc.

• Deputise for senior members of the team as appropriate.
• Lead the team of research staff and acts as a resource within the group to provide and ensure senior nursing support to the research team.

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.