Clinical Research Practitioner

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Main area: Maternity Research Grade: NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract: 12 months (Four posts available as fixed term or secondment) Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref: 096-MAR25

Employer: 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type: NHS Site: Royal Sussex County Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital, Worthing Hospital and St. Richard's Hospital Chichester Town: Brighton Salary: £26,530 - £29,114 pa Salary period: Yearly Closing: 07/05/:59

About our Trust

At UHSussex we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute Trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, ambition, and values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented, and dedicated people work together towards a common goal - to always put our Patient First. In fact, our mission is summed up by our 'where better never stops' motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview If you are an excellent communicator with a passion for research, an eye for detail, and the skills to co-ordinate a national research study within the often busy, and sometimes challenging, maternity environment, then this is the job for you! You will have the opportunity to develop your research skills within a supportive environment working on The Generation Study. You will be working collaboratively within a dynamic midwifery research team, and working directly with the UHS population of pregnant women and people.

We are recruiting one Clinical Research Practitioner at each of our four sites at UHS: The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, Worthing Hospital, and St. Richard's Hospital in Chichester. It is essential that:

• you specify clearly in your additional information which site you are applying for.
• you are available to attend a study Focus training day on 14th May 2025 (if you are applying for Worthing Hospital or St. Richards, Chichester)
• you are available to attend a study Focus training day on 15th May 2025 (if you are applying for The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton or the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath)

Main duties of the job The role will primarily involve working closely with UHS pregnant women and people on the national Generation Study at one of our four sites, and will include:

• contributing to the study set up process
• reading, assimilating, understanding and working to the Generation Study protocol
• setting up, managing and running the study database
• sharing information, explaining, discussing and answering questions about the Generation Study with pregnant women and people and their partner/families as appropriate
• receiving informed consent from potential participants
• co-ordinating study processes on labour ward and in the community
• on occasion taking cord blood/supporting labour ward staff to take cord blood
• placing our service users and their well-being at the centre of every process
• careful diary management in order to follow up participants effectively
• working collaboratively with UHS maternity staff members
• involving all staff in the study process and building strong workplace relationships
• supporting staff to understand the study and being a constant source of advice and support to staff to ensure that the clinical processes are followed safely and effectively
• effective working with other staff members (including clinical research practitioners, midwives, obstetricians, and support staff)
• some cross-site working as required

Working for our organisation At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities The post holder will assist with delivery of The Generation Study and manage and co-ordinate other maternity research studies as required under the indirect supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner.

They will help to support the day-to-day management of an allocated portfolio of studies. This includes successful recruitment and retention of participants, strict protocol adherence, data collection, and organisation of relevant tests and procedures. They will need to have a good background of general clinical knowledge; to provide research participants with excellent clinical care. The post holder will need to be flexible and adaptable in response to the service needs and work across different clinical specialties as required. The post holder will also be responsible for promoting research within Trust departments and supporting colleagues and local investigators to deliver high quality research activity to support participant care.

The post holder will mainly be working on the Generation Study. In addition, they may be required to work across other maternity research studies as well as support a diverse range of clinical specialties depending on the dynamic nature of the portfolio and be responsive to the changing needs of the service. The post holder will understand the specific maternity environment and the challenges within it. They will work collaboratively with maternity staff, often in busy environments, and will be sensitive to the client group who may have specific vulnerabilities and/or be facing complex clinical issues and psychological challenges.

The post holder will work collaboratively with the other members of the research team to support the progress of allocated clinical trials and research undertaken in the Trust, maintaining an accurate account of project status and records as required. They will also work collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries within and outside the NHS and develop professional relationships with other relevant organisations including non-commercial bodies and pharmaceutical sponsors that promote the delivery of high-quality clinical research within University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

The post holder will proactively support the management of a portfolio of clinical trials, in a manner which achieves results and drives initiatives forward along a continuum of improvement in keeping with current and forthcoming organisational strategies and health trends.

Although the post holder will be based at ONE of the four sites, the post will involve working with the other sites and staff at those sites, and working at those other sites on occasion. The post holder will be able to travel to the other sites if required.

Support R&D senior staff in the implementation of trust policies and procedures and adherence to research governance and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

Person specification . click apply for full job details