Research Nurse

The postholder will

coordinate allocated studies across one or more practices, reviewing protocols,

contributing to feasibility assessments and ensuring approvals, agreements,

training, delegation and local arrangements are in place before study activity

begins. They will identify and screen potential participants, assess

eligibility within professional competence, provide study information, support

informed consent and deliver protocol-required visits. Clinical activity may

include observations, venepuncture, cannulation, ECG acquisition, spirometry,

urinalysis, sample processing and, where authorised and competent,

administration of study medication or interventions. The Research Nurse will

monitor participant safety, report adverse events and protocol deviations,

maintain accurate source data and study records, support audits and

inspections, manage delivery risks, and work with the Research Assistant on

trackers, site files, data queries and follow-up requirements. They will also

build research capability within practices and PCNs, promote equitable access,

support research training and awareness, and share learning to help embed

evidence and best practice in clinical services.

Job purpose

The Research Nurse will work with the DHC

Research Clinical Lead, Research Assistant, participating Primary Care Networks

and GP practices to support the safe, effective and high-quality delivery of

clinical research across the Federation.

The post holder will coordinate and deliver

a portfolio of studies from feasibility and set-up through participant

identification, informed consent, study visits, follow-up and close-down. They

will provide research nursing expertise, support practices to become research

active, and ensure that study activity is undertaken in accordance with

approved protocols, Good Clinical Practice, professional standards and DHC

policies.

The role complements the DHC Research

Assistant. The Research Assistant provides administrative, project and study

coordination support, while the Research Nurse holds responsibility for

delegated clinical activity, participant assessment and care, clinical

procedures, safety monitoring and professional nursing decisions within their

competence.

DHC and the research service

DHC is a GP Federation supporting general

practice in Surrey and delivering a range of community-based healthcare

services. DHC places people at the centre of its work and develops services

with local practices, Primary Care Networks and system partners.

The research service works with practices

and external academic, NHS and commercial partners to increase high-quality

research activity, translate learning into clinical practice and improve care

for local populations. The Research Nurse will act as a visible clinical point

of contact for studies delivered across DHC and participating practices.

Key working relationships

Research Assistant

DHC clinical, operational,

governance, finance and digital teams

GP partners, practice managers

and multidisciplinary practice teams

Primary Care Network clinical

directors and teams

Principal Investigators, Chief

Investigators and study teams

Study sponsors, contract

research organisations and academic partners

colleagues and research support services

Research participants,

patients, carers and members of the public

Pharmacy, laboratory, courier

and other support services where relevant to a study

Main duties and responsibilities

Research study set-up and coordination

Review study protocols and

associated documentation to understand clinical requirements, participant

pathways, resource implications and delivery risks.

Contribute to robust

feasibility assessments, including realistic estimates of eligible populations,

recruitment potential, workforce requirements, clinical procedures, equipment

and practice capacity.

Support confirmation that

required approvals, agreements, training, delegation and local arrangements are

in place before study activity begins.

Coordinate allocated studies

across one or more practices, maintaining oversight of milestones, recruitment

targets, follow-up schedules, amendments, monitoring requirements and

close-down activity.

Work closely with the Research

Assistant to maintain accurate study trackers, site files, training records,

delegation logs, version-controlled documents and communications.

Participant identification, recruitment and care

Identify and screen potential

participants using approved study criteria and authorised clinical systems or

searches.

Assess eligibility within the

scope of professional competence and liaise with the Principal Investigator or

delegated clinician where clinical confirmation is required.

Provide clear verbal and

written study information, answer questions and support individuals to make a

voluntary and informed decision about participation.

Undertake or support the

informed consent process where appropriately trained, delegated and permitted

by the protocol.

Plan and deliver

protocol-required participant visits, maintaining continuity, dignity, privacy

and a positive participant experience.

Provide ongoing information and

support to participants and carers and escalate clinical concerns promptly

through the agreed pathway.

Promote equitable access to

research and adapt communication and delivery approaches to meet individual

needs and reach underserved groups.

Clinical research delivery

Undertake study-specific

clinical assessments and procedures within competence and delegation. These may

include observations, venepuncture, cannulation, ECG acquisition, spirometry,

urinalysis, height, weight and other protocol-defined measurements.

Collect, label, process, store

and arrange transportation of biological samples in accordance with the

protocol, laboratory manual and local procedures.

Administer study medication or

interventions only where authorised, trained, competent and appropriately

delegated, and in accordance with the protocol and medicines management

arrangements.

Monitor participants for

expected and unexpected effects, recognise deterioration or safety concerns,

and take appropriate clinical action.

Maintain equipment, calibration

and temperature-monitoring records relevant to allocated studies, reporting

defects or excursions promptly.

Safety, governance and quality

Deliver research in accordance

with Good Clinical Practice, the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care

Research, applicable clinical trial regulations, approved protocols, ethical

requirements and DHC policies.

Record, assess within

professional scope, and report adverse events, serious adverse events,

incidents, protocol deviations and safeguarding concerns within required

timescales.

Maintain participant

confidentiality and process personal and research data lawfully, accurately and

securely.

Ensure source data, participant

records and case report forms are complete, contemporaneous, attributable and

available for verification.

Support monitoring visits,

audits and inspections, respond to data queries and implement agreed corrective

and preventive actions.

Identify and escalate risks or

barriers affecting participant safety, data quality, recruitment, retention,

timelines or study delivery.

Contribute to the development,

review and consistent use of research standard operating procedures and work

instructions.

Data, performance and reporting

Enter and validate research

data on paper and electronic systems accurately and within study timescales,

maintaining a clear audit trail.

Maintain accurate recruitment

and activity records and provide progress information to the Research Clinical

Lead, investigators, sponsors and relevant research networks.

Work with the Research

Assistant to resolve missing data, document queries, follow-up requirements and

study administration issues.

Use recruitment, retention,

quality and delivery information to identify improvement opportunities and

recommend practical action.

Engagement and capacity building

Build effective relationships

with practices and PCNs, including teams with limited research experience, and

support them to develop confidence and capacity to participate in research.

Promote relevant study

opportunities to clinicians, staff, patients and communities using approved

materials and messages.

Support study initiation,

training and research awareness sessions for DHC and practice staff.

Share learning from research

activity and contribute to embedding evidence and best practice into clinical

services.

Represent DHC professionally at

relevant internal and external meetings, study meetings and research events.

Professional practice and team contribution

Work at all times within the

Nursing and Midwifery Council Code, professional scope of practice and DHC

clinical governance arrangements.

Maintain professional

registration, revalidation, mandatory training, Good Clinical Practice training

and study-specific competencies.

Manage and prioritise a varied

workload across locations, working autonomously while seeking advice or

escalation when required.

Provide day-to-day clinical

guidance and support to the Research Assistant and other colleagues without

transferring responsibility for tasks outside their role or competence.

Support induction, peer

learning and development of staff involved in research delivery.

Participate in supervision,

appraisal, continuing professional development and service improvement

activity.

General responsibilities

Confidentiality

and information governance: Protect confidential

and personal information and comply with DHC information governance, records

management and data protection requirements.

Safeguarding

Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns in

accordance with DHC procedures and statutory responsibilities.

prevention and control: Follow DHC and

site-specific infection prevention and control policies and maintain safe

clinical practice.

Health,

safety and risk: Take reasonable care of personal

and others safety, follow lone-working and incident-reporting procedures, and

escalate risks.

Equality,

diversity and inclusion: Treat participants,

carers, colleagues and partners with dignity and respect, promote inclusion and

make reasonable adjustments within the role.

Sustainability

Use resources responsibly and support

environmentally sustainable ways of working where consistent with safe study

delivery.

Travel between DHC, practice and partner sites as

required. Some study activity may require flexibility outside normal working

hours, subject to contractual arrangements and reasonable notice.

This job description describes the

principal duties of the post and is not an exhaustive list. Duties may be

reviewed and amended in consultation with the post holder to reflect service

development, changes in research delivery and organisational need, provided

they remain appropriate to the role.

Dorking Healthcare Ltd is an independent NHS organisation working across primary care. Our research service works with practices and external academic, NHS and commercial partners to increase high-quality research activity, translate learning into clinical practice and improve care for local populations.

You will join a collaborative, improvement-focused team committed to safe, person-centred care, inclusion, professional development and continuous learning.

DHC actively encourages diversity, ensures voices are heard and included, and is committed to equal opportunities for all.

Research Governance and Clinical Skills

Experience

Desirable: - Experience in primary care, community care or clinical research.

Qualifications

Essential: - Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.

Desirable: - Degree-level study or equivalent relevant experience; post-registration research or clinical qualification.

Communication and Partnership Working

Desirable: - Experience presenting or delivering training to staff or stakeholder groups.; - Experience supporting research-naive sites or community engagement.

Digital and Data Skills

Essential: - Confident use of Microsoft 365 and clinical or research data systems, with accurate data entry and a clear understanding of audit trails.

Desirable: - Experience of electronic case report forms, primary care clinical systems or research reporting systems.

Values, Behaviours and Practical Requirements

Desirable: - Evidence of supporting service development or quality improvement.; - Full UK driving licence and access to transport, subject to reasonable adjustments.

Study Delivery and Organisation