Senior Clinical Research Nurse/Midwife

Go back Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Clinical Research Nurse/Midwife

The closing date is 29 May 2026

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced research nurse or midwife to join a highly motivated research management team and help us deliver our ambition to grow our clinical trials portfolio across the Wigan Borough and bring novel treatments and therapies to Wigan residents. WWL has a reputation in delivering novel treatments in orthopaedics (e.g. hip and other joint replacements) and in recent years has developed a track record delivering high quality in clinical trials in many specialities.

The Team works closely with NHS clinicians, universities and industry partners and is a partner of the Greater Manchester Commercial Research Delivery Centre funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR CRDC‑GM). Through these collaborations we will offer our local population the opportunity to take part in research studies associated with their existing clinical conditions and with preventative research programmes.

This role is primarily based at Clinical Research Hub, Ashton‑in‑Makerfield.

Please note that this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be one of two Senior Research Nurse Managers responsible for leading and developing research services with senior research management colleagues and co‑ordinating delivery of a portfolio of clinical trials. The role includes feasibility and risk assessment, supporting trial set‑up, and ensuring safe delivery to successful completion while meeting and exceeding national key performance standards. They will ensure Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are fit for purpose, fully utilised by the research delivery team, and aligned with Health Research Authority (HRA) guidelines, Good Clinical Practice, Clinical Trials Regulations and all relevant laws safeguarding research participants.

Working with the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will develop and improve SOPs and provide training to support high‑quality research by the Research Delivery Team. They will play a key role in implementing hospital and Research Network objectives to enhance research performance and development. WWL’s Research Strategy 2022‑26, Research for All, sets out the Trust’s commitment to growing research, strengthening collaborations with Health and Care Partners, embedding research and innovation within partnerships, increasing commercial research, and expanding the number and diversity of staff involved in delivering research and innovation for the benefit of patients, staff and the Trust.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Research Coordination

1. Work autonomously in all areas of practice relating to clinical research.
2. Evaluate research protocols, patient information and GP letters.
3. Oversee the submission of regulatory and research applications and ensure that all approvals have been gained prior to research studies commencing (HRA/Research Ethics Committee, Research Department, MHRA, FDA, ARSAC, IRMER) including the submission of protocol amendments, annual updates and closeout reports to relevant agencies.
4. Undertake the feasibility and risk assessment of clinical trial protocols.
5. Ensure Case Report Forms are completed accurately and in a timely manner.
6. Ensure all clinical trial activities are recorded in appropriate systems to support objectives.
7. Initiate new recruitment strategies for recruiting patients to clinical trials.
8. Ensure all trial related activities comply with SOPs and ICH/GCP.
9. Work with the Research Network, Research Department and Sponsors in the preparation and negotiation of financial contracts for individual trials.
10. Arrange and facilitate clinical trial related meetings.
11. Disseminate information by preparation and presentation of research papers/posters for local, national and international meetings and conferences, as appropriate.

Clinical Service and Professional Responsibilities

1. Lead and develop the clinical research services to achieve local and national key performance standards and objectives.
2. Assimilation of highly complex information relating to clinical trials and communication to colleagues and patients at a level appropriate to their understanding. Ensure highly sensitive information is communicated to patients, relatives and carers regarding prognosis.
3. Demonstration of expert knowledge in specialist area to maintain clinical excellence.
4. Set up processes/patient pathways in specialist research areas to promote a cost‑effective timely service for individual protocols (specialist clinics).
5. Be fully aware of targets both local and national and in conjunction with the multi professional team utilising resources available to meet these targets.
6. To act as a primary contact point for the research nurses and other healthcare professionals caring for the patient.
7. Responsibility for maintenance and development of professional knowledge and practice by attending mandatory and specialist training (e.g. ICH GCP) in accordance with local policy and research governance. Ensuring care delivery standards in accordance with trial protocol, local policy, NMC Code of Practice Conduct and current best practice.
8. Promote, monitor and maintain best practice in health and safety and security.
9. Development and maintenance of a high‑quality service by:

• Developing specialist Standard Operating Procedures
• Developing a competency framework for induction and development of research nurses/AHPs to ensure standardisation of good clinical practice.

Personal Education, Training and Development

1. Maintain professional development whilst evaluating own specialist knowledge and practice through a process of appraisal and personal development planning.
2. Promotion of clinical research nurse/practitioners roles as an integral part of the healthcare system.
3. Participation in trust‑wide education programmes and study days.
4. Provide clinical supervision to Research Staff in the Research Delivery Team.
5. Ensure that clinical supervision is obtained on a regular basis.
6. To keep up to date with departmental, Trust, UK and EU developments for the management of clinical research ensuring timely, effective implementation of changes.

Responsibility for Human Resources and Teaching

1. To assist research management team in ensuring all members of the research team undergo regular and effective appraisal, and to support appropriate training and development opportunities in line with role requirements. Perform individual PDRs/KSF as appropriate.
2. Lead on the development of specialist study days
3. Provide specialist education and training in relation to clinical trials to other healthcare professionals, including support and guidance to colleagues on the EU Directive and ICH/GCP.
4. Act as a resource to the public and other healthcare professionals (both locally and nationally) on the availability of clinical trials within own specialist area.
5. Contribute to the development of members of the research team.
6. Be responsible for the development of members of the research team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Professional registration as Nurse or Midwife
• First Degree or equivalent experience/research qualification or research experience
• Teaching or Assessment qualification
• Additional specialist knowledge acquired through training
• ICH/GCP recent training
• Postgraduate qualification relevant to role

Experience

• Experience of working autonomously and as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Relevant Research Nursing Experience
• Clinical trials / research at Band 6 or other relevant experience related to specialism
• Experience in co‑ordinating clinical trials from initiation to closure including archiving.
• Experience of working autonomously and part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own workload.
• Demonstrable experience in leadership, team‑work, strategic initiatives
• Evidence of delivery of projects in line with agreed project plans
• Promotion of external partnerships
• Experience of leading and managing complex teams
• Substantial NHS Research experience
• Experience in managing research teams
• Experience in clinical research audit and monitoring
• Experience in writing standard operating procedures for clinical research and research protocols

Skills

• Highly effective communication skills.
• Effective team working across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Good written and analytical skills.
• Able to manage work autonomously.
• Training and leadership skills
• Demonstrable IT Skills able to use Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook
• Intravenous access and cannulation skills

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the clinical trial process
• Knowledge of ICH‑GCP
• Knowledge of research governance framework
• Knowledge of NHS issues and policy relating to research.
• Knowledge of professional and NHS and policies relating to profession and research.
• Has a working and intellectual knowledge of the purpose of clinical research.
• Has knowledge of Research Ethics Committees and has been actively involved in the process of gaining ethical approval and is able to guide members of the research team through the approval process
• Knowledge of Research Ethics Committees
• Knowledge of the purpose of clinical research.

Additional

• Demonstrates flexibility in working hours
• Speaks English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.
• Evidence of confident and autonomous working
• Evidence of good team working

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Clinical Research Hub, Ashton‑in‑Makerfield

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full‑time, Part‑time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

302‑26‑7997078CPR

Job locations

Clinical Research Hub, Ashton‑in‑Makerfield

About us

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values.

People at the Heart

Listen and Involve

Kind and Respectful

ONE Team

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. We are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

#J-18808-Ljbffr…