Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values
Job overview
This role is for an experienced Research Nurse, Midwife or Physiotherapist with ICU experience and an interest in post-ICU rehabilitation. Directed by the Chief Investigator, Sarah Vollam and Co-investigators in the Critical Care Research Group based in the Kadoorie Centre, the post holder will be involved with all aspects of clinical research delivery for the PROgnosiS Prediction after Enhanced or CriTical care (PROSPECT) Study (PROSPECT) study and our other BRC-funded research projects. This will include screening and recruitment of study participants, data collection and participant follow up, in addition to Trial Master File administration and research training.
The post holder will also be supported to develop academic skills, including research design, qualitative interviewing and analysis, paper writing, dissemination and Patient and Public Involvement.
The post holder will be able to work both collaboratively and independently to ensure that patients are safe and comfortable throughout all clinical study processes; and to ensure the study is managed in accordance with ‘Good Clinical Practice’ and ‘Research Governance’.
Main duties of the job
The primary roles of the post include:
- Screening and recruiting research participants into the PROSPECT study and other BRC-funded studies.
- Providing support and information to participants involved in the research study.
- Organising follow up for research participants, including interviews.
- Recording research data and documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
- Embedding a culture of research participation in the clinical areas where the studies are based, working with clinical staff to ensure the integration of research activity into routine clinical care.
- Acting as a liaison between clinical and research teams to facilitate Good Clinical Practice.
- Reporting problems and issues with the research study to the appropriate person in a timely manner, and identifying solutions.
- Conducting and reporting systematic reviews.
- Conducting and analysing qualitative research
- Writing papers for peer reviewed journals.
- Presenting research results at conferences
Working for our organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles.
Oxford University Hospital’s promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.
If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key working relationships
The post holder will work closely with:
· Patients and carers
· Research staff at the University of Oxford
· Research staff within the OUHFT
· Ward and clinic staff at the OUHFT
· Chief and Principal Investigators, external research staff and administrators, and study sponsors,
· OUHFT Research and Development Office
Knowledge, Training, and Education
The post holder will:
· Acquire detailed knowledge of the study on which they are working
· Acquire a clear understanding of the study and will be able to provide a brief explanation of the research to clinicians and patients, and know where to find more information
· Be a positive role model in promoting the research profile with staff, patients and the public
· Attend meetings locally and nationally to acquire the necessary training for specific research activities, as required
· Maintain awareness of current relevant treatments and advances, and use this knowledge to maintain the highest standard of evidence based care for patients with illnesses relating to the research activity
· Maintain awareness of the current clinical pathway, audits and issues affecting patient care, and use this to identify any issues which could influence the conduct of research study
· Access medical records for research purposes
· Conduct a thorough literature search relevant to the research project and review the evidence to inform the study.
· With support, conduct qualitative interviews and analyse qualitative data
· With support, write papers reporting study results for peer reviewed journals
· Undergo required training including Good Clinical Practice (GCP) equivalent, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) data collection techniques and analysis.
Clinical Responsibility
The post holder will be required to:
· Provide patients/family members with comprehensive complex information in an easily understandable way concerning clinical research to facilitate the process of informed consent/consultee opinion. This may include utilising translation and interpretation services and will require tact and careful judgement of understanding.
· Ensure that all patients are fully informed of the standard management as well as the research activity, the structure of the research, and the potential risks, benefits and side effects.
· Be sensitive to the emotional needs of patients, and their relatives, using tact and making judgments about appropriateness of approach for research projects.
· Provide support and advice to patients, relatives and staff before, during and after research activity, appreciating that they may need to understand further
· Ensure that patients are assured of the voluntary nature of any research participation and their right to refuse or withdraw at any point in the study
· Act as a patient advocate
· Co‑coordinate study procedures to maximise patient comfort and wellbeing, communicating clearly with the necessary parties as required
· Collect data from medical records and complete Case Report Forms (CRFs) as required
· Work within the multi-disciplinary team, promoting individualised care for patients
· Maintain a confidential register of patients willing to be contacted in the future about research studies
· Ensure members of the research team fulfil study requirements in accordance with the research protocol and Good Clinical Practice
· Assist with administration of the study and storage of relevant documents.
· Prepare reports for the funders, papers for publication and present findings at a variety of meetings and conferences.
· Visit clinical ward areas to place wearable monitoring on patients, which may require occasional exposure to unpleasant conditions related to patient contact (e.g. contact with soiled wound dressings, etc.)
Leadership and management
The post holder will be required to:
· Liaise with designated staff within departments to ensure the smooth running of research study
· Record and report to all pertinent authorities any serious adverse events that occur whilst patients is involved in research activity
· Lead the interviewing arm of the study, including conducting qualitative interviews which require processing of complex data, considering responses during the interviews and formulating follow‑up questions, and complex analysis of the data requiring frequent periods of prolonged concentration.
· Follow standard operating procedures to signpost interview participants to support if they become upset or distressed during interviews.
· Work at all times to regulations described in ICH, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and to the current research governance regulations in the OUH trust
· Liaise with external investigators as necessary
· Work with the R and D staff as appropriate
· Present findings at a variety of meetings and conferences.
· Liaise with PPI representatives.
Person specification
Competent in high level of accuracy and when assessing participants, documenting research activities
- Professional registration with appropriate body (e.g. NMC)
- Good Clinical Practice training
- Good organisational skills – ability to multitask and respond under pressure and able to prioritise own workload.
- Clean driving licence/access to car
- Willing to visit external research sites as required and willingness to visit research participants in their own homes.
- Computer literate with experience of working with Microsoft Office packages
- Competency and high level of accuracy and when assessing participants and documenting research and care activities.
- Hons degree in Nursing or related
- Knowledge of NHS research governance and policy
- Experience of qualitative research
- Specialist post‑graduate education / qualifications, or training relevant to area of clinical practice and/or clinical research delivery
COVID‑19: The COVID‑19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID‑19 vaccination is not a condition of employment , we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.
Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.
Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.
Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.
Next Steps: Please make sure that you read the job description and person specification, and that your supporting statement reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted after the short‑listing process, usually within 2 weeks. (Please note that short‑listing times vary when applying for a Medical position within the Trust). The majority of correspondence will be via the e‑recruitment system; therefore you should check your emails regularly including junk mail folders in web‑based email products.
No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Application numbers
Please note that this job advertisement will close automatically once the application limit is reached, regardless of whether this occurs before the advertised closing date.
Name Clare Edwards
Job title Senior Research Nurse
Email address
Telephone number Additional information
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