Senior Research Sister/Charge Nurse/Allied Health Professional

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for a detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

Research is a rewarding and patient-centred career!

The research conducted at UHS is focused on the health and well-being of our patients and their families and significantly contributes to the future progress of healthcare for all patients.

We can truly make a difference in an individual’s care and experience within UHS. We strive to ensure that research is considered a treatment option for all eligible patients. Close working with clinical teams and within patients’ clinical pathways ensures that research opportunities and our research teams are expanding.

Here at UHS within the R&D department we have a vacancy for a Senior Research Sister/Charge Nurse/AHP. This is a pivotal post to ensure the smooth running of the research delivery teams. Successful candidates will be responsible for managing speciality teams within cancer research.

About The Team

There are approx. 300 Research Nurses, AHPs, Midwives, Clinical Research Practitioners and Clinical Trials Assistants, as well as a team of non-clinical support staff, led by a Senior Research Nursing Team, working together across the Trust in all specialities. Our teams are award winning and bring exciting research opportunities to UHS for the benefit of our patients and for the future of healthcare at UHS.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

You will provide oversight and support to Research Nurses/Midwives, AHPs, Clinical Research Practitioners and Clinical Trial Assistants for new and ongoing, complex multi-centre studies within a range of specialities translating scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes. You will be involved in all aspects of the research process from study feasibility and start-up to delivery and close out of a study. You will utilise your clinical skills and research expertise through set-up and delivery.

You will join our current team of Senior Research Sisters/AHPs/Charge Nurses who are committed to driving forward the research strategy here at UHS.

What We’re Looking For

Enthusiasm, self-motivation, flexibility and drive will be required to ensure the success of this post and the continued success of our teams. You will need excellent project management skills and you must be able to troubleshoot and problem-solve to help put difficult-recruit studies back on track. Excellent communication skills are required to provide guidance and support to the teams whilst liaising with the senior research nurses across the departments. The ability to communicate with staff and colleagues at all levels and disciplines in an engaging manner is essential. Good IT skills will be required.

Person specification

Qualifications / Training Required

Essential criteria

• Masters degree in a health care related subject or relevant equivalent experience
• Registered Nurse or AHP on relevant part of the professional register (NMC HCPC)
• Evidence of on-going professional development.
• Experience of teaching and mentorship
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Recognised qualification in teaching and mentorship
• Recognised qualification in relevant speciality
  
  

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential criteria

• Recent experience of working with patients at a senior level
• Clinical Research experience
• Relevant speciality experience
• Knowledge of current issues within acute health care
• Recent management experience
• Recent NHS experience or equivalent
• Knowledge of Research Governance Framework (RGF), International Conference on Harmonisation/Good Clinical Practice (ICH/GCP)
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Research coordinator experience
  
  

Aptitudes And Skills Required

Desirable criteria

• Experience of budgetary control
• Venesection
• Cannulation
  
  

Values and behaviours

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together