Research Nurse (AvonCAP GP2 Study)

The role

Bristol Vaccine Centre (BVC) is a team of doctors, nurses, administrative and laboratory staff working together to develop new, better ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases. We conduct commercial and non-commercial clinical trials to evaluate novel drugs and vaccines, from small early-phase safety studies to large efficacy trials. We also carry out clinical research to find out more about the naturally occurring carriage of bacteria and/or viruses in healthy individuals, and how this changes in illness.

We are seeking applications from motivated, reliable and hard-working individuals for the role of Research Nurse to join our friendly and rapidly expanding team supporting a new study looking at respiratory infections presenting to primary care. You will be based at one of our hub practices (Avonmouth & Little Stoke), but will support recruitment across participating GP practices in the Bristol area. They will lead on screening health records to identify eligible patients, evaluate mental capacity of potential participants where required, and advise colleagues when a participant may need to be referred to their GP for follow-up of a potential health concern. They will also oversee the conduct of research visits to obtain consent, collect samples and complete questionnaires. These will be conducted by senior fieldworkers and clinical research practitioners at GP practices or participants' homes, so the ability to drive to be able to conduct the occasional home visit with the required equipment is desirable in order to provide cover for colleagues (use of public transport is not a realistic option for this).

What will you be doing?

• Screen health records to identify eligible patients
• Carry out mental capacity assessments on participants
• Act as point of contact and liaise between study team and GP practice staff, and referring patients for further investigations where health concerns are identified
• Explain research study to potential participants, obtain informed consent, and carry out research visits to collect samples (e.g. respiratory swab, saliva & urine) from study participants identified as having a respiratory infection
• Coordinate patient-facing activities (research visits, sample collection, informed consent)
• Contribute to delivery of project to time and target
• Ensure work is carried out in line with regulatory and legislative requirements (REC/HRA/MHRA, ICH GCP, Human Tissue Act etc), and provide training to other team members, as needed.
• Make a positive contribution to the team by assisting colleagues and providing cover for other team members, as needed

You should apply if

• You are a Registered nurse, on NMC register
• Knowledge of the mental capacity act.
• You have experience of explaining research aims to members of the public and conducting informed consent discussions with potential participants
• You have Experience of obtaining samples from patients/study
• You have experience in clinical research administration in a University or NHS setting
• You have Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) and the Human Tissue Act
• You have good IT skills and, ideally, experience of using GP health records (EMIS)
• You have experience of coordinating work across a small team and, ideally, line management experience
• You have experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Responsible approach to own work, and ability to work constructively with others to achieve team targets
• Ability and willingness to take on occasional independent travel to participant home visits.
• The ability to speak languages other than English would be advantageous, as the study aims to be as inclusive as possible in the recruitment of patients

We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBT+ and BAME communities, to join us.