Research Nurse, Mental Health

A highly motivated registered Mental Health nurse is sought to join our Research & Innovation Service at Mersey Care. The postholder will have a specialist knowledge in research and/or clinical practice enabling the post holder to work independently, e.g. either previous experience as a clinical research nurse and/or demonstrable knowledge of Psychosis and Early Intervention services.

As part of the Research & Innovation (R&I) service and working closely with the Research and Development (R&D) team, the post holder will contribute to the efficient set up and delivery of research in our Early Intervention Service. The post holder will be working with senior nurses and multidisciplinary teams within the Trust as well as the wider research teams assisting with the management of a caseload of clinical studies patients. The post will assess and carry out clinical procedures for patients/participants and will be considered part of the clinical team. Implementing a programme of care, providing advice and maintaining records within various settings.

Main duties of the job:

• Working autonomously to assist in the management of a caseload of clinical trial patients, whilst working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, carers and professionals to ensure high quality service delivery.
• Supporting Early intervention teams with assessment of new service users.
• Manage and oversee a portfolio of research studies in various disease sites.
• Training and assessing research staff as competent in line with the research competencies framework.
• Identifying suitable patients for entry into clinical studies by attending clinics (screening notes) and relevant Multi-disciplinary Team meetings.
• Use relevant clinical knowledge to identify patients suitable for clinical research using inclusion and exclusion criteria and utilising NHS records, visiting wards and outpatients.
• Act as a resource and role model for all aspects of research clinical practice in order to optimise patient care and clinical practice.
• Ensure the environment is suitable for patient care and research processes, recognising the importance of privacy, dignity and diversity.

Working for our organisation:

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Person specification:

• Registered Nurse – Current registration with NMC: Mental Health
• Demonstrable knowledge of Psychosis and Early Intervention services
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Specialist knowledge of research legislation, Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and National Framework or equivalent.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of Mental Health Services
• Knowledge of clinical and Research Terminology
• Experience of assessment in Mental health - including risk management
• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of psychosis and Early Intervention service
• Evidence of previous patient/client and Multi-Disciplinary Team contact within work environment
• Experience of undertaking clinical research and/or extensive clinical experience in a specific area

Values:

• Accountability
• Support
• High professional standards
• Responsive to service users
• Engaging leadership style
• Transparency and honesty
• Discreet
• Change oriented

Skills:

• Ability to practice within the scope of the NMC professional code
• Ability to manage a caseload/projects
• Ability to make independent decisions and advise others on appropriate action
• Ability to communicate complex information to patients/carers/members of MDT
• Team player whilst possessing ability to work independently
• Well organised and able to plan own workload
• Diplomatic