Clinical Research Nurse in Morecambe

We are an innovative, friendly, research active practice, with a practice population of 55,000 patients. We are an extensive team of dynamic healthcare professionals constantly developing our service who work closely with a vast range of community partners. We believe in strong clinical and management leadership with a clear emphasis on teamwork and adaptability to ensure a happy working environment and good work-life balance. Clinical research is vital to the progression of understanding, prevention and treatment of all illnesses, viruses and diseases. We are looking for an exceptional Nurse who is driven to ensure excellent care to our patients. We are extremely proud to be able to offer Research to our patient population. Feedback from our patients who have taken part in research is positive; being able to give something back to the NHS and help other patients in the future. Join us and try something new!

Main duties of the job

The main role of the Primary Care Clinical Research Nurse is to lead the delivery, coordination, oversight and quality of research in the Practice of NIHR portfolio studies. The postholder will provide autonomous leadership for research delivery in the Practice, ensuring high standards of governance, participant safety, and data quality. Act as a key research expert and role model, supporting the development of research capability within BMG and contributing to national research priorities and improved patient outcomes. The post holder will work independently and collaboratively, exercising clinical judgement, overseeing complex research activity, and supporting the professional development of colleagues.

You must have a registered nursing qualification. Experience would be desirable in practice/community nursing. This position is for 21 hours per week.

About us

Bay Medical Group is a single, at scale provider of general practice services to the population of Morecambe and Heysham. We have 5 sites across the town and have a patient population of c54,000. We have an established Bay Primary Care Network (PCN) and work closely with other service providers and voluntary sector to improve the health and wellbeing of our local population.

Working for us we can offer you:

• A comprehensive induction to the role and training plan
• Access to the NHS Pension Scheme
• Incremental annual leave scheme starting at 25 days annual leave plus 8 Bank Holidays, and increasing to 30 days plus BH (all pro rata) with length of service.
• Access to Occupational Sick Pay scheme after one year.
• Access to NHS discount scheme
• Cycle to work scheme

For further information about the benefits of working for us visit https://www.baymedicalgroup.co.uk/benefits

Job responsibilities

Research Leadership and Delivery

• Lead and coordinate the delivery of multiple and/or complex clinical research studies across the Practice, acting as the lead research nurse for allocated studies.
• Take responsibility for end-to-end study delivery, including feasibility assessment, site set-up, implementation, recruitment, follow-up, and close-down.
• Act as a key point of contact for sponsors, RDNs, and external stakeholders.
• Provide expert advice on study protocols, amendments, and implementation challenges.
• Lead on protocol implementation and troubleshooting.
• Ensure research activity is embedded into routine general practice workflows.
• Represent research nursing at MDTs and external meetings.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Practise autonomously in accordance with the NMC Code, exercising advanced clinical judgement.
• Deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to research participants, managing complex clinical needs where appropriate.
• Undertake and oversee clinical procedures required for research delivery (e.g. venepuncture, ECGs, injections, IMP administration).
• Assess, manage, and respond to clinical deterioration or adverse events independently, escalating appropriately.
• Act as a lead clinical resource to the wider team for research-related clinical issues.

Participant Safety, Governance & Quality

• Take lead responsibility for participant safety within allocated studies.
• Assess, manage, document, and report adverse events, serious adverse events, and protocol deviations, ensuring regulatory timelines are met.
• Ensure compliance with ICH-GCP, MHRA, HRA, and NIHR requirements.
• Maintain oversight of essential documentation, trial master files, and investigator site files.
• Contribute to audits, inspections, and monitoring visits, addressing findings and implementing corrective actions.

Study Coordination & Operational Oversight

• Lead study planning, capacity management, and prioritisation across multiple sites.
• Oversee screening, recruitment, consent, and retention strategies to meet recruitment targets.
• Ensure appropriate management of research supplies, equipment, and IMP accountability.
• Oversee safe handling and processing of biological samples in line with SOPs.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational risks to study delivery.

Leadership, Training & Supervision

• Provide day-to-day professional leadership to Level 5 research nurses, support staff, and learners.
• Act as a mentor, supervisor, and role model, supporting competency development and career progression.
• Deliver training on research governance, consent, study procedures, and SOPs.
• Contribute to workforce planning and service development within the research team.

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain effective working relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• Represent the research nursing team at meetings, forums, and external events as required.
• Communicate complex research information clearly to patients, clinical teams, and partners.
• Support patient and public involvement in research activity.

Professional Development & Service Improvement

• Maintain NMC registration and advanced clinical competencies.
• Actively engage in continuous professional development, leadership development, and research training.
• Contribute to service evaluation, innovation, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Support the strategic development of primary care research within Bay Medical Group.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work flexibly across multiple GP practice sites.
• Willingness to adapt to changing research priorities and service needs.
• Adherence to organisational policies, professional standards, and governance frameworks.

OTHER DUTIES

The responsibilities set out in this document may change from time to time through discussion with the post holder. In addition, the post holder might, at the discretion of the Senior Leadership Team, be required to take on other tasks in the wider interest of Bay Medical Group.

Person Specification

Other

• Willingness to travel and work flexibly across sites.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience leading or coordinating clinical research studies.
• Experience of line management, supervising or mentoring others.
• Budget/resource responsibility.
• Experience of independent participant recruitment and informed consent.
• Experience managing and reporting adverse events and protocol deviations.
• Experience working across multidisciplinary teams and multiple sites.
• Accountable for governance and compliance with sound working knowledge of ICH-GCP, HRA, MHRA, and ethical frameworks.
• Experience in primary care or community research settings.
• Experience supporting or supervising junior staff.
• Experience contributing to service development or quality improvement.
• Experience using EMIS and research databases (e.g. REDCap).
• Experience leading feasibility assessments and site set-up.
• Data quality oversight and audit experience.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (NMC Level 1).
• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent evidence of advanced practice).
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification.
• Evidence of ongoing post-registration CPD.
• Research-related postgraduate study or modules.
• Leadership, mentorship, or clinical supervision training.
• NIHR or research governance training.

Characteristics

• Confident and credible senior practitioner with proven autonomous clinical judgement.
• Proactive, solution-focused, and resilient.
• Strong leadership presence and professional role model.
• Patient-centred with a commitment to high-quality research and care.
• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and professionalism at all times.

Skills/Abilities

• Ability to work autonomously and make complex clinical and research decisions.
• Advanced organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of competence in clinical and research procedures.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and operational pressures.
• Strong understanding of participant safety and research governance.
• Teaching, supervision, or mentorship skills.

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.

£40,436.90 a year Salary shown is pro rata based on 37.5 hours per week.