CRF Senior Charge Nurse in Manchester

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced nurse with strong ward or unit management experience to join our motivated team at the NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Manchester at The Christie (CRF). This is an excellent opportunity for a nurse leader who enjoys managing a clinical area, leading teams, and maintaining high standards of oncology care within a specialist environment.

The CRF is a research‑active service; however, prior research experience is not essential. Training and support will be provided to develop the research knowledge required for the role. What matters most is your ability to provide visible leadership, manage staffing and patient flow, and create a positive, well‑led clinical environment that enables safe and effective research delivery.

As a key member of the CRF leadership team, you will provide proactive leadership across research clinics, outpatient services, day‑case activity and inpatient care. You will play a central role in supporting the unit through a period of significant development, including the planned CRF refurbishment and the staged transition to extended and 24/7 working, working closely with fellow Band 7 Senior Charge Nurses to ensure safe, coordinated care across the service.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a confident, organised and compassionate nurse leader who can provide day‑to‑day operational oversight of the CRF and support the Matron and Operational Lead in delivering the unit’s objectives. You will lead and support the nursing team, ensure safe clinical practice, coordinate activity across outpatient, day‑case and inpatient areas, and maintain high standards of governance, safety and patient experience.

A key part of the role will be supporting the CRF through its refurbishment programme and the staged transition to a 24/7 service, helping to implement new ways of working, engage staff positively and ensure continuity of safe, effective operations during change.

You will provide visible leadership on the unit, oversee workforce planning, staffing and patient flow, respond to clinical and operational issues, and model a supportive, inclusive culture. Training in research processes, protocols and regulatory requirements will be provided, enabling you to facilitate the delivery of high‑quality clinical research while applying your core strengths in ward leadership and people management.

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Ensure that excellent care is provided for patients and provide visible clinical leadership to the CRF team, promoting a culture of leadership by example.
• Be responsible for the day‑to‑day supervision of junior staff and students, ensuring ongoing staff development, and contribute to workforce planning and development to meet future staffing requirements in conjunction with the Lead Nurse and Operational Lead.
• Attend and contribute to clinical team meetings and ensure effective communication and collaborative working with nursing, medical and research staff, and external agencies, to support safe and efficient delivery of care and research activity.
• Ensure that working practices adhere to health and safety policies, including incident reporting and risk assessment, and ensure compliance with Trust policies to safeguard patients, staff and others using the Facility.
• Ensure compliance with UK and international research regulatory frameworks.
• Ensure planning and organisation of complex activities across a range of studies, including appropriate prioritisation of clinical trials to ensure equitable use of the Facility and optimal use of space.
• Support the Clinical Research Facility Operational Lead and Matron in ensuring that trials within the Facility are appropriately planned, resourced and risk assessed.
• Ensure that equipment within the CRF complies with Trust policies and any regulatory requirements for medical and other equipment.
• Be actively involved in promoting the research work of the department and act as a source of advice for research teams wishing to use the Clinical Research Facility.

Management

• Provide clinical leadership and line management of staff ensuring the delivery of the highest professional standards through staff development and individual performance appraisal/review.
• Ensure that staffing and skill mix is appropriate to the level of activity on the Facility utilizing IT systems for efficiency and effectiveness as appropriate.
• Ensure the efficient use and ordering of consumables and other supplies and assist with the CRF operational budget as appropriate.
• Responsible for the delivery of clinical expertise in all aspects of the clinical setting, acting as a visible expert within the facility.
• Ensure familiarity with risk issues pertaining to confidentiality of participant and research related documentation (Data Protection Act, 1994, Caldicott 1999 GDPR regulation 2018).
• Ensure adherence to safeguarding principles.
• Undertaking the role of Duty Manager within the Trust on a rotational basis.

Clinical

• Facilitate the delivery of highly specialised, participant focused, protocol driven care in collaboration with participants, relatives, Research teams and the multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure participant care is delivered according to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust policies and procedures.
• Ensure that care delivered is participant‑centred and where possible evidence based whilst in accordance with the research protocol and maintaining the rights of the participant.
• Continuously evaluate the quality of care given, regularly reassessing the needs of the research participants and effect changes as required in consultation with the participant, the Research teams and the multidisciplinary team.
• Practice at a level which demonstrates advanced knowledge and skill and requires a high level of precision.
• Lead on the development of core practice standards and contribute to clinical audit with a particular emphasis on clinical benchmarking to maintain and improve clinical and research practice.
• Ensure clear accurate records to support and record all research activity.
• Seek opportunities to develop own and junior staffs research skills adapting to any changes in the research requirements of new studies.

Research

• In collaboration with research teams ensure robust study specific risk assessments are conducted for all research studies wishing to use the CRF ensuring effective and efficient use of the Facility’s resources.
• Develop a pro‑active communication strategy to ensure effective communication with CRF staff, users, internal and external stakeholders.
• Support R&I Division in developing costing and pricing mechanisms for trials within the Clinical Research Facility and identifying costs within specific trial protocols.

Education and Training

• Be accountable for ensuring that all staff essential training meets the trusts KPIs.
• Work in collaboration with Practice Educators for Research to lead in the induction and training of staff, establishing mentorship and clinical supervision opportunities as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively and as an expert resource to support, develop and implement the NIHR competency framework for CRF nursing staff.
• Encourage participation in educational opportunities for all levels of research staff in the CRF e.g. NVQs apprenticeships and higher academic qualifications.
• Support placements for Schools and University Graduates in conjunction with NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facilities including international / national placements where appropriate.
• Ensure mentorship of student nurses and trainee nurse associates where appropriate and ensure the clinical environment is conducive to teaching, education, training and development of all staff.
• Support visits to CRF for both internal and external visitors including site evaluation visits for clinical trials.
• Seek opportunities to promote the achievements of CRF staff and facilities at conferences, professional events and open days through formal and informal presentations and tours.

Professional

• Undertake continuous professional development seeking opportunities to enhance skills which can be identified via a personal development plan.
• Maintain own clinical/ professional competence and credibility. Utilise clinical session to role model standards of care and expected behaviours.
• Maintain valid and up to date registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council complying with NMC guidelines in relation to professional issues.
• Act as a point of reference for all employment and professional issues relating to CRF staff.
• Promote CRF as a centre of excellence for clinical research.
• Take responsibility for professional and personal development, participating in the Trust annual appraisal review with the Lead Nurse and CRF Operational Lead.

Finance and Resource Management

• Identify workforce requirements to meet the CRF objectives and work alongside the Operational Lead and Matron to develop business plans to secure funding for the provision of staff as appropriate.
• Ensure contracts are renewed as appropriate for equipment.
• Be responsible for the ongoing management of the CRF asset base, including medical equipment.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse
• Expertise and knowledge of R&D regulations and Research Governance
• Post Registration oncology qualification
• Current GCP certificate
• Understanding of National Research policy

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of managing a clinical team.
• Experience in Oncology nursing
• Examples of initiating and leading on change
• Examples of effective people management and leadership skills
• Experience in quality and clinical improvements
• Experience of handling sensitive professional issues and human resource issues
• Line management experience at a senior level
• Experience of workforce planning and development
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Experience of collaborative working within and outside organisational boundaries
• Evidence of managing and delivering clinical trials
• Experience in delivering experimental medicine clinical trials
• Understanding of current issues within the experimental medicine landscape

Skills

• Excellent leadership and managerial skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to communicate with a wide range of staff at varying levels including external stake holders
• Excellent presentation, training and mentoring skills
• Able to inspire and motivate others and lead by example
• Able to interpret data and present it in a meaningful way to a wide range of stakeholders
• Able to use problem solving skills, prioritise and quickly identify the core issues in a situation
• Able to make calm rational decisions in the face of adversity

Knowledge

• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues and policy
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance, risk management and the national quality assurance agenda
• Understanding of clinical research in the NHS
• Knowledge of the governance and legislative framework for clinical research
• Knowledge of the inspection and regulation environment in which clinical research operates

Values

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

• Flexibility in working hours
• Able to perform a wide range of duties
• Self-motivated

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

Sponsorship Information -We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications.Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship.You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

Pre-Employment Checks -To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards . These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessmentEmployment history and reference validation

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history andreferences.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Sponsorship Information -We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications.Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship.You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

No Smoking Policy - You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information -We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect.The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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