County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of around 600,000 people. We are a high performing organisation with a track record of success.
We are seeking individuals to work as a Clinical Trials Coordinator in our department of Blood Sciences. The role is a dual one, working predominantly as a clinical trials coordinator but there is an element of working in the laboratory alongside the Biomedical Scientists and working closely with colleagues in Reception, as part of the team.
Main duties of the job
Main tasks include:
1. Clinical trials duties: Coordination of Clinical Trials, including attendance at start up meetings and the writing up of SOPs and reports.
2. Associate Practitioner duties: Maintaining and running automated analysers in accordance with laboratory protocols, loading QC material as required, performing some manual tests and recording the results. Booking patient samples on to the Laboratory Computer System and ensuring the correct test requests are inputted, centrifuging samples and correctly loading the samples on to the relevant laboratory analysers. In both aspects of the roles, you will be required to assist in the training and competency assessment of staff, to enable them to work safely and in accordance with Standing Operating Procedures.
3. Although not required on a frequent basis, there will be times when you will deputise for pathology reception team leader in their absence.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
From April 1 2024 we are unable to offer sponsorship for healthcare roles that do not meet the minimum salary. If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Job responsibilities
The split role involves working flexibly across all pathology areas.
1. Clinical Trials function: Communicate and collaborate with the research team to facilitate effective study delivery.
2. Communicate and collaborate with the clinical teams, maintaining positive relationships and integrated research delivery.
3. Maintain and organise essential trial documentation.
4. Comply with Good Clinical Practice at all times.
5. Assist with data entry and responding to data queries.
6. Work with other team members to cover workload for annual leave etc. and ensure continuity of study delivery.
7. Show willingness to engage with the challenge of learning and change.
8. Work closely alongside Biomedical Scientists and also the Pathology reception Team Leader and reception team, and the Research and Innovation department.
Laboratory function: Use of a number of different IT systems and software is needed, Laboratory computer system (LIMS), Trust EPR, Analyser interfaces, QC software and QPulse Quality Management system (write SOPs, perform audit, distribute documents).
Samples are received into Pathology reception from wards and clinics within the hospital and from community hospitals and GP surgeries. They are registered in Pathology Reception and placed on analysers in the laboratories. The AP will monitor the analysers in the department, dealing with errors on samples, maintenance on the analysers, replenishing reagents and consumables and basic troubleshooting/fault finding. The AP will complete all the required documentation for the maintenance and error logging.
Stock is managed by the AP and BMS staff, stock takes are performed, ordering of reagents and consumables via the Cardea ordering system, signing for deliveries, receipting goods delivered, unpacking, verifying if appropriate and ensuring paperwork is complete before placing in appropriate storage area in an orderly organised manner.
This role requires someone who is conscientious, can work independently within their scope of practice, is an excellent confident communicator to liaise with staff from many wards, departments and other laboratories as well as Trust IT, Trust transport drivers, porters, Blood Bikers as well as their own Blood Sciences Team. Attention to detail is a key skill required so that errors can be picked up and appropriately recorded and so that patient samples can be accurately identified and tested and results recorded or transcribed. The AP may need to focus for long periods and also be flexible to organise tasks in priority order. Computer literacy is essential and the AP will also be expected to write SOPs and perform audits as needed.
The department is very busy and an ability to multi-task, keep calm and focused in high pressure situations and be flexible and organised in times of business continuity is a must.
There will be an aspect of coordinating Clinical Trials, following the direction of Clinical Trials Coordinator for which you are expected to have had recent NHS experience of Clinical Trials and have up-to-date qualifications such as Good Clinical Practice and Transport of Dangerous Goods.
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience of laboratory work in an NHS environment.
* Ability to train and competency assess staff.
* Ability to perform audits.
* Supervisory experience.
* Current working knowledge of Clinical Trials within an NHS setting.
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Able to interpret and convey information clearly and accurately.
* Possess good interpersonal skills.
* Ability to demonstrate team working.
* Ability to work under own initiative and plan own work.
* Able to prioritise and understand when to escalate problems.
* Ability to remain calm under pressure.
* Microsoft Office applications.
Special Requirements
* Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post.
* Able to handle blood and body samples.
* High level of manual dexterity required.
* Able to work flexibly.
* Able to work across all Trust sites.
* Able to participate in shift working, weekend working, bank holidays if required.
Qualifications
* NVQ 3 in Health (pathology stream) or equivalent.
* IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 2 or demonstrate equivalent competency.
* Science and/or maths GCSE or above.
* ECDL.
* Evidence of CPD.
* Good Clinical Practice.
* Transport of Dangerous Goods.
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.
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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