About this role
Job summary
To embed, lead and coordinate the involvement of Clinical Nurse Specialist's in clinical research across the Black Country region, ensuring compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), regulatory standards, and Trust policies.
The post holder will lead on the co-ordination of a Black Country Clinical Nurse Specialist Research Group. The post will provide:
expert clinical and research leadership.
facilitating support and education sessions for Clinical Nurse Specialist's.
enabling Clinical Nurse Specialist's involvement in research to be supported across the local Trusts.
to support the development of research capacity and capability within the Clinical Nurse Specialist staff group.
Banding to be confirmed.
Main duties of the job Provide strategic leadership for Clinical Nurse Specialists' involvement in research across the Black Country, acting as a key link between clinical teams, research departments and investigators, while contributing to research strategies, service improvement, and regional programmes. Ensure all research activity complies with ICH GCP, UK policy frameworks and Trust procedures, overseeing study feasibility, staff training, initiation processes, and audit readiness. Deliver specialist clinical care to research participants, including consent, assessment, and monitoring, while supporting study identification and engagement with research teams. Lead and develop the workforce through mentorship, training, and promotion of a strong research culture, alongside coordinating working groups and research champion initiatives. Monitor study performance and recruitment, prepare reports for senior stakeholders, and drive continuous quality improvement across research delivery.
About us
At the Dudley Group our patients and staff are at the heart of all that we do and that is to provide a world class service that aligns with our vision of "excellent health care, improved health for all". We are seeking to recruit staff who share our vision and values of making Dudley Group an incredible workplace.
As part of the NHS People Promise, your wellbeing is our priority, and we are committed to ensuring our employees achieve a healthy work-life balance supported by our flexible working options and by making reasonable adjustments where possible. We believe no-one should have to sacrifice family, friends, or their personal interests for work. We are a modern employer able to attract and retain high quality staff through our commitment to the NHS People Promise.
As an employer, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their best. We want to ensure that our workforce is representative of the population we serve. More information - inclusive practice people promise.
Dudley Group offer many opportunities for our staff to develop and grow within their roles through our Learning & OD Team. These include topics such as communication, wellbeing, team development, cultural competency, and values.
Please click below to view our EDI page: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion - The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (dgft.nhs.uk)
Job description Job responsibilities
Leadership & Strategic Development
Provide strategic leadership for Clinical Nurse Specialists involvement in research across the Black Country. Act as a key liaison between clinical teams, Research Departments and Principal/Chief Investigators Contribute to the development and implementation of research strategies and service improvement plans. Represent the Black Country Trusts at appropriate local and national research forums. Contribute to regional research programmes e.g. West Midlands Commercial Research Delivery Centre (WMCRDC). Develop, co-ordinate and maintain a Clinical Nurse Specialist Research Working Group set up across the Black Country Trusts Assist with leading staff Research Champion Groups, as required Research Governance & Compliance
Ensure all research activity complies with International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human UseGood Clinical Practice (ICH GCP), UK Policy Framework, and Trust Standard Operating Procedures. Oversight of appropriate study feasibility, Clinical Nurse Specialists training, study initiation processes and performance metrics. Maintain accurate documentation and respond to audits and monitoring visits, to identify further training/support needs. Clinical & Operational Delivery
Deliver specialist clinical care to research participants, including assessments, interventions, and monitoring. Obtain informed consent and ensure participant safety throughout the research process. Act as an escalation point for Clinical Nurse Specialists clinical research-related issues. Contribute to Research departments Senior Team meetings/forums as required. Search for appropriate studies for Clinical Nurse Specialists involvement; liaise with Research & Innovation teams to engage with existing studies. Team Management & Development
Provide mentorship, training, support and competency assessment for Clinical Nurse Specialists involved in research activities. Promote a culture of research within the Clinical Nurse Specialists staff group across the Black Country. Quality Assurance & Reporting
Monitor study performance and recruitment targets. Prepare reports for senior management, Trust committees and Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) Lead continuous improvement initiatives across research processes.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Education Essential
First level registration Educated to 1st degree level Educated to master's degree level Evidence of continued professional development relevant to research, clinical leadership, or specialist practice. Completed Good Clinical Practice training (current and in date) Formal teaching, mentorship or practice assessor qualification.
Desirable
Leadership or management training. Doctorate (or working towards)
Communication Skills Essential
Ability to work within a team Experience of close liaison with members of multidisciplinary team Good working rapport with peers, patients and patient representatives Able to lead meetings Able to liaise with members of the multi-disciplinary team Skilled in verbal and written communication including presentation skills Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with clinicians, researchers, and senior managers. Able to communicate with local and national organisations in relation of service delivery and targets e.g. NIHR RRDN/CRDC Able to communicate with and contribute to the learning and education of others Able to teach to groups and individual basis
Knowledge and Training Essential
Excellent understanding of ICH-GCP, UK Policy Framework for Health & Social Care Research, and Trust SOPs. Knowledge of research governance requirements, audit processes, and quality assurance. A recognised course of study in leadership Detailed knowledge of the role of Clinical Nurse Specialists in patient pathways and research involvement. Awareness of study feasibility, performance metrics, and research recruitment processes.
Desirable
Knowledge of regional initiatives such as the West Midlands Commercial Research Delivery Centre (WMCRDC) or RRDN. Understanding of national strategic priorities for research (e.g., NIHR agendas).
Experience Essential
Significant post registration experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist or equivalent senior clinical role. Demonstrated experience in clinical research delivery, including participant assessment, consent, and study procedures. Evidence of line management or leading a team Evidence of leading change at an organisational level Evidence of having developed team working skills and implemented teamwork practices Leading or coordinating research projects, service improvements, or quality initiatives. Evidence of involvement in research and clinical audit Experience working within research governance frameworks (ICH GCP, UK Policy Framework). Developed and implemented safe systems of work to ensure health and safety of staff, patients and visitors Aware of clinical standards of national service frameworks Experience attending or contributing to senior meetings, committees, or working groups. Advanced digital skills (research databases, reporting tools, dashboards).
Desirable
Experience working within multi site or regional research networks. Experience undertaking feasibility assessments and supporting study set-up processes. Experience producing reports for senior leaders or external stakeholders (e.g., RRDN). Involvement in research strategy development or organisational change programmes.
Analytical & Judgement Skills Essential
Evidence of using data to formulate improvement/celebration plans Ability to interpret and monitor performance data, producing clear reports for committees and senior leadership. Ability to identify suitable research opportunities and engage clinical teams in study delivery. Ability to interpret and monitor performance data, producing clear reports for committees and senior leadership. Problem-solving skills with the ability to act as an escalation point for research-related clinical issues.
Planning Skills Essential
Strong organisational, planning, and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects across a large geography. Experience of service planning and managing change Able to travel across Black Country Trust sites as required.
Desirable
Ability to lead large-scale service improvement or research-delivery transformation projects.
Management skills Essential
Evidence of educating professionals Ability to provide strategic leadership and influence research culture across nursing teams. Ability to provide mentorship, training, and competency assessment to Clinical Nurse Specialists. Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of research delivery across the Black Country Trusts. Skilled practitioner who can act as a role model Ability to work within a team and develop others including delivery of specialist training Commitment to promoting a positive research culture and improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practice. Willingness to work flexibly to meet research demands.
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Trust Values Essential
Able to provide safe, caring, and effective services Values and behaviours that reflect the Trust values of Care, Respect and Responsibility Commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is free from discrimination and where people feel they belong and their contribution is valued
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
Address The Dudley Group NHS FT
Pensnett Road
Dudley
DY1 2HQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.dgft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)