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Job summary

Main area
Admin
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Fixed term: 18 months (18 months contract)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
193-7588812COR
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Town
Reading
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/01/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Research Assistant BCC

NHS AfC: Band 3

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join our friendly and proactive Oncology research Team within the Berkshire Cancer Centre at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

We are looking for a highly organised and motivated administrator who enjoys supporting busy teams and ensuring research activity runs smoothly day to day. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in an administrative or coordination role within a healthcare setting – it does not require previous research or academic experience.

The post holder will work closely with research nurses, coordinators, and clinical teams to provide comprehensive administrative support across a range of research studies.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

  • Provide day-to-day administrative and clerical support to the research team.

  • Maintain accurate study files and records, including correspondence, meeting notes, and data logs.

  • Schedule meetings, take minutes, manage diaries, and handle general correspondence.

  • Support study start-up and ongoing maintenance by assisting with document filing, data entry, and communication with clinical areas.

  • Organise supplies, stationery, and stock control for research studies.

  • Liaise courteously with staff, patients, and external research partners, ensuring confidentiality and professionalism.

  • Assist in maintaining finance records, raising purchase orders, and processing invoices where required.

  • Support audit and compliance activity, ensuring documentation meets regulatory standards.

This is primarily an administrative role supporting research operations. While you will gain valuable exposure to clinical research, the post is not intended for those seeking to conduct independent research or pursue a PhD.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest general hospital foundation trusts in the South East. Our Research & Innovation Department is nationally recognised for its breadth and quality of studies.

You’ll be joining a welcoming, collaborative, and supportive team where initiative, teamwork, and professional development are encouraged. Informal visits are welcomed and encouraged.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We’re looking for someone who:

  • Has strong administrative experience, ideally in a healthcare, university, or office environment.

  • Enjoys coordinating busy workloads and communicating with a wide range of people.

  • Can work accurately and methodically, following set procedures.

  • Has good IT skills (Microsoft Office, databases).

  • Is keen to support NHS research delivery but not necessarily seeking an academic research career.

Person specification

Education, Qualifications, Experience & Training

Essential criteria
  • Educated to GCSE level or equivalent with passes at grade C or above.
  • NVQ Level 3 or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through any combination of alternative study, employment or voluntary work (2) Willing to undertake further education.
  • Previous experience of working in a healthcare setting
  • Proven experience of working within a team.
Desirable criteria
  • RSA Typing Level 2 - 3
  • Educated to Degree level
  • Good Clinical Practice and EU Directive Training
  • Previous experience of administration or clerical work.
  • Working knowledge of NHS information systems.
  • Experience of clinical audit

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Excellent organisation skills
  • Proven ability to prioritise and manage own workload
  • Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal, including courteous telephone manner.
  • Proven ability to work on own initiative.
  • Able to work flexibly to meet service needs
  • Clear understanding of confidentiality issues - knowledge of Caldicott and GDPR / Data Protection Act requirement
  • Attention to details
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of NHS administrative systems.
  • Awareness of Clinical and Research Governance.

Personality and Personal Attributes

Essential criteria
  • Excellent timekeeping and a flexible approach to work. Able to participate with a rotating shift pattern
  • Ability to produce timely accurate and useful information tailored to needs of patients
  • Ability to work across Trust and Network sites as required to deliver the demands of the service.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

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.

Application numbers

Candidates to be capped at 25 applications per 1WTE position to be recruited

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Emma Vowell
Job title
BCC Research team lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0118 322 6536
Additional information

Level 2, North Block

London Road

Reading

Berkshire

RG1 5AN

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