Job overview

The Post holder will provide leadership and management to a clinical team, providing care to patients living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia within the NIHR Sheffield BRC (BRC) and across its regional collaborating organisations.

The NIHR Sheffield BRC is a research partnership between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield, dedicated to improving the treatment and care of people living with debilitating conditions. Research within the BRC focusses on chronic neurological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, and patients with compromised immunity, chronic inflammatory diseases and emerging infections.

The BRC drives research innovation into tangible benefits for patients and the wider society, whilst enhancing the position of the UK as the preferred partner for experimental medicine collaborations. Clinical research projects take place in conjunction with partners within STHFT and will be supported by the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility to meet National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Alzheimer’s Society Research Nurse Programme and UKDTN strategic aims and objectives.

The post holder will be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, to meet NMC revalidation requirements. As part of the role the post holder will be expected to represent the CRF at Regional, National and International meetings.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work with the Trust Research Matron, Operational Team, BRC, CRF team and the wider STH research teams to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of the clinical research portfolio, including comprehensive risk assessments to ensure patient safety is upheld and that the clinical research activity is compliant with research and clinical governance.

They will establish productive working relationships with local memory assessment services and Mental Health Trusts to build effective research referral pathways and increase opportunities for people living with MCI/dementia to participate in clinical research.

They will promote positive work behaviours and attitudes in line with STH PROUD values and will be required to provide management and clinical decision-making support to the core clinical team.

They will need to possess an understanding of research processes and governance arrangements and have a detailed insight of the core business and function of the BRC, the Alzheimer’s Society Research Nurse Programme and the UKDTN to ensure activity meets National and Local targets and clinical governance requirements.  

This role will focus on delivery of early phase mild cognitive impairment and dementia clinical studies and supporting development of an increasing portfolio in this specialty.

Working for our organisation

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

The CRF is a service delivery engine and works collaboratively across the organisation to provide researchers with a cross-city unit dedicated to delivering research for the benefit of patients. The CRF has been awarded an NIHR grant to further develop Experimental Medicine in South Yorkshire. Maintaining up to date systems and processes to support staff, patients and researchers is essential to ensure research carried out in the CRF is delivered to the highest possible standard, adhering to Research Governance and the Regulatory Framework. 

The BRC works with internal and external stakeholders – the ability to manage multiple and competing deadlines is essential; excellent interpersonal and communication skills are imperative, along with a resourceful, positive and adaptable approach to the role, managing problems, sometimes urgently and at short notice.

The role will require the post holder to work collaboratively with the CRF who provide an excellent environment to develop research skills and an education and development programme for clinical researchers.