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Study Support Service Officer | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Posting date:	10 April 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£29,970 - £36,483 per annum / pro rota for part time
Hours:	Part time
Closing date:	10 May 2025
Location:	Leciester, LE1 6XP
Company:	University Hospitals of Leicester
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7070887/358-7070887-COR

Summary

The Study Support Service serves as the cornerstone of the Research Delivery Network (RDN), facilitating the effective delivery of studies throughout the system while enhancing strategic capacity and capability.

The Officer's efforts are instrumental in underpinning the success of the Study Support Service, providing essential support and enabling the smooth operation of services. Through their coordination and expertise, they contribute significantly to the overarching goals of the Research Delivery Network.



The Study Support Service Officer is responsible for supporting the delivery of these services following relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This will involve engaging with multiple partners across the region by supporting the coordination of communities and events. Additionally, they maintain systems for costing and attribution of studies ensuring adept support for regional organisations with their data requirements.

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:
• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/

We are proud to be at the forefront of health and social care research delivery in the East Midlands, working with partner organisations operating in a broad range of settings across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

Hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust with offices in Leicester and Nottingham, our model incorporates a number of different roles to enable us to drive clinical research delivery performance, and to ensure that research is championed across every level of health and care.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

● Act as a liaison between various stakeholders to ensure effective communication and alignment of objectives

INFORMATION & ADMINISTRATION
• Manage data and information systems central to operation of the Study Support Service
• Manage, understand and interpret complex information and data to make recommendations on decisions and plans relating to the Study Support Service. This may include communicating and presenting to a variety of audiences
• Facilitate implementation of Information Governance best practice within systems supporting operation of the Study Support Service
• Ensure data integrity within relevant RDN systems, identifying potential concerns and patterns, and advising RDN customers and partners in resolving issues
• Undertake the processes required to continually ensure high quality and integrity of data within the portfolio management systems
• Support the use of digital innovations including data visualisation tools/dashboards and digital recruitment services such as Be Part of Research and Join Dementia Research to inform study and process decision making
• Actively contribute to activities and service processes that support study sponsors, funders and investigators to access data to enable them to effectively manage the delivery of their studies (and enable them to request support from the RDN as required)
• Utilise operational activity data for cost attribution and allocation of studies, ensuring accurate data support for regional organisations
• Ensure compliance with the DHSC RDN Portfolio Policy that the process, procedure and monitoring of studies enables sponsors / delegates, research delivery sites and funders to understand and adhere to their roles and responsibilities. For example, this may include satisfying the Eligibility Criteria for NIHR support before they are included on the portfolio and subsequently adhering to the expected actions and requirements set out in the NIHR RDN Portfolio Terms and Conditions
• Contribute to the oversight of the RDN portfolio to proactively identify potential issues and opportunities, working as an active partner to resolve and action follow-up activity
• Support Study Sponsors and delegates in the utilisation of the Sponsor Engagement Tool to secure visibility of real-time research activity data and help identify capacity in the health and care research system to deliver research quickly and efficiently
• Actively contribute to the coordination of the National Specialty and Setting Groups (e.g. arranging meetings, taking notes)
• Provide administrative support (e.g. note-taking and action tracking) to facilitate operational and project delivery and to capture learnings and knowledge for national network benefit

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
• Provide support for the delivery of Study Support Services in line with national standards
• Facilitate efficient study set-up, act as 'Main NIHR Network Contact' for the purpose of performance monitoring, tracking and assisting activities
• Where requested track, monitor and assess study progress and provide appropriate support/ action plans for key stakeholders so they can effectively deliver their study in line with the Terms and Conditions for NIHR Research Delivery Network Support
• Support and encourage sponsors to undertake accurate and timely uploading of recruitment data to relevant national portfolio systems
• Assist stakeholders who may need help to undertake feasibility, capability and capacity evaluations so organisations can deliver studies in a timely manner
• Assist in the development and delivery of training relating to RDN Study Support Service service and relevant research activities
• Undertake activities that contribute to the alignment and coordination of the NS&SL support for funders and sponsors in study design, deliverability and participant access to bring compatibility with the advice and guidance provided by the Study Support Service to further ensure optimal planning, placement and 'on request' performance monitoring of studies
• Support in the project management of specialty and setting initiatives at regional and national levels
• Support the organisation of communities of practice and events to promote knowledge sharing and best practices

SERVICE IMPROVEMENT & DEVELOPMENT
• Ensure a customer-centric approach to service delivery, ensuring that the needs and expectations of stakeholders are met or exceeded
• Collaborate with internal teams to address challenges and optimise service delivery

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
• Contribute to the overarching goals of the Research Delivery Network by ensuring smooth operation of services, adhering to relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent and effective service delivery
• Foster effective communication and collaboration among internal teams to enhance overall efficiency

LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY
• Champion the RDN’s capacity and capability to support Life Sciences Industry research and the contribution of the Life Sciences Industry to the NHS
• Provide the Study Support Services consistently, within the required timeframes and to standard RDN requirements
• Support business development activities, including: sourcing / signposting to relevant regional clinical research expertise and knowledge to support optimal research delivery

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
• Maintain systems for cost attribution and allocation of studies ensuring adept support for regional organisations with their data requirements

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, seeking out opportunities for innovation
• Support quality improvement projects as required
• Suggest new improvements for national adoption, escalating local challenges and sharing all innovations
• Undertake cross-specialty, cross-setting and Study Support Service collaborative activities for improved research delivery

COMMUNICATION & STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT (NHS AND NON-NHS)

● Engage with multiple regional partners to support the coordination of communities and events

● Communication of complex information both orally and in writing, both internally to colleagues and externally to a range of audiences. This may include providing advice, delivering training, presentations and writing reports

● Respond to queries from partners and customers to help them navigate and best utilise the network’s offer, internally flagging potential issues that may arise

ENSURING PATIENT, CARER AND PUBLIC INFORM AND INFLUENCE DELIVERY OF RDN STRATEGY

● Act as a champion for patients, carers and the public, ensuring that their interests are meaningfully incorporated into the delivery of the RDN and RRDN

● Champion research inclusion within RDN activities

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

● Work in accordance with RRDN contractual requirements (e.g. the Performance and Operating Framework) and with Host-related policies and procedures

● Act in accordance with current legislation, including Good Clinical Practice, research governance legislation, and the Data Protection Act

● Escalate risks that may need to be considered for the corporate risk register ● Follow and make suggestions to Standard Operating Procedures

KEY RELATIONSHIPS
• RDN Study Support Service teams
• National/RRDN Specialty and Settings Leads
• Commercial and non-commercial sponsors and their delegates (e.g. Chief Investigators, Study Teams, Contract Research Organisations and Clinical Trials Units)
• R&D staff based at research Delivery Organisations
• Regional research delivery teams
• Research funders




This advert closes on Thursday 24 Apr 2025