Clinical Research Midwife

Job overview

An exciting opportunity for a Clinical Research Midwife to join the Women's Health Research team has arisen and we encourage you to apply. Previous research experience is not required, training and support will be provided.

We are offering this role an internal 6 month secondment, funding until 31/03/2027.

The successful applicant with work within a growing team of research midwives, nurses and assistants to deliver a large and varied portfolio of research in women's health.

Main duties of the job

Form part of the core team providing support to the Women’s Health research agenda.

Provide expert research care and support to people attending the Department who have the potential to be recruited to clinical research.

Complete research documentation and collect study data from participants.

Assist with regulatory and approval processes for research studies within the RDU.

Ensure research activity undertaken within the department safeguards the well-being
of the participants and is conducted according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and other appropriate legislation, policy and protocol.

Be an advocate for Women’s Health research across the Trust and within local research networks.

Maintain strong working relationships with clinical colleagues to promote a positive research culture, evidence-based practice, and the growth of Women’s Health research.

Take responsibility for performing all clinical research tasks, including the
administration of experimental therapies and monitoring for expected and unexpected side effects, in a safe and timely manner.

The post holder must maintain their commitment to clinical midwifery practice and at all times have an emphasis on supporting and developing midwifery practice and supporting choice for women.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work autonomously to carry out planned care required by the research protocols within the portfolio of clinical research within the department, whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Promote equal opportunities for involvement in research across all clinical sites

Facilitate efficient, safe and woman focused research including screening procedures, biological sample collection and all clinical observations required to ensure and maintain participant safety before, during and after the research visit

Ensure that Good Clinical Practice, research, and clinical governance

Work with Senior Clinical Research Midwives and the Chief and Principal investigators to develop local recruitment strategies, identifying required workforce and skill mix to deliver local studies.

Identify barriers to recruitment and implement necessary action plans.

Ensure inclusive research to address inequality in maternity care/outcomes and participation in research

Assist with study set up, including feasibility assessment and supporting timely local permissions for research studies

Assist the PIs in liaising with the KHPCTO and R&D Office relating to submission of the study for regulatory approval and Trust Management approval. Assist in completing submissions to the Research Ethics Committee as required.

Work with the Senior Clinical Research Midwives and Research Delivery Unit Lead to ensure studies meet time and target, employing strategies to resolve any barriers that arise

Represent King’s College NHS Foundation Trust as a research midwife in external situations, for example national and international conferences, committees etc.

Training and Education

Assist with ensuring mandatory clinical research training is undertaken and updated as required

Provide training to research and clinical staff on research generally and study specific protocols where necessary

Maintain and develop your own research knowledge and skills utilizing opportunities for involvement in research development

Provide information to service users, individually or through forums such as the Maternity Voices Partnership, on research that is ongoing or potential

Assist with the dissemination of research findings.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Midwife
• Evidence of ongoing and sustained CPD
• Good Clinical Practice

Desirable criteria

• Masters’ qualification or demonstrated ability to work at this level
• Mentorship qualification
• Track record of research

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Evidence of clinical midwifery practice and ability to function at level required of the post
• Understanding of the local priorities within the local community
• Knowledge of scientific conduct of clinical research including the planning, co-ordination and conduct of clinical trials
• Knowledge of quality standard setting and audit
• Awareness of Equality and diversity issues
• Current experience of clinical midwifery practice

Desirable criteria

• Experience of teaching
• Clinical research practice in Reproductive Health and Childbirth
• Leading the set-up and delivery of clinical trials
• Experience of data capture and database management
• Evidence of research and or audit

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including presentations and publications
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with meticulous attention to detail
• Able to represent and advocate for midwifery research
• Computer literature, including use of excel, word, powerpoint, internet and email
• Research delivery skills from assessment of feasibility to study close
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and research governance, including data protection
• Flexible to meet service needs
• Ability to Work under pressure and to meet deadlines. Demonstrates awareness of priorities, deals with workload, adapts to changing requirements, and uses initiative
• Ability to compile, analyse and disseminate complex information
• Able to act as an effective role model
• Maintain confidentiality and is accountable for actions/ decisions
• Problem solver
• Calm under pressure
• Reliable
• Able to identify opportunities to develop needs and to change existing practice

Desirable criteria

• Basic laboratory skills e.g. centrifuge, sample separation

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can support you as you complete your application. For example, they can check for spelling or grammar errors, or help you to decide what to include. They shouldn’t however replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.

Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success because automatically generated answers:

• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
• often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
• could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.