Clinical Research Network: Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Specialty Group Clinical Lead
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funded through the Department of Health to
improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.
It is a large, multi-faceted and nationally distributed organisation.
Since its establishment in April 2006, the NIHR has transformed research in the NHS. It has
increased the volume of applied health research for the benefit of patients and the public, driven
faster translation of basic science discoveries into tangible benefits for patients and the economy,
and developed and supported the people who conduct and contribute to applied health research.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 places a statutory duty to promote research, and powers to
support it, on the Secretary of State and on all levels of the NHS including the NHS Commissioning
Board, and Clinical Commissioning Groups. The NIHR provides a key means through which the
Secretary of State discharges this duty. The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for
economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class
infrastructure for health research. Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence,
and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network is the clinical research delivery arm of the NHS in England,
tasked with supporting the rapid set-up and effective conduct of studies, so that researchers can
gather the robust evidence needed to improve treatments for NHS patients.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network is led by a national Coordinating Centre, and operates through
15 Local Clinical Research Networks (LCRNs). These local Networks drive clinical research
delivery performance across the locality, and champion the role of clinical research in the NHS at
every level.
As part of a national network of NIHR CRN leaders, individual LCRN leaders will drive the clinical
research agenda, which is one of national importance. The leadership roles in each LCRN are both
high-profile and demanding and leaders will be expected to be ambassadors for the NIHR. As well
as a passion for bringing clinical research opportunities to patients, LCRN leaders require an indepth understanding of how the local NHS “works”, an ability to forge and maintain productive
partnerships across organisational boundaries, and the tenacity to deliver stretching targets in
challenging environments. As well as being respected across their geographical patch, LCRN
leaders will also be key players in an organisation with an international reputation for innovation and
achievement in the field of clinical research delivery.
Within CRN: KSS there will be 30 Specialty Groups, grouped into 6 Divisions:
Division Specialities
1.
Cancer
2.
Diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, metabolic and endocrine disorders, renal
3.
4.
5.
6.
Children, genetics, haematology, reproductive health and childbirth
DeNDRoN, mental health and neurological disorders
Primary Care, Ageing, Oral & Dental Health, Health Services and Delivery Research,
public health, musculoskeletal, dermatology
Anaesthesia/peri-operative
medicine
&
pain
management,
critical
care,
injuries/emergencies, surgery, ENT, infectious diseases/microbiology, ophthalmology,
respiratory disorders , gastroenterology, Hepatology
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KSS Specialty Lead JD (October 2015)
ROLE OUTLINE – Specialty Group Clinical Lead
Accountable to:
CRN:KSS Divisional Lead
Tenure:
1 year in first instance, with possibility to extend for an additional 2 years
Salary:
Responsibility payment between 1K – 6K, dependent on size of local portfolio
Liaises with:
-
Relevant CRN:KSS Research Delivery Manager
Relevant CRN:KSS Clinical Research Lead/Clinical Research Specialty
Leads
CRN:KSS Clinical Research Leadership Group
CRN:KSS Deputy COO/ industry Operations Manager
Clinical Research Lead/Clinical Research Specialty Leads in other LCRNs
National CRN Clinical Theme/National Specialty Leads
Researchers based in universities and other organisations, and other
stakeholders involved in the specialty, in the CRN:KSS area
NIHR CRN Coordinating Centre
Health Education: KSS
CEOs, senior staff, R&D leads, research reads, nurses and managers
within NHS organisations, universities, industry and other stakeholder
organisations
Role Summary/Purpose
The post holder will contribute to the development of CRN:KSS clinical activity within a specified
specialty, encouraging local clinicians to participate in NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio
studies, building upon local clinical strengths and research interests and priorities. In particular the
Clinical Research Specialty Lead will assist the Research Delivery Manager with the clinical
perspectives of the delivery of the studies managed within the specialty and the development of the
local infrastructure to support the specialty’s local portfolio of research studies. The post holder will
engage with the National Specialty and NIHR CRN Clinical Theme Leadership and contribute to
national strategies and initiatives to support the successful delivery of the specialty’s national
objectives and act as the key link between the national networks of specialty-specific expertise and
the CRN:KSS .
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide clinical leadership, advice and accountability for specialty activities and performance,
working closely with the CRN:KSS Clinical Director, Research Delivery Manager, Clinical
Research Leadership Group, Partnership Group, providers of NHS services, NIHR Clinical
Research Network Coordinating Centre, NIHR CRN National Clinical Theme/ National Specialty
Lead and specialty leads from other LCRNs.
2. Engage with the local clinical research community within the relevant specialty to ensure the
timely and effective delivery of all the studies on the local NIHR Clinical Research Network
Portfolio with particular reference to the CRN:KSS ’s contribution to the national objectives for
the specialty and the High Level Objectives as required in the CRN:KSS Host Organisation
Contract.
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KSS Specialty Lead JD (October 2015)
3. Proactively promote local clinical engagement and awareness of research within the specialty,
providing advice, support, encouragement and mentorship to clinicians who express an interest
in becoming involved in a research project.
4. Work with the Clinical Research Leadership Group in delivering the objectives of the CRN:KSS
and in providing clinical leadership for the local delivery of NIHR CRN Portfolio studies. This will
involve identifying local strengths, capacity and capability to ensure that the continued
development of the local portfolio maximises patient focussed research opportunities for patients
across all sectors of the CRN:KSS population.
5. Work with local investigators, NHS organisations and the CRN:KSS management team to
agree and report on the objectives and targets for the specialty in order to contribute to
CRN:KSS performance over the annual planning cycle.
6. Provide a strategic overview of the local infrastructure required to support the clinical research
specialty with an emphasis on identifying and addressing local blocks to successful delivery,
referring issues to the National Clinical Research Specialty Lead and/or NIHR CRN Theme
Leadership as appropriate.
7. Provide local intelligence to the national NIHR CRN Specialty/Clinical Theme Leadership,
including: pressures/issues relating to the delivery of the portfolio; examples of good practice
and positive impact in their locality; locally-led studies that are open to recruitment at new sites;
emerging clinical needs; and unrepresented patient populations.
8. Be an active member of the National Specialty Group, attending national meetings and
contributing to national initiatives led by the national Specialty Group. Where the portfolio of the
National Specialty Group is significant, members might also be expected to take a national (and
local) leadership role for part of the specialty’s national portfolio, or for some specific studies.
9. Work with and support NHS organisations within the CRN:KSS area to maximise their
involvement in NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio studies, with particular reference to
industry studies.
10. Support the development of new ways of working that will increase the integration of health
research and patient care, and improve the quality, speed and co-ordination of clinical research.
11. Support the Research Delivery Manager to ensure the CRN:KSS
CRN:KSS Host Organisation Contract.
delivers in line with the
12. Help to develop local research capacity for the specialty through actively seeking new
opportunities for contributing to national multicentre studies and identifying local opportunities to
expand expertise/experience across the CRN:KSS ’s geography.
13. Work with the Research Delivery Manager to undertake local feasibility assessments and
reviews for commercial studies, including identifying potential sites/investigators that could
conduct the study, assessing the available research resources including skills, facilities and
equipment and provide robust recruitment goals.
14. Keep up to date with changes to national and local healthcare arrangements in order to advise
the CRN:KSS on new potential opportunities and/or challenges to the delivery of the NIHR CRN
portfolio of studies.
15. Work in close collaboration with neighbouring LCRNs to remove artificial barriers to participation
in NIHR CRN Portfolio studies.
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KSS Specialty Lead JD (October 2015)
16. Contribute to national CRN initiatives, in particular developing and sharing best practice.
17. To engage with NIHR Faculty including Senior Investigators.
18. Promote NIHR CRN activity and the aims, objectives and successes of the NIHR throughout the
network area and represent the CRN at local, regional and national meetings.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
The Clinical Research Specialty Lead will play a key leadership role in the on-going development
and performance of the CRN:KSS and will provide the vital link between the local, geographicallybased networks (LCRNs) and national networks of specialty-specific expertise which is essential to
the success of the NIHR Clinical Research Network. Clinical Research Specialty Leads must be
facilitative, able to work flexibly and effectively in a developing organisation and to motivate and
support others to deliver measurable results that make the NIHR CRN vision a reality.
*It is expected that the Clinical Research Specialty Lead will be actively participating in the
recruitment to at least one NIHR Portfolio research study; the support which they receive will
therefore reflect both their personal contribution to delivering the NIHR’s portfolio of research
studies, their local leadership role and their contribution to the national networks of specialty-specific
expertise.
It is essential that candidates demonstrate their achievements, ability and expertise against the
following criteria:

A motivational leader with well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to work with
stakeholders at all levels.

An effective facilitator who is able to bring colleagues together to work in a collegiate way for
the overall benefit of the local community in which they work.

Excellent communication and presentational skills with the enthusiasm to act as a
“champion”.

The influencing skills to achieve results through other people.

Strongly committed to bringing benefits to patients through the delivery of excellent patient
focussed clinical research within the NHS.

Experience as a clinical investigator leading a multicentre clinical research study.

Experience of undertaking research in the NHS.

Ability to contribute constructively in meetings and appreciate both national and local
aspects with a willingness to lead initiatives at both these levels.
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KSS Specialty Lead JD (October 2015)