IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Research Nurse
Section:
Paediatrics
Division:
Infectious Diseases
Department:
Medicine
Job Family/Level:
Agenda for Change, Pay Band 7
Salary Range:
£30,460 - £40,157 plus 20% Inner London Allowance
(maximum £6,217) per annum.
Accountable to:
Dr Beate Kampmann (ICHCT)
Dr Siske Struik (North West London NHS Trust)
Dr Sam Walters (ICHCT)
Responsible to:
Dr B Kampmann (St Mary’s)
Dr Siske Struik (Lead TB clinician North West London NHS
Trust)
Mariesa Kielty (Matron - manager for TB nursing team NWL)
Dr Sam Walters (Lead TB clinician ICHCT)
Marie O’Donoghue Lead TB Clinical Nurse Specialist
ICHCT)
Responsible for:
Recruitment and follow up of participants in a multicentre
clinical research study.
Key Working Relationships:
Principal Investigator - Dr Beate Kampmann
Collaborating Paediatrician at NWP: Dr S Struik
Collaborating Paediatrician at ICHCT: Dr S Walters
Clinical TB teams at NWPH & St Mary’s
Working hours:
Full-Time (37 hours)
Location:
St Mary’s campus, Paddington and
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration:
Fixed-term for 12 months initially
Study title:
Improving the diagnosis and management of childhood
Tuberculosis
The study:
Improving the diagnosis and management of childhood tuberculosis in the UK
This study aims to inform and improve the way that childhood TB is managed in the UK. It involves
an increased emphasis on the reporting of contacts within households in collaboration with the
Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the assessment of the performance of new immunoassays for
diagnosis of TB infection (IGRA tests) in children.
The study is funded by a Senior Research Fellowship from the National Institute of Health
Research (NIHR) to Dr Beate Kampmann from Imperial College and currently involves 7 centres
within the UK. It is adopted by the comprehensive research network (CRN).
The research team:
The chief investigator is Dr Kampmann who leads a research team in Paediatric Infection &
Immunity at Imperial College London. We conduct a range of laboratory and translational research
projects in the UK and Africa, involving doctors, nurses and scientists, many focus on childhood
tuberculosis. (www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/b.kampmann). The Academic Department of
Paediatrics currently conducts several clinical research studies with active research nurse support
and has a well established research nurse environment. The key clinical collaborators are Dr
Siske Struik at NWLHT and Dr Sam Walters at ICHCT, who head the children’s TB services.
Your role:
The post holder will play a key role in setting up the study at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS
Trust and NWLH NHS Trust. He/she will coordinate recruitment and follow up of participants to the
study in these 2 NHS Trusts and collaborate with the other centres as part of the multi-centre
design. The position is split between the paediatric and TB services at St Mary’s Hospital and
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, and the post holder will be expected to divide the time
equally between the two sites, depending on the TB clinics involved. The research work includes
close interactions with the TB team managing paediatric caseloads of children on latent and full TB
treatment in both Trusts. At the NWLH as well as the St Mary’s site the TB service is managed as
an integrated adult and paediatric service with TB nurses taking a holistic family approach to case
load management. You will therefore work closely with the team looking after the families of your
recruits and become part of their management team.
Key Responsibilities

Liaison with staff and patients in the TB clinics and paediatric wards to provide information
about the study

Liaison with staff at St Mary’s hospital and NWLH to identify potential participants for the
study

Recruitment and informed consent of suitable participants to the research study by face to
face interview

Assess the participants’ understanding of the informed consent process prior to any study
related procedures

Accurately record participant demographics and health details

Provide and maintain accurate documentation of all care given

Maintain all data and Case Report Files (paper based and electronic) relating to the
research study in accordance with Good Clinical Practice

Report any deviation from normal practice to senior staff and implement agreed changes

Arrange clinical follow up of children as per study protocol

Obtain paediatric blood specimens from study participants (additional training can be
provided)

Prepare blood samples for dispatch to the relevant laboratory

Add data to the research study database specifically designed for this project

Assistance with other studies taking place in the Paediatric Department when requested

Attend and participate in in-service training programmes
o
Working relationships and communication requirements of your job
Promote and foster strong clinical relationships with members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) –
adult and paediatric, across the sites to ensure clinical excellence in the provision of care for
patients with TB
Integrate closely with the case management teams for TB at both Trusts and ensure good
communication verbally and via formal documentation and electronically with all members of the
MDT within the Trusts
Ensure optimum compliance with advice and treatment by employing the use of interpreters where
English is not the first language
Identify and respect cultural, community/family needs from a sensitive and non judgemental
perspective
Collaborate with other study centres as required
Attend local/international study meetings and report on progress
Input and maintain clinical data on the National and/or London TB Register-clinical information,
outcomes, denotifications, study database and HPA database
Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation in accordance with Trust policy
Maintain confidentiality and adhere to Data Protection Act/Caldicott Recommendations and NMC
Code of Conduct
o
Level of Clinical responsibility
Working closely with the two study leads, define how the study will be implemented across the two
sites
Liaison with staff in the TB services across the trusts to provide information about the study and
determine the methods for identification of potential study participants
Organise and conduct recruitment and informed consent of suitable participants to the research
study by face to face interview
Assess the participants’ understanding of informed consent prior to any study procedures
Accurately record of participant’s demographics and health details
Maintain all data and Case Report Files (paper based and electronic) relating to the clinical trials in
accordance with Good Clinical Practice
Arrange/undertake clinical follow up of children as per study protocol and in accordance with the
study leads and support from the Trust- based TB specialist team and community based teams
Obtain paediatric blood specimens from the study participants and prepare for dispatch to the
relevant laboratory
Provide and maintain accurate documentation of all care given
Add data to the research study database including the Health Protection Agency database
specifically designed for this study
Report any deviation from normal practice to senior staff and implement agreed changes
Facilitate the liaison between clinical areas and the study leads to ensure all team members are
aware of study progress
Attend and participate in in-service training programmes
Collaborate with other study centres in accordance with the research protocol
o
Leadership and staff management responsibility
Develop and agree own personal and professional development plan with feedback from line
manager and Consultant lead for study
Ensure compliance with the Trusts’ clinical policies, legislation relating to children’s rights and Child
Protection
o
Financial responsibility
To manage a budget for reimbursement of participants for study-related expenses
Responsible for ensuring patients are cared for in accordance with trust policies and agreed
guidelines
Provide prescriptive advice to promote compliance and appropriate use of medication to prevent
the emergence of drug resistance
Effective and efficient use of resources consistent with providing a quality service
o
Service Development and Improvement
Hold periodic meetings with the study team regarding study progress
Review recruitment strategies as necessary in collaboration with other study team members
Prepare/present results for presentation at local/national study meetings
o
Responsibility for handling difficult/emotional situations
Awareness of the Trust’s Child protection guidelines and take appropriate action if required
Adherence to the Trusts complaint policies and procedures at all times
Deal with patients/relatives who can be distressed/angered by diagnosis/risk of TB
Occasional exposure to verbal aggression
o
Physical Working Conditions and environment
Work across the two hospitals sites
Perform the following investigations – Tuberculin skin testing, blood tests on study participants
and prepare blood samples for dispatch to the relevant laboratory in line with study guidance
Work autonomously in an evolving role and identify and maintain support networks both within the
Trust and with staff at the other study centres
Implement the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH regulations and ensure compliance with
Trust procedures and guidelines
Recognise situations that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of the individual and take
appropriate action
Regular use of VDU equipment and IT software packages
o
Knowledge, Training & Expertise
Registered Nurse – RSCN/ RN Child with current Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) registration
Required to maintain continuing professional development in order to maintain professional
registration with the NMC and to ensure excellent service and standards of care
Maintain an awareness of current trends and developments in the NHS, paediatric nursing and TB
management
Attend mandatory training in line with Trust Policy
Demonstrate specialist expertise underpinned by theory and knowledge of current national
guidelines
Work in accordance with the Trust’s policies and procedures and the Code of professional conduct
and ensure that clinical risk and clinical governance are managed and considered within their
speciality
Please note that, as this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a
satisfactory enhanced level Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure will be required for
the successful candidate.
Further information about the Disclosure service can be found at www.crb.gov.uk or by
contacting the CRB information line on 0870 90 90 811.
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required to
undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
The post holder is expected to observe and comply with all College policies and
regulations, for example Health and Safety, Data Protection etc.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating
discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in our
Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy and
Disability Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice frameworks.
Person Specification
REQUIREMENTS
ESSENTIAL
Education and Qualifications
DESIRABLE
EVIDENCE
Essential

Registration - RSCN/RN Child
Desirable


Evidence of further professional development , esp in clinical research
Graduate
Experience
Essential

Proven previous General Paediatrics experience at band 5/6
Desirable




Community Experience
Experience in management of TB
Experience in research
Experience in paediatric phlebotomy
Knowledge/Skills
Essential




Excellent communication skills
Knowledge of scope of Codes of Professional Practice document NMC
Commitment to research based practice and evidence based care
Computer literate-use of spreadsheets and data entry computer programmes
Desirable









Administer and read TST tests
Ability to perform phlebotomy or willingness to learn such skills
Knowledge/ experience of clinical research techniques including recruitment to clinical studies
Health related research work with children
Awareness of professional issues/quality/ clinical governance
Ability to demonstrate experience of teaching families and children in one to one setting
Report writing
Financial awareness
Project management
Disposition
Essential




Ability to work independently & exercise initiative
Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
Motivation and ability to motivate others
Approachable and enthusiastic, flexible, adaptable and supportive

Assertiveness
Other requirements
Essential




Good attendance record
Knowledge of clinical issues
Clear understanding of child protection policies
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Desirable

Knowledge of change management
Application Guidance
Please read the person specification carefully and describe, as part of your application, how much
you feel you meet each of the criteria. If you need more space, please attach additional sheets to
the application form.
The recruitment monitoring section of your application will be detached and will be used only for
monitoring and audit purposes as a basis for supporting our commitment to Equal Opportunities.
An application form and full CV quoting reference number HM2011065 should be sent, by the
closing date of 15 May 2011, online via the Imperial College iRecruitment website.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted as soon as possible after the closing date.
Thank you for your interest in this post. We look forward to receiving your application.