Band 3 Clinical Trials Assistant

Job Overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Main duties of the job
University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to present a unique opportunity for internal applicants to apply for the Band 3 Clinical Trials Assistant position located in the rheumatology research team. This team covers a wide range of rheumatology-related conditions, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Lupus
• Sjögren's syndrome

This role reports to the Band 7 Rheumatology Research Team Leader and Band 8 Clinical Research Facility Matrons.
Do you want to make a difference? Are you looking for a new and different career pathway while developing clinical and research delivery skills? We have a unique opportunity for an enthusiastic Band 3 Clinical Trials Assistant with the appropriate skills to join our research team and begin or further a career in clinical research delivery.

Our team consists of around 300 research nurses, allied health professionals, midwives, and clinical trials assistants, working collaboratively across the Trust within our award-winning teams to bring exciting research opportunities to UHS for the benefit of our patients and the future of healthcare. The research team is composed of multidisciplinary researchers from hospital and university backgrounds, collaborating with clinical services and teams to deliver various studies aimed at improving patient care and outcomes.

Working for our organization
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations. Located on the south coast, with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton provides an ideal setting to live and work, surrounded by the New Forest, South Downs, and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely demonstrates strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Specific to this role, we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at the interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
As a member of the clinical research team, you will join an enthusiastic, driven, and caring group to support embedded research teams across the Trust and within our dedicated NIHR clinical research facility for new and existing studies. Our team participates in research across many different specialties within the Trust and the community, including:

• Colleges
• Universities
• Patients' homes
  There are always opportunities to gain knowledge and experience within these specialties.

Job Summary

• Assist in the delivery of clinical research studies, including direct patient care and administrative support.
• Develop and maintain clinical knowledge and skills to provide a high standard of care to patients and volunteers participating in research.
• Participate in the direct care of patients and, within the scope of competence, undertake a range of clinical tasks and observations, including but not limited to:
  • Venesection
  • Blood pressure measurement (manual and electronic)
  • Recording ECGs
  • Measuring height and weight (anthropometric measurements)

There is no set shift rotation, and the majority of the time, you will work core hours from Monday to Friday. However, we expect that you will have the ability to work a variety of flexible hours, including longer days, nights, and weekends on an ad hoc basis as per any research study requirements. A willingness to travel to various locations in and around Southampton is also needed.

Enthusiasm, self-motivation, flexibility, and drive will be required to ensure the success of this post. Clinical research experience is not essential for the role; full research training will be provided. We have an excellent induction and ongoing education program. You will be involved in all aspects of the research process from study start-up, recruitment, and delivery to study close. Team-working skills, flexibility, and drive are necessary, along with good written and verbal communication skills, proficient IT skills, and experience working with data.

Person specification
Trust Values
Essential criteria:

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Skills and competencies
Essential criteria:

• Admin and clerical skills
• Advanced keyboard skills
• General IT skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience
Essential criteria:

• ‘A’ Level/NVQ3 or equivalent in a relevant subject area
• GCSE Level 4 or above or equivalent in Maths and English
• Evidence of continuing professional development and willingness to undertake further training
• Experience of working with data
• Interest in clinical research
• Ability to work as part of a team, work under own initiative, and independently outside the department without direct supervision
• Understanding of confidentiality issues
• Ability to work in a large open-plan office where there may be noise distractions
• Willingness to travel to various locations in and around Southampton

Desirable criteria:

• Degree/Higher education or equivalent
• Experience of clinical research
• IT-related qualifications
• ICH GCP Trained
• Previous NHS or other healthcare environment experience
• Venesection experience/willingness to learn