We are inviting applicants to join our busy but welcoming children's research team from September 2023 for 12 months. Leeds Children's Hospital is research active with over 100 studies ongoing and 1000 patients recruited per year. We have a dedicated clinical research facility that provides a specialist environment for the safe delivery of complex treatments.

Leeds Children's Hospital are delighted to offer the unique opportunity for a Paediatric Junior Doctor to gain experience of clinical research delivery alongside developing their own research study. We are privileged to have a dedicated Children's Clinical Research Fellow (CCRF) to support research activity.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual who is capable of contributing to the development of research within our team.

The role of Clinical Research Fellow (CCRF) has two main aims:

1. Working within the existing research team and offering senior medical support on the Clinical Research Facility.

2. Developing a research project of your own the aim is to place a paediatric higher-level trainee on the path to a career in clinical

research.

The post holder will be a key member of the clinical research team. They will assist in the medical management, co-ordination and facilitation of clinical trial activities. We support all new team members with a 4 week induction programme which includes training opportunities delivered by the research and innovation training academy. All fellows are allocated a clinical supervisor within the department.

About us

Leeds children's research team are a fantastic, friendly and highly motivated team consisting of nurses, medics, data mangers and clinical trials assistants. Based within a large Teaching Hospital catering for a population of over 1 million people, and up to 3 million people in the wider region. We deliver care for a wide range of paediatric specialties, including but not limited to respiratory, diabetes, general surgery, oncology, neonates and neuromuscular.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job description
Job responsibilities

Leeds Children's Hospital are delighted to offer the unique opportunity for a Paediatric Junior Doctor to gain experience of clinical research delivery alongside developing their own research study. This post will provide the foundation and springboard for a PhD/MD project and a long term future career as a clinical academic in a child health related discipline.

Leeds Children's Hospital is research active with over 100 studies ongoing and 1000 patients recruited per year, on average.

As Children's Clinical Research Fellow you will:

Be given the time and resources to develop your own research interest, in an area of your choice, in association with an existing research team in Leeds

Receive supervision from both the Research Lead for Leeds Children's Hospital, Professor Adam Glaser, and a consultant clinical supervisor involved in research within your chosen area of interest

Act as a bridge between the clinical, ward-based teams and the children's research delivery teams to increase awareness of research activity within the hospital

Train and support junior doctors, consultants, nursing staff and allied health professionals on the wards about ongoing research in their area

Attend Grand rounds and morning hand overs to highlight patients that could be approached for specific studies

Assist with the recruitment process including consent, randomisation, and study initiation for patients

Identify studies in speciality areas where recruitment could be increased and facilitate this

Make Research an Always Event by ensuring all available opportunities to be involved in research are offered to families at Leeds Children's Hospital

Screen the paediatric wards daily for potential research participants. The key studies in each area will be highlighted to you by the members of the Children's Research team who cover each area

Increase your own skills and learning in research by attending

o Courses provided by NIHR learn including a P.I. essentials course

o Regional training provided by LTHT Research Academy

Provide support for the consultants of Leeds Childre's Hospital who are Principal Investigators on studies by:

o Independently undertaking study visits on the Children's Clinical Research Facility (CCRF) alongside the research nursing team

o Providing procedure support such as venepuncture and cannulation on the CCRF

It is expected that 50% of the Fellows time will be spent working with the Children's Research Delivery and Children's CRF team and 50% will be spent developing their own clinical research interests in association with an established clinical research team in Leeds.

To support the Fellows clinical training, one session each week will be spent in NHS care delivery e.g. ward work or specialty clinic in an area appropriate for the development needs of the Fellow. Night shift on call work is not compatible with this post.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• A minimum of 3 years paediatrics post graduate experience.
• In line with GMC standards / Good Medical Practice; including: make the care or your patient your first concern
• provide a good standard of practice and care
• take a prompt action if you think that patient safety, dignity or comfort is being compromised
• protect and promote the health of patients and of the public
• treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
• work in partnership with patients
• work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients interests be honest and open and act with integrity
• never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues
• never abuse your patients' trust in you or the public's trust in the profession
• Evidence of achievement of ST3+competencies in medicine or Surgery (as defined by the curricula relating to Core Medical training or Core Surgical Training)

Desirable 

• Experience in the conduct of clinical pharmacology studies.
• Experience of supervising / training other.

Eligibility, Fitness to practice, and Language Skills
Essential 

• Be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise from, the GMC at intended start date
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Advanced Life Support Certificate from the Resuscitation Council UK or equivalent (as required to complete Foundation competences) by intended start date
• Is up to date and fit to practise safely and is aware of own training needs.
• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues. Meets professional health require
• Ability to work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Experienced in the use MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Desirable 

• Familiarity with principles of clinical research, including ethics, pharmacokinetics, human toxicology, statistics and pharmacodynamic assessment.
• Basic knowledge of statistics.

Qualifications
Essential 

• MBBS or equivalent with full valid GMC Recent APLS training allowing direct medical responsibility for human investigations in children in the UK.
• Completion of MRCPCH.
• Up to date GCP training

Clinical, Academic, and Personal Skills
Essential 

• Ability to discuss and appropriately escalate to the consultant(s) in charge the medical needs of patients referred to the CRF.
• Ability to learn and implement new study related clinical skills Competence in venous cannulation in children.

Desirable 

• Understanding of the principles and applications of clinical research.
• Good understanding and experience of the regulatory environment for clinical trials and clinical research in the UK.
• Evidence of original research
• Evidence of oral/poster presentations at national/international meetings 

BMJRef: BMJ-115829/298-C9298-MED-158