Job Description

Job title: Trials Recruitment Coordinator and Research Practitioner

Division: Queen Square

Board/corporate function: Specialist Hospitals

Salary band: Band 6

Responsible to: Clinical Trials Lead

Accountable to: Clinical Trials Lead

Hours per week: 37.5

Location: Dementia Research Centre, National Hospital for Neurology and

Neurosurgery (NHNN)

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in
the UK, serving a large and diverse population.

We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout
the United Kingdom and overseas.

Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education and world-class research. We provide
first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

 University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing and Grafton Way
Building)
 National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
 Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
 Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
 University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
 The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s
health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world
class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service,
embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our
direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

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UCLH Vision and Values

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are
central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work
for in the whole of England.

The Trust is committed to delivering top quality patient care, excellent education and world-class research.

We deliver our vision through values to describe how we serve patients, their families and how we are with
colleagues in the Trust and beyond.

We put your safety and wellbeing above everything

Deliver the best Reassuringly Take personal

Keep people safe
outcomes professional responsibility
We offer you the kindness we would want for a loved one

Respect individuals Friendly and courteous Attentive and helpful Protect your dignity

We achieve through teamwork

Respect everyone’s
Listen and hear Explain and involve Work in partnership
time
We strive to keep improving

Courage to give and Efficient and Develop through Innovate and

receive feedback simplified learning research

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at UCLH

At UCLH, we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive
employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. Respect, inclusion and sensitivity
are hallmarks of quality of our care. That is why it is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote
a diverse mix of people from all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives, who are representative of our
local communities to support our world class research, innovation, and creativity. We are proud to have 5
different networks that are owned and led by our staff which give a voice to all our staff to feed up to
leadership of the organisation, including the Trust board, thus creating a sense of community and support
and help drive cultural change to become a more inclusive organisation.

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Our staff networks are:

 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network

 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+)
 Women’s
 Disability Network
 Mental Health Network

Department / Division
UCLH Biomedical Research Centre

The UCLH Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is a partnership between UCLH and University College
London (UCL). The UCLH BRC was established in 2007 as one of five centres that were competitively
awarded funding by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to support world leading clinical
translational research including supporting clinical trials of potentially novel therapies.
UCL Dementia Research Centre

The UCL Dementia Research Centre (DRC) is part of the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and
embedded within the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), an internationally
renowned hospital for clinical practice and world-class clinical research in neurosciences. The DRC is closely
integrated with the NHS Cognitive Disorders Service run at the NHNN and so well positioned to link clinical
practice with research.

The DRC is recognised as one of foremost international centres for the study of Alzheimer’s disease and
other neurodegenerative diseases. It is highly involved in translational research and runs multiple early
phase clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of potential disease modifying therapies in
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias, including drugs targeting amyloid, tau, inflammation, and
genetic therapies. The DRC is the UK site for DIAN-TU. This groundbreaking study is entering a new phase
using combined anti-amyloid and anti-tau therapies to try to prevent onset of symptoms in those with
Autosomal dominant AD. We have just completed and led a first-in-human study in mild Alzheimer’s
disease using antisense oligonucleotide technology to switch off tau. We are also leading a programme of
trials (Alector 001) using an antibody to enhance progranulin levels to slow progression of a genetic form
of frontotemporal dementia.

In addition to trials work, there are several BRC funded research projects at the DRC, that the post-holder
will be working closely with, including observational cohort studies in patients and normal ageing,
psychological and imaging studies.

Job Purpose
The primary job purpose of this dual role is to facilitate recruitment to research and to support research
delivery at the DRC. We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised individual who is an excellent and
empathic communicator.

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Trial Recruitment
The post holder will play a crucial role in recruiting individuals from clinic by working closely with the clinical
teams, attending clinics, identifying potential research participants, discussing possible projects with them,
and consenting them to research/research registries as appropriate. The post holder will work as part of
the recruitment team, alongside other members of the trials team, to ensure research screening visits are
well coordinated and arranged in a timely manner, with a view to meet recruitment targets within required
timeframes. The post holder may be involved in administering cognitive rating scales (e.g. MMSE) in studies
where appropriate and as part of pre-screening participants following training.

Research Practitioner
The post holder will also work directly on studies as a research practitioner. This may involve consenting
participants to research, and conducting study assessments (e.g. phlebotomy, vital sign collection, ECGs,
clinical / cognitive rating scales). This will require efficient and accurate collection of study data, maintained
on electronic and hard copy study files. The post holder may also assist with processing of laboratory
samples for research. Training will be provided for the above tasks if required.

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will work as part of the clinical trials research team at the DRC led by Dr Cath Mummery
and with the wider research group. The team includes neurologists, research fellows and nurses,
psychologists, and trials coordinators. The post-holder will have day-to-day interaction with the research
fellows, research nurses and raters and will provide support in order to facilitate recruitment. They will
work closely with the other recruitment coordinators and with other members of the wider research
team to ensure excellent communication across the different studies and that the patient experience is
optimised. The post holder will liaise with other departments involved in patient/research participant
care e.g. LWENC and external organisations involved in recruitment e.g. NIHR, Join Dementia Research.

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Key Results Areas

The primary focus of this role is to facilitate recruitment to clinical trials, and other studies, and to support
clinical research delivery. The key results areas are:

 Increased recruitment to trials and other studies (recruitment to target).

 Working as part of the recruitment team to promote varied methods of recruitment e.g. referral
networks, outreach, etc.
 Development and maintenance of data management systems e.g. recruitment databases
 Accurate and timely data uploading to trial sponsor and NIHR portals.
 Support clinical research delivery via conducting study assessments with study participants.
 Working in accordance with NIHR GCP guidelines as part of study teams, to ensure data is
collected accurately and in accordance with study protocols.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinating recruitment
 Alongside the other recruitment coordinators, maintaining a detailed database of potential
research participants and liaising with the DRC recruitment group.
 Attending pre-clinic meetings to highlight potential participants suitable for research with
clinicians.
 Discussing appropriate studies with patients in clinics
 Pre-screening patients to ensure they are likely to be eligible for the intended study – tracing GP
and hospital records, discussing with potential participant and family any medical issues,
discussing requirements in detail for a study, liaising with the medical team about any possible
medical concerns.
 Attending the AD recruitment meeting to facilitate recruitment and minimise patient burden.
 Being aware of all ongoing studies at DRC and able to describe them in lay terms.
 Liaising with PIs to ensure aware of studies where there may be particular pressures and/or
recruitment barriers.
 Collate, scan and photocopy consent and study assessment forms.
 Where appropriate, meeting study participants and ensuring they are relaxed and comfortable.

2. Research Practitioner

 Consenting patients to some studies, where appropriate.

 Once trained, to conduct study assessments for study participants e.g. perform phlebotomy, vital
signs, and ECGs.
 May perform clinical trials rating scales e.g. ADAS-COG, MMSE, CDR and undergo training to
perform these if not already qualified.

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  Processing of laboratory samples, with appropriate training.

3. Communication
 Able to discuss studies appropriately with the patient, carers/relatives using language that aids
understanding.
 Behave in a consistent professional manner with patients, carers/relatives, multidisciplinary team
members, management, and the public.
 Present information at open days and other events to help raise awareness of clinical studies.
 Ensure central study accrual log and UCKRN accrual database are updated and help collate
information for reports.

4. Facilitating the planning and coordination of study visits

 Liaising with research participants and clinical trials and study teams to ensure study visits are
planned in accordance with study protocols.

5. Education, Training and Personal Development

 Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by the Trust.
 Responsible for accessing own continuing education.
 Responsible for complying with professional revalidation requirements.
 Participate in the Trust appraisal process and work towards meeting identified development
needs.

6. General Responsibilities
 Work within the multidisciplinary team, within agreed UCLH Trust protocols and guidelines.
 Promote and adhere to the principles and practice of clinical governance.
 Support the clinical trials lead and other DRC investigators with related projects such as public
participation events and contribute to other functions of the DRC.
 Proficiency in IT skills for maintaining database of patients and for presentations.
 Work flexibly across varied duties that may be required of the role.

7. Professional and Quality Assurance

 Ensure the highest standard of record keeping, maintaining accurate and appropriate research
records.
 Ensure the strict confidentiality of all patient records and trials data.
 Attend team and departmental and other external meetings as appropriate.
 Act at all times in accordance with the highest professional standard and ensure these are
maintained in the delivery of all aspects of research.
 Contribute to the development and maintenance of standards for the research and clinical trials
service and participate in audit process as required.

8. Other

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The job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to
time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post holder.

You will be expected to actively participate in annual appraisals and seek to implement our Equality,
Diversity and Inclusion Policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties
of the post. Objectives will be set, that your performance will be monitored against in conjunction with
your manager.

Sustainability at UCLH

You will be required to demonstrate a personal commitment to the Trust’s Net Zero Strategy and to take
personal responsibility for carrying-out your work duties in a way which is compliant with this strategy.

Person Specification

Assessment Criteria
Requirements Essential Desirable
A I R T/P

Knowledge Degree in science or health-

and related discipline e.g. X
Qualifications psychology, neuroscience,
nursing

Experience of working in a Experience of working with

Experience
clinical and/or research people with Dementia
X X
environment
Familiarity with the
research governance
framework for health and
social care and data
protection act

Experience of conducting
rating scales

Experience of consenting

Experience in phlebotomy

Experience in vital signs

and/or ECG collection

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 Experience of database
management

IT proficiency in Excel,
Skills and Word, email and web-based Understanding of research X X
X
Abilities applications and clinical trial
methodology
Meticulous and accurate
approach to work with
attention to detail

Excellent time management

and organisation skills
Demonstrate ability to meet
Values Trust Values of safety,
X X
kindness, teamwork and
improving
Demonstrates awareness of
Communicatio the importance of working
in a multi-disciplinary team X X X
n

Communicates effectively
verbally, in writing and in
electronic formats

Communicates with
patients and carers in an
empathetic manner
Ensure the risk Being familiar with, and
of infection to adhering to Trust policies
self, and guidance on infection
colleagues, prevention and control.
patients, X X
relatives and Completing all required
visitors is training and education
minimised by: (both via e-learning and
face to face) on infection
prevention and control.
Including infection
prevention and control as
an integral part of your
continuous
personal/professional
development and included
in your annual appraisal

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 Taking personal
responsibility so far as is
reasonably practicable, in
helping ensure that
effective prevention and
control of health care
associated infections is
embedded into everyday
practice and applied
consistently.
Personal and Resourceful and able to act
People on own initiative
X X
Development
Interested in dementia
research and a commitment
to supporting high quality
research

Able to work flexibly

A= Application I= Interview R= References T/P = Test/Presentation

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