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Job summary

Main area
Research and Innovation
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
249-7818541
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£25,760 - £27,476 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
15/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Research Assistant

Band 3

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital. 

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

Research Assistant

An opportunity has arisen within The Research and Innovation Clinical Delivery Team at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for an enthusiastic and conscientious individual to undertake the role of a Band 3 Research Assistant.

This exciting role will see the post holder contributing to a variety of research studies whilst supporting clinical teams in providing access to research opportunities for their patients.  

You will support the delivery of  the research pathway for patients who are participating in cutting edge research studies and clinical trials.  

Main duties will involve screening for potential participates, carrying out research protocol tasks, monitoring of patients undergoing research interventions and the collection and documentation of accurate data in accordance with the research protocol and Good Clinical Practice guidelines. 

This would see you utilising a range of clinical and communication skills as you will be working across a variety of clinical departments within the Trust.  

 

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will support the delivery of research activities by carrying out delegated tasks in line with research protocols, Good Clinical Practice, relevant regulations, and Trust policies. Working under the guidance of the senior research team, you will help ensure that research participants receive appropriate care and that all study requirements are met.

You will organise your workload with support, managing your time effectively to meet patient needs, team objectives, and research performance targets. Maintaining confidentiality at all times, you will ensure informed consent is obtained and assist with measuring and recording vital signs, reporting any abnormal results to senior staff.

As part of the clinical research process, you will communicate with patients to obtain blood and urine samples using aseptic techniques, in line with your training and competence. You will also help prepare and process samples in the laboratory, using the appropriate equipment and packaging them—whether ambient or on dry ice—for courier transport in accordance with established procedures.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group – a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post-holder will contribute to the delivery and administration of research activity at GWHFT under the direction and supervision of a senior member of the Research and Innovation [R and I] team. They will practice in accordance with Trust standards and operate within the boundaries of the role and assessed competencies.

Please see attached full Job Description 

Person specification

Education, Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • GCSE’s in English and Maths
  • Demonstration of ongoing personal development and willingness to engage in local appraisal processes.
  • Experience to Vocational Qualification Level 3 equivalent level
Desirable criteria
  • Good Clinical Practice certificate
  • Administrative/IT Qualifications

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Interest in and/or experience of working in a healthcare setting.
Desirable criteria
  • Venepuncture
  • Recording ECGs
  • Experience of gathering and reporting data and use of IT systems and digital technologies.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldCare Leaver CovenantStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Suzannah Pegler
Job title
Clinical Research Delivery Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793 605237