Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Assistant Clinical Research Practitioner (Band 4) to join the Research and Innovation Team at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. Based at Stepping Hill Hospital, the post holder will support the delivery of low-risk clinical research studies across a range of specialties, helping to increase patient participation in research and improve recruitment across the Trust's portfolio.

Working closely with Clinical Research Nurses, Principal Investigators and multidisciplinary teams, the successful candidate will support participant recruitment, data collection, study coordination and research administration, contributing to the safe and efficient delivery of high-quality research.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with healthcare or research experience who wishes to develop a career in clinical research. The post holder will have access to structured training and development opportunities aligned with national research workforce programmes.

The role will play a key part in improving recruitment to low-risk studies, enabling Clinical Research Nurses to focus on complex commercial and interventional studies. This will support research growth, improve performance against national research metrics, enhance patient access to research opportunities and contribute to the continued success of the Trust's research programme.

Main duties of the job

• Support the delivery of low-risk clinical research studies across a range of specialties.
• Screen, identify and recruit eligible patients into research studies under supervision.
• Assist with participant visits, data collection and completion of study documentation.
• Support collection and processing of biological samples and basic clinical observations following training and competency sign-off.
• Maintain study records, databases, trackers and regulatory documentation.
• Work closely with Clinical Research Nurses, Principal Investigators and multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe and effective study delivery.
• Communicate with patients, carers, clinical teams and external organisations to facilitate research activity.
• Support monitoring visits, audits and inspections and maintain research governance standards.
• Contribute to research recruitment targets and improve patient access to research opportunities.
• Participate in structured training and development opportunities aligned to the AHCS Research Practitioner pathway.

About You
You will be an enthusiastic, organised and patient-focused individual with experience of working in a healthcare environment. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. A commitment to high-quality patient-centred research and supporting the growth of research across the Trust is essential.

About us
We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• NHS pension scheme membership
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• NHS Staff discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union - for local financial advice

Details
Date posted: 19 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year pro rata per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 362-ACS4RES-10-26

Person Specification
Education & Qualifications

• Essential: Relevant diploma in health-related discipline and/or equivalent experience
• Essential: Research qualification or evidence of clinical research training (e.g. ICH-GCP)
• Desirable: NHS care certificate
• Desirable: Relevant degree (or working towards) in health-related discipline

Knowledge

• Essential: Awareness of clinical trials process and good clinical practice
• Essential: Awareness of data protection and patient confidentiality within research
• Essential: Understanding of basic medical terminology
• Desirable: Knowledge of patient information systems
• Desirable: Evidence of developing basic clinical skills

Experience

• Essential: Experience of administrative work including project coordination and data management
• Essential: Experience of working within a healthcare system
• Desirable: Experience of working in clinical research for at least 12 months

Skills & Abilities

• Essential: Good organisational and workload management skills including ability to work to changing deadlines
• Essential: Good interpersonal skills
• Essential: Good oral and written communication skills including attention to detail and being able to convey sensitive information to patients
• Essential: Ability to work unsupervised or as part of a team
• Essential: IT literate: Good understanding and demonstrated use of IT and web-based systems

Work related circumstances

• Essential: Occupational health clearance
• Essential: Some flexibility in working hours to meet service need
• Essential: Ability to travel independently to attend research related meetings (as required)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details
Employer name: Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Stockport, SK2 7JE, United Kingdom
Employer's website: http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Lead Clinical Research Nurse, Sara Bennett, Sara.Bennett@stockport.nhs.uk, 01614195893