Training Opportunities

This course is now sponsored by the Clinical Research Network: Thames Valley & South Midlands, and  is run in collaboration with the Haematology and Transfusion Laboratories (Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).

Why you need this training
Basic laboratory skills, such as those taught on this course, are essential to ensure confident and competent handling of study supplies and equipment, enabling research staff to contribute to the delivery of clinical research protocols as part of their research team. They are also valuable transferrable skills for the individual.

What does the training cover?

– Health and safety
– Legislation relating to laboratory safety
– Key laboratory hazards and how to manage them
– Risk assessments
– Specimen transport
– Hands on pipetting and centrifuging
– Waste management
– Sample storage
– Equipment calibration

Email training.crnthamesvalley@nihr.ac.uk to register for a course, or with any questions about course dates or content. All courses take place at the John Radcliffe Hospital (main building).

An opportunity for Research Nurses to spend some time reflecting on their role and the fundamentals of what they do. This course is for nurses new to research posts (in post for more than 6 month) and as a refresher for all Clinical Research Nurses. The course is free to NIHR funded research nurses, and aims to provide a foundation of knowledge to enable you to develop your practice as a Clinical Research Nurse.

For further information, contact training.crnthamesvalley@nihr.ac.uk.

Health Education England are working to support and enhance Genomics England and the 100,000 Genomes Project, and provide education and training in genomics for all staff in the NHS. This will prepare for the legacy of the 100,000 Genomes Project on healthcare and establish a workforce transformation programme.

Free Online Introduction to Genomics: With new technologies we can now examine the whole of a person’s DNA – their genome – quicker and cheaper than ever before. Learn about the fundamentals of genomics and discover its growing importance for healthcare.

Free Online Introduction to Bioinformatics: Discover how bioinformatics is becoming increasingly important to contemporary healthcare research and delivery. Learn about the principles and practices of bioinformatics, the challenges it faces and the problems it can help to solve.

Free online course: 100,000 Genomes Project – Preparing for the consent conversation: For eligible patients, the 100,000 Genomes Project begins with the consent conversation with their healthcare professional. This course guides health professionals in the key steps of the Project’s consent process, what to consider when preparing for the discussion with potential participants, and how to address their questions and concerns.

Masters in Genomic Medicine (full course or individual modules as CPD): Health Education England’s Genomics Education Programme (GEP) is the NHS’s method of ensuring staff have the knowledge, skills and experience to ensure that the health service remains a world leader in genomics and precision medicine – particularly for NHS England’s Genomic Medicine Centres (GMCs) and their contribution to the 100,000 Genomes Project. The Masters in Genomic Medicine and individual CPD modules have been developed to provide a multidisciplinary and multi-professional course in genomics that can be applied to clinical practice and medical research. The Masters and selected modules are available through a number of Universities and HEE provide funding for a number of places.

For further information about all these courses see the Genomics Education website.

A key requirement for anyone involved in the conduct of clinical research is Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training. GCP is the ethical and practical standard to which all clinical research is conducted.

Why you need GCP training
Everyone involved in the conduct of clinical research must have training to ensure they are best prepared to carry out their duties. This is laid down in the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care 2005, covering all research in the NHS in England, and in law for those people working on clinical trials. The principles of GCP state that: Each individual involved in conducting a trial should be qualified by education, training and experience to perform his or her respective task(s). (2.8, E6 Guideline for Good Clinical Practice)

How often do you need to complete GCP training?
This is decided by your Trust/employer, as the answer depends on the research you are involved in and your experience. The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (2004) regulations, and the MHRA, require that all staff are trained to carry out their duties on each study they are working on. This is not time bound. If you have just had some training and a regulation changes you will need to be informed of these changes. All NIHR CRN courses are appropriate for people conducting CTIMPs and non-CTIMPs research. The OUH Trust expectation is that GCP training will be renewed every three years, and strictly enforced for those involved in CTIMPS.

What GCP training is available?
NIHR CRN GCP courses have a practical focus, with the key aim that participants know what to do to practise excellent GCP when they return to their workplace to ensure the rights, safety and well-being of patients and the quality of the research data. Courses include an introductory e-learning module, GCP courses for a number of settings/specialties, and refresher courses.

For further information, see the CRN: Thames Valley and South Midlands page for GCP training.

For information about course dates and availability, contact Erika Iverson
erika.iverson@ouh.nhs.uk • 01865 223284

Information Governance ensures necessary safeguards for, and appropriate use of, patient and personal information.

Research Data and Confidentiality e-learning
The Medical Research Council (MRC) Regulatory Support Centre provides an e-learning module on Research Data and Confidentiality, which is available free of charge. Developed with input from researchers and regulators, the module provides users with a practical understanding of confidentiality and data protection within a research context, enabling them to interpret complex requirements with confidence.

Health & Social Care Information Centre Information Governance e-learning
Information Governance ensures the appropriate use of information (both corporate and personal). All staff with access to NHS patient information should undertake appropriate information governance training. The IG Training Tool is designed to help staff understand information governance, and assist employers provide appropriate training and maintain individual training records for the on-line modules.

On line modules with assessments
Registered users can complete modules and obtain a certificate (pass mark 80%). Try the “Guest Tour” (no need to register) to view a selection of the modules (without the assessment), handouts, useful links and publications available.

Training materials for your own sessions
Registered users / trainers can download presentations, tutor notes and other materials to use in your own training sessions.

Oxford University Hospitals Trust Information Governance e-learning
The OUH Trust mandates Information governance training for all staff. This is available via the Trust intranet site for Learning and Development.

Visit the MRC’s Learning Management System to access e-modules
Visit the HSCIC Information Governance training tool

The Oxford Academic Health Science Network is working with Buckinghamshire New University to deliver a new course: ‘Practical innovating in healthcare settings’. We have created this programme to assist frontline healthcare staff in identifying innovations and innovative projects that deliver improved quality of care for patients, sustainability and cost-effectiveness to the NHS. This course has been funded and supported by Health Education Thames Valley and is free to healthcare staff whose applications are successful.

For further information see the Practical innovating in healthcare settings programme on the Oxford Academic Health Science Network website.

The centre’s highly experienced team organises and administers courses within the Thames Valley Region for a range of delegates, including Educational Supervisors, senior managers and allied health professional staff groups.  The aim of the TVCWED is to develop a broad range of development opportunities via programmes and workshops that meet the ever-changing needs of a multi-professional and multi-cultural workforce, addressing relevant legislation changes within the healthcare setting and enabling delegates to develop both personally and professionally in their NHS career.

For further information, see the Thames Valley Centre for Workforce & Educator Development on the Oxford Deanery website.

When engaged in research involving human participants, research staff have a responsibility to ensure that the interests of participants, whether patients or healthy volunteers, are protected. This applied to all research – including studies not specifically related to nursing, such as clinical trials of investigational medicinal products (CTIMPS) or other clinical trials.

Gaining informed consent from research participants, whenever possible, is central to the research process. It is therefore important that research staff understand the principles associated with informed consent and the process of obtaining informed consent before they embark on, or become involved in, any research activity.

To check dates of future training, and to book a course, please register or log into NIHR CRN Learn.