Apprentice Clinical Trial Support Officer Review

I work as an Apprentice Clinical Trial Support Officer based in Surgical Interventions Trials Unit (SITU), a part of Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), working in a team of Trial Management professionals running a varied and growing portfolio of clinical trials, whilst studying a Level 2 & 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship with Abingdon and Witney College. My main responsibilities include: • Taking minutes at regular meetings • Coordinate the postal follow up for studies – mail outs, receiving mail and logging returns • Entering patient data on a database (Open Clinica and OC TMS) • Ordering stationery, supplies and catering for trial managers • Checking incoming trial data for completeness, raise queries, scan and file documents safely • Assisting the trial management team • Updating social media on behalf of trial teams and managing the SITU blog page • Completing college/ apprenticeship coursework • Attending ambassador/ outreach events

I have learnt a vast range of administration skills, and general life skills such as communicating effectively face-to-face, via email and over the phone and customer service skills. I have also learnt a lot about clinical trials in a short space of time. Always attend any extra training; the University of Oxford offer a vast amount of training ranging from feedback courses to management courses.

I have really enjoyed working here at NDORMS/ SITU/ University of Oxford; I have been here about a year and a half now and I work with such a wonderful team! It has been a continuous line of progression since I started and the team are very supportive of my apprenticeship work as well as my day-to-day responsibilities.

The programme for my apprenticeship is extremely well structured. I have 4-6 weekly meeting with my apprenticeship assessor and she offers me advice on how i can improve my coursework, 3 monthly meetings with my apprenticeship coordinator to monitor my progress and there if i have any questions regarding the course, 1-to-1 meetings every month to gain feedback from my line manager about how i can progress in my job role as well as with my apprenticeship and also get to attend college for 1 day a week for 10 weeks.

I get a lot of support through the structure and also on a day to day basis from the University of Oxford Apprenticeship team, and from my team at work. Since I started, the team are very supportive of my apprenticeship work as well as my day-to-day responsibilities.

I receive a lot of support from Abingdon and Witney college. I have 4-6 weekly visits with my college mentor/ assessor so that i can gain feedback on work i have been doing, 3 monthly meet ups with my apprenticeship coordinator to ask any questions and track my progress throughout my apprenticeship. The college tutors are also always there to email with on-hand support.

My role as a trial support officer involves a lot of administration duties which i have learnt through my business administration course, including emailing, setting up meetings, ordering catering and travel etc. The course has also helped me a with writing and filing documents which is a huge part of my role.

We have a lunch time jogging club withing my department, and our wider department also offers Pilates, rounders and boards game clubs which we have the opportunity to get involved in.

Yes

University of Oxford is a brilliant place to study, learn and work. We have a lot of training available for all different kinds of job roles and also a vast range of apprenticeships.

The advice I would offer when you are looking for your apprenticeship is to take your time to look for a course in an area that you enjoy, or a job that you could see yourself progressing in. There are a variety of brilliant companies and training providers that offer apprenticeships, so take your time to read the job description carefully and research the company.