IM&T Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communications & Relationship skills

• To work closely with staff at all levels within the SoTW Pathology Services, Acute Trusts and Primary Care across the South of Tyne and Wear areas, independent contractors and other suppliers
• To liaise with departmental managers for the provision of workload data
• Able to communicate and present complex information to differing audience levels, including non-technical audiences in a form which is appropriate and readily understandable
• To provide instruction and advise staff on day-to-day technical issues, including the ability to train non-technical users on complex processes
• Ability to persuade, encourage and harness the skills and knowledge of stakeholders at all levels
• To ensure technical and clinical needs are accommodated by the various IT systems
• To feedback to senior technical and clinical staff any salient issues relating to IT matters
• Ability to present and discuss highly complex IM&T related issues at departmental meetings or with personnel external to the Trust such as primary care partners to ensure an understanding of new ways of working

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience.

• In-depth knowledge of IM&T systems and procedures acquired through a combination of highly specialist training or relevant study to degree or equivalent level
• Must have significant number of years experience of management of IM&T related services with extensive knowledge of NHS data standards and business processes
• Experience of server operating systems
• Microsoft Server administration knowledge

Analytical & Judgemental Skills

• Requires the ability to analyse and resolve complex IM&T problems that demand significant attention to detail, for example when operating system errors require analysis to determine the correct resolution
• To be able to analyse workflow patterns and highlight areas of issue to departmental managers and to manage the production, automation and provision of regular monitoring reports
• To investigate new efficient IM&T working systems to minimise the potential of error
• To be able to use the SQL Server and other command languages to interrogate the Pathology IT systems
• To be able to extract and analyse highly complex information then be able to present the results in an understandable format for use by Trust personnel
• To develop SQL Server and PowerBI as required to progress the automation of information management processes
• To develop new approaches to the extraction, access and presentation of information and statistical analysis of Pathology data, for example the utilisation of SPC (Statistical Process Control) modelling to highlight workload trends

Planning & Organisational Skills

• Responsible for ensuring the day-to-day management of the IT systems within Pathology
• Monitoring the quality of information produced to ensure requestors receive results in a timely manner
• To liaise with the Pathology IM&T Manager on the options for the future IT development strategies
• Plan for system maintenance and upgrades to the main systems to ensure minimum disruption to both Pathology and its users
• To liaise with the Trusts head of IM&T on future strategies which may have an impact on other areas within the Trust, e.g. order communications
• Plan for the introduction of new procedures/technologies/policies in the department to ensure a smooth transition and efficient use of resources
• Plan specialist projects which could impact upon clinical areas across the Trust or primary care partners e.g. planning, delivery and/or training of a new system

Physical Skills

• Requires advanced keyboard skills to manipulate complex data accurately at speed
• Data manipulation skill using a structured query methodology such as SQL or similar query language
• Ability to carry out repairs to Pathology based IM&T hardware as and when required

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care

• Contact with patients is incidental
• To ensure provision of clinical technical services through appropriate IT functionality
• To ensure results of patients are set against the correct patients results file and are accessed by only authorised personnel as appropriate

Responsibility for Policy & Service Development

• To design and write standard operating procedures (SOPs) and to ensure these methods are adhered to within Pathology and review of these SOPs as required
• Ensure that appropriate quality standards are maintained to retain UKAS Accreditation compliance
• Develop and implement departmental IM&T procedures
• To liaise with primary care partners over potential changes to the services provided
• To advise the Pathology IM&T Manager on national and regional policy and the needs arising

Responsibility for Financial & Physical Resources

• Responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day running and maintenance of the main Pathology computer systems
• Responsible for the recommendation, procurement and maintenance of all related IT equipment and supplies (£30k+)
• Responsible for the creation and submission of IT related business cases for Pathology

Responsibility for Human Resources

• To identify IT training and developmental needs within Pathology
• To train authorised clinical staff at ward level throughout the Trust to use the order communications system for reviewing patient results
• Deliver training on a range of IM&T subjects within Pathology and to users of the service
• To train and assess competency of staff to merge patient records and to decide who is given access rights for patient merging

Responsibility for Information Resources

• To be primarily responsible for the management, maintenance and development of the main Pathology IT systems, Q-Pulse quality management system, digital dictation system and workload activity systems used by the SoTW Pathology Services
• Responsible for the management of the GP electronic results transfer system
• To share information with others, ensuring information is handled in a secure manner protecting the confidentiality of any personal data held and meeting the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018, Caldicott, Information Governance and any other relevant legislation
• Ability to deliver consistently high standards in data reliability and information analysis
• To oversee the quality of computerised records in the two services so that accurate and timely information is available to all staff
• To liaise with the departmental IT representatives/managers/clinicians in developments for reporting systems and to feedback suggestions for improvement in IT
• Able to collate and present statistical analysis and information to assist in the performance management of the two services or to provide research data as and when required, ensuring that data analysis is undertaken in an accurate and timely manner

Responsibility for Research & Development

• Testing of IM&T solutions proposed for use within the departments, including software applications and hardware
• To research innovative health informatics solutions to help improve departmental efficiency and to aid in the streamlining of processes, including research and development of IT systems to allow a paper reduced way of working
• To collect and provide research/audit data as required

Freedom to Act

• The post holder is seen as the lead specialist for Pathology related IM&T issues when it comes to supporting other services either within the Trust(s) or the local health community
• The outcomes of the role are defined but the post holder can decide how they are best achieved, this may be through guidance provided by an external source, for example by liaising with members of the Trusts Information Service department or the Trusts head of IM&T
• The role requires a flexible approach in order to respond to changes and new demands and the post holder is expected to take a proactive approach to his/her own development to ensure a consistently relevant set of competence, knowledge and experience
• Takes responsibility for his/her own decisions and for setting guidelines for others

Person Specification

Education

• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years' experience of working in an Information/IT environment in a senior manager role
• Experience of server operating systems

• Experience in the use of IT to deliver business change
• Evidence of formal IT project management involvement

Skills

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organisational and presentation skills
• Self-motivated/enthusiastic and able to use initiative to effectively manage and prioritise a varied workload
• Statistical and data analysis skills
• Flexible approach to working including during out of hours as 24-hour service responsibility is assumed

• Knowledge of change management processes and techniques
• Evidence of formal IT project management involvement

Knowledge

• Microsoft Server administration knowledge
• Knowledge of NHS IT Strategy

• Knowledge of NHS electronic messaging and requesting/reporting applications

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

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Gateshead

NE9 6SX

Employer's website

https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk