Information Assurance Analyst

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• Ability to analyse business activity information to identify areas for improvement in support of the Trusts delivery of objectives, operational and financial plans.
• To provide information analysis with regards to information assurance within the Trust ensuring targets and milestones are met and delivered on time.
• Work with Divisions to identify and propose opportunities for change that will improve or assist the development of services which leads to improvement in quality or efficiency within it.
• Support the Trust compliance with all local and national requirements/rules for the provision of information.
• Undertake on the ground audits to verify data and ensure that activities are co-ordinated in the information assurance function in supporting Divisions to understand information provided and its effective use.
• Utilise traditional data and wider resources including published literature, reports to support provision of expert advice and guidance on NHS counting rules.
• To deliver reports to internal and external colleagues on informational and quality assurance issues through a variety of presentations at various different forums, for example, Division meetings, specialty meetings, etc.
• To provide advice and guidance to members of the Integrated Intelligence and Improvement Service on judgements around information, training and patient access issues.
• Provide expert advice to others from the internal team on ad hoc projects and developments with regards to information assurance.
• Participate in the organisation of the information assurance provision ensuring high quality and timely information is produced to support the Trust achieve its objectives.
• Support the process for providing assurance of data to be included in all local and national data returns in line with requirements and timeframes by working closely with colleagues.
• Support colleagues to design and deliver informational capture, treatment and analysis to aid the maximisation of Payment by Results income for the Trust.
• Provide advice and support towards the resolution of any local patient information collection issues and information assurance capture issues which may have a detrimental effect on the quality or coverage of information analysis and provision.
• Contribute to the development of appropriate performance measures that reflect the work of the information assurance function.
• Liaise with clinical and directorate staff using the embedded quality information assurance process to support that the most appropriate data collection systems and documentation are in place.
• Attend local, regional and national meetings pertaining to information assurance as necessary.
• Maintain a close relationship with Digital Alliance team to ensure information assurance functions can be delivered through the appropriate systems.
• Support the Secondary Uses Service (SUS) data from the perspective of information assurance.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure the adoption of good practice in line with Information Governance
• Ensure practices and procedures in support of IT security are maintained
• Report and record breaches of security to the Trusts Information Governance Team
• To advise, as appropriate, on changes to national data sets or definitions in order to ensure that data reported externally fulfils national rules, for example, NHS Digital Data Dictionary
• Maintain the confidentiality and integrity of electronic data in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and Caldicott
• Maintain confidentiality of all patient information according to local guidelines.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain detailed records of departmental documentation, including lessons learnt, having them available for examination as require
• Ensure all processes are documented in Standard Operating Procedures, are regularly reviewed, maintained and that appropriate staff are informed of changes affecting the quality and information assurance provision to ensure continuity of service
• Contribute towards the development of policies and procedures within the organisation that ensure national standards are met with best practice compliance for the provision of information analysis.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the learning, training and development of staff to meet the current and emerging needs of the service
• Provide informal training and raise awareness to Clinicians and Trust Managers with regards to information assurance and the boundaries set by national guidance and deadlines, including local and national requirements
• To actively maintain own levels of knowledge and skills in relation to latest informational development
• Ensure all staff managed receive individual appraisals in line with Trust policy, including formulation of personal development plans and that identified training is progressed
• Attend local mandatory training and ensure relevant team members receive updates in line with Trust Policies.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deputise for the Senior Quality & Information Assurance Manager on matters as and when required
• To provide cover for the Information Manager as required.
• Responsible for line management, recruitment and succession planning of the team including training and development, induction, appraisal and personal development planning
• Ensure that mandatory training is undertaken in accordance with Trust Policy by the post-holder and by all staff reporting to the post-holder. Participate in staff appraisal, sustain and improve individual performance using development opportunities provided by the Trust
• Ensure own Health and Safety and that of others.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Work closely with Finance colleagues to aid alignment of financial and activity information via the information assurance agenda in support of the Trusts business principles.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Regularly undertakes audits to support improvement of service within the Trust as directed by the Senior Quality & Information Assurance Manager to formally report on findings.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Master's degree level and/or equivalent qualification and/or experience

Knowledge & Experience

• Significant experience working in a highly analytical environment
• Experience in operational pathways with an understanding of impacts on information capture
• Experience in the auditing of data quality
• Demonstrate ability to transfer skills to others and communicate effectively with stakeholders
• NHS experience working with health-related data and processes
• Practical experience of managing and co-ordinating multiple pieces of work, with an understanding of project management methodology
• Planning, organising workload to meet deadlines
• Staff management/supervisory experience

Skills

• Advanced MS Office skills especially Excel
• Detailed knowledge of the national rules defining information capture
• Data protection legislation: Caldicott and other relevant guidance
• Problem solving: analytical techniques and interpretation of data
• A high degree of exposure to acute NHS Trust information systems to support the correct data capture of the activity pathways
• Ability to direct organisational managerial and clinical staff to specific information issues which highlight anomalies or variances in operational performance
• Ability to explain complex definitional issues to team and senior managers in a simple and concise manner
• Ability to use multiple software applications to an expert level
• Ability to communicate through effective report writing and presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal team working and facilitation skills
• Ability to plan the activities of the teams to meet required deadlines, to allocate resource appropriately, to prioritise competing workload and to quality assure the outputs of others within the team providing information analysis
• Ability to work under pressure and produce high quality work to tight deadlines

Other

• Tenacious approach with regards to constructive challenge
• Self-motivated, self-directing, self-reliant and able to deal with a high degree of ambiguity.
• Innovative thinker in the development of alternative delivery methods
• Completer finisher
• Ability to complete complex tasks and manage delivery methods
• Flexible work approach
• High degree of self-awareness
• Highly resilient and able to work in a high paced environment with little direction
• Demonstrate a commitment to respecting and displaying the Trust's values at all times
• Ability to travel to various hospital locations by own car/assisted driver

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Knowsley Community College

Stockbridge Lane

Huyton, Merseyside, Liverpool

L36 3SD

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/