Cancer Information and System Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job summary

As the Cancer Information & Systems Manager you will be responsible for delivering high quality, clinically focussed reporting and analysis of cancer data. The post holder will work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders to support cancer delivery with high quality reporting and data in addition to leading cancer data quality improvements for the Trust.

The role will be pivotal in supporting the improvement of cancer outcomes through the development and delivery of timely and accurate data, through extraction and analysis, on which decisions can be made. The role will support the provision of data for Cancer Waiting Times Dataset (CWT), Clinical Outcomes and Services Dataset (COSD) and National Audits at specialty level.

The post holder will be responsible for the day to day management of Somerset Cancer Registry (SCR), the cancer management system PAHT implemented in March 2026. They will deliver support, administration, technical management, maintenance and development. This role will hold line management responsibility over the Cancer Information Team and for the provision of the support service.

As an expert in Somerset Cancer Registry, the post holder will play a pivotal role in enabling the Trust to achieve its strategic aims and goals via the implementation and management of the system. This will include managing Trust-wide change initiatives, maintaining excellent data quality, holding responsibly for the system maintenance, future deployment of modules, and the training of users on the system.

The system must be maintained and made available to trained users to record patient activity in a timely and accurate manner. Correct recording of data onto these systems is fundamental for Information Governance, Patient Safety and Operational Management. The Trust’s Cancer Performance Indicators are also dependant on the quality and completeness of the data provided from the SCR for various external NHS bodies.

Scope and range

The post holder will be responsible for the development of the Trust’s cancer focussed information reporting system, in line with the direction set out by the Cancer Performance Manager to meet both internal and external user requirements. They will lead on developing the clinical information reporting via the SCR, to meet the Trust’s internal and external data and information requirements. This post will play a key role in analysing and interpreting complex information and data, utilising available technology to extend the availability of information to users to both empower them and raise awareness of the importance of high quality data. The post will ensure the availability of timely and high quality reports to the Trust’s internal and external stakeholders.

The Cancer Information and Systems Manager will work closely with stakeholders to support new developments of information systems that ensure safe and timely delivery of cancer services.

The post holder will manage the cancer PTL, working with service teams and cancer MDT teams to ensure information is correct and escalations are made to ensure timely cancer care and support meeting NHS cancer waiting time targets.

The post holder with support the performance and planning team to provide information and data to support activity and planning activity, collating reports and preparing initial data interpretation for discussion with the Cancer Performance Manager.

The post holder will contribute to cancer pathway development to ensure that pathways optimise opportunities to meet NHS cancer waiting time targets.

Duties and responsibilities

Lead the provision of accurate and complete cancer data on Somerset Cancer Registry, liaising with the MDT team managers to ensure that data entry is timely and accurate at source, errors are highlighted and training supplied.

Provide cancer specialist data analysis, information reports and interpretation of that data to the Trust and in particular to clinical colleagues and clinical divisions. This will include working with the Trust EPR systems and Business Intelligence teams to develop a self-service data and information provision. Regular review of processes for efficiency and effectiveness will be expected.

Responsible for investigating issues relating to the availability, accuracy and relevance of data underpinning the information reports and proposing solutions for their resolution. You will be a key member of the Cancer team and work closely with IT system managers, the Data Quality Manager and the BI team to meet this objective.

Proactively identify adverse performance trends or data issues that may affect performance statistics or compromise quality of information as soon as is reasonably possible, so that they may be addressed before data leaved the department i.e. stratified care pathway benchmarking data.

Responsible for adding intelligence to data analysis and ensuring processes for production are assured and accurate.

To design and implement processes for integrating data in line with the strategic direction for information development set out by the Cancer Performance Manager

To keep abreast of and interpret Information Standards, reporting requirements and information policy from the National Cancer Waiting Times Standards. To ensure these are incorporated into all reporting mechanisms accurately and consistently.

To be responsible line manager for the information management team and for provision of mentoring and/or coaching to the wider cancer team as appropriate.

Be responsible for the budgetary management of the cancer information data team and additional staff supplied through Cancer Alliance interim funding, ensuring maintaining budgetary balance and effective use of financial resources.

Lead on providing cancer data to the clinical divisions by preparing and disseminating a suite of effective and robust reporting and providing a high-quality information service to support cancer delivery. Ensuring departmental procedures relating to the production of reports and analysis are available.

Deputise for the Cancer Performance Manager where needed, including manging the budget and financial decisions when the Cancer Performance Manager is unavailable.

Ensure the day to day duties to support and maintain Somerset Cancer Registry are well managed and organised with adequate resource assigned.

Discuss complex IT data/issues with other members of the IT Department and third-party support staff to identify and resolve problems. Maintain good working relationships with IT.

Support strong training for the SCR for users at all levels. This includes working with the IT training team to support end user training and development.

Assist the Cancer Performance Manager in the development of Trust Policies, Processes and Systems.

Have a working knowledge of all other relevant systems within the Trust.

Ensure compliance with DSCN updates in a timely fashion.

Lead on change and take a proactive approach to problem management across the information team.

Assisting in the maintenance of security of Somerset Cancer Registry in accordance with the NHS IM&T Security Manual, the Trust’s Security/Confidentiality Policy including locally defined polices and/or procedures.

To be pro-active in being able to decipher when a problem has occurred and ensure that it is managed under the problem management process.

To manage and/or provide expert software configuration management, to include the production of procedures, planning, reporting, change control preparation documents, audit and version control.

To ensure that relevant proposed changes to live applications have been tested thoroughly and documented in the test environment and signed off, prior to application in the live environment.

Ensure that the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1988, Caldicott and Information Governance Tool Kit, as well as other relevant and emerging security and confidentiality procedures, are complied with.

To undertake any other duties as appropriate and agreed with the Cancer Performance Manager.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Elements of this role will require some travel across the hospital sites, standing and sitting for periods of time.

Emotional effort: This post will be dealing with complex problem solving, collaborative decision making and change management.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Informatics or Information qualification to degree level or equivalent experience
• Masters degree or ability to function and practice at masters level
• Experience of managing complex information management development projects comprising the integration of disparate data sources and delivery of information derived from it.
• Prior experience of using and developing Somerset Cancer Registry
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Management qualification or relevant knowledge and experience

Experience

• Experience working in an analyst role on large cross functional/organisational projects including the production of reporting specifications.
• Experience of delivering statutory, commissioning, and clinical information reporting requirements.
• Experience of interpreting national guidance and applying it within an information environment
• Analysis, interpretation and presentation of complex health information
• Experience of Information Management within the NHS
• Experience of delivering technical training to non-technical staff at all organisational levels.

• Experience of working in the NHS or equivalent organisation in a management role
• Recent experience of leading and managing a team in the NHS
• Ability to model the impact of planning decisions on acute healthcare delivery
• Experience of close working with healthcare professionals
• Experience of using OPCS, ICD10 and HRG alongside other clinical terminology i.e. SNOMED etc

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

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Kao Park

Harlow

Essex

CM17 9NA

Employer's website

https://www.pah.nhs.uk