Data Lead
Job summary
The Addiction Care & Treatment Service (ACTS) at University Hospitals Dorset is looking for a Data Lead.
ACTS is a small specialist team. We work with patients across our hospitals who have difficulties with alcohol and other drugs and tobacco dependence. We also work with people who experience high intensity use of hospital services. The service reports its activity to NHS England, NHS Dorset and local authority commissioners as well as to the Trust. Looking after the data behind all of that is the focus of this post.
You will be the only person doing this work. That brings independence and a direct working relationship with the Head of Addiction Services. The reporting deadlines sit with you, though not in isolation. You will work closely with the clinical team and with the Trust's Business Intelligence department, who support the service's data flows.
We are more interested in how well you handle data than in whether you have worked in addiction services before. You will need office experience in a healthcare setting and advanced Excel skills. You will also need to explain what a set of figures shows about the team's activity and outcomes, in terms a clinician or a commissioner can use.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short practical Excel task at interview. Informal enquiries are actively encouraged.
Base: cross-site, Poole Hospital and Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
Interview date: 19th October 2026
Main duties of the job
o Manage all statutory and mandatory data submissions on behalf of ACTS and UHD, including drug and alcohol returns through NDTMS and tobacco returns and act on DOMES and RAG report findings.
o Coordinate the collection, validation and entry of patient data and take the lead on resolving validation issues with clinical staff and the Business Intelligence team.
o Build and maintain the reporting databases, dashboards and digital processes the service runs on, covering outcome measures, activity trends and performance against KPIs.
o Produce routine internal and external reports and respond to ad-hoc information requests, to a high standard of accuracy, timeliness and presentation.
o Work with clinicians and service managers to interpret what the data shows and turn it into practical recommendations.
o Act as the single point of contact for ACTS data queries across both hospital sites, and set consistent data standards so that reporting means the same thing wherever it comes from.
o Design and deliver training for colleagues on data handling and spreadsheet use, pitched to a range of skill levels and provide ongoing troubleshooting support.
o Allocate work to the ACTS administrative staff and give guidance on data handling, confidentiality and data protection.
o Represent ACTS in meetings, forums and working groups on data, quality improvement and service development.
About us
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
ACTS is a small, specialist team working across inpatient, outpatient and community settings. You would be the only person in the service holding this brief, working directly to the Head of Addiction Services and alongside the specialist nursing team. That means real ownership and visible impact, and it means you need to be someone who can organise their own work.
UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Data collection and management
Coordinate the collection, validation and entry of patient data into electronic health record systems and databases. Ensure the accuracy, completeness and confidentiality of all data collected, in line with data protection law and NHS guidance. Ensure accurate and timely input of patient-related data submitted to NHS England.
National and statutory reportingWork on your own initiative to produce statutory and mandatory data returns in line with NHSE/NHSI guidance. Manage NDTMS submissions for drug and alcohol treatment and tobacco data submissions, addressing any concerns raised through DOMES and RAG reports. Compile and submit routine reports in line with UHD policies, taking advice from your manager as appropriate.
Analysis and reportingAnalyse patient data regularly to identify trends, patterns and areas for improvement in service delivery and patient outcomes. Use querying tools to manipulate large datasets and produce meaningful intelligence. Prepare reports and presentations for clinical teams, management and stakeholders. Present data visually through charts, graphs and dashboards. Critically assess the validity and reliability of information, and identify potential biases or limitations in analysis methods.
Systems and digital developmentDevelop and maintain reporting databases and digital processes supporting outcome measures, patient care analysis, activity trends and performance statistics. Improve ACTS digital pathways and data flows. Create reports and interpret data using the Trust data warehouse and a range of source systems. Maintain and administer ACTS central mailboxes and distribution lists.
Performance monitoring and evaluationMonitor key performance indicators and targets for the service. Evaluate the impact of interventions and initiatives, identifying what is working and what is not. Support the development and implementation of performance improvement plans grounded in the data.
Data governance and complianceEnsure compliance with data governance policies, procedures and legal requirements, including UK GDPR, the Caldicott principles and NHS information governance standards. Identify and mitigate data security risks and breaches.
Collaboration and stakeholder engagementLiaise with internal and external stakeholders, including clinicians, partner organisations, commissioners and regulatory bodies, including NHS England, NHS Dorset and local authorities. Represent ACTS in meetings, forums and working groups on data management, quality improvement and service development. Adapt your communication to the audience, whether clinicians, administrators, policymakers or analysts. Build and maintain professional networks inside and outside the Trust.
Cross-site workingAct as a central point of contact for ACTS data queries and initiatives across the Poole and Royal Bournemouth sites. Establish standardised data management practices, including collection methods, coding schemes and quality assurance protocols, so reporting is consistent across sites. Lead or take part in cross-site data projects and working groups.
Training and support for colleaguesDesign and deliver structured training covering data management and spreadsheet use, pitched at the range of skill levels and roles across the service. Provide ongoing troubleshooting support to colleagues working with spreadsheets. Provide guidance on data handling, confidentiality and data protection to anyone whose work feeds into ACTS reporting.
Planning and organisationPlan your work around a fluctuating workload and frequent interruptions, prioritising competing demands so that mandatory reporting deadlines are always met. Manage and take part in projects analysing, modelling and reporting activity information. Maintain clear, current procedure notes for all routine reporting processes.
Policy and service developmentWork within departmental policies and national reporting guidance. Propose changes to working practices to comply with new legislation or reporting requirements. Contribute to discussions on policy development and service redesign. Contribute to the strategic development of the service alongside the Head of Addiction Services, in line with Trust ambitions and the priorities of internal and external commissioners.
SupervisionAllocate work to administrative staff in the department.
Working conditionsYou will use a VDU throughout the day in a busy and sometimes noisy office. The role requires prolonged concentration for complex analysis while staying accurate and responsive to interruptions. There is occasional exposure to distressing material through access to patient records. Contact with patients is incidental.
Please read the attached job description and person specification for the full detail of the role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant subject
- A track record of learning and self-development
- Qualification and/or experience in a numerate or IM&T related discipline
- Willingness to pursue further education or professional certification in data science, healthcare informatics or a related field
Experience
- Previous office work experience within a healthcare environment
- Previous position of responsibility for organising self and others in an office environment
- Experience of prioritising and managing own workload and meeting deadlines
- Proven track record of identifying trends, patterns and insights from large datasets
- Experience of preparing analytical reports and presenting the results to a variety of audiences
- Experience in healthcare reporting
- Familiarity with UHD electronic health record systems and healthcare data standards
- Experience of Dorset's community web-based systems
Skills
- Proven MS Office skills with advanced Excel proficiency
- Proficiency in spreadsheet design, data reporting and data management
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
- Ability to critique and highlight areas for improvement in data outputs and reports across the service
- Ability to apply basic statistical techniques
Knowledge
- Understanding of the challenges and opportunities in using data to support clinical decision-making and patient care
- Understanding of the importance of data quality, and regular auditing of own and other teams' work
- Knowledge of data analysis processes and tools
- NHS knowledge across a range of data-related processes: regular reporting, mandatory submissions, performance KPIs, Trust activity, electronic record systems and external data reporting
- Knowledge of project management principles
- Understanding of data governance principles and best practice
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
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Cross site
Poole
BH15 2JB
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers