At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the delivery of innovative digital programmes and optimise Electronic Patient Records.
- Company: Join County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, a leader in healthcare innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and travel across Trust sites may be necessary.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare by driving digital transformation.
- Qualifications: Masters level education and significant experience in digital programme delivery required.
The predicted salary is between 76438 - 93424 £ per year.
We are inviting internal expressions of interest for the Band 8c Head of EPR and Digital Programme Delivery. This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape the delivery, optimisation and ongoing development of the Trust's Electronic Patient Record and wider digital programme portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, you will bring together clinical, operational, technical and corporate colleagues to deliver complex digital change safely, effectively and in line with Trust priorities.
The post is based at Darlington Memorial Hospital, with hybrid working and travel across Trust sites as required.
Main duties of the job
You will lead the EPR optimisation programme and provide senior delivery leadership across a portfolio of complex digital initiatives. You will set clear delivery priorities; maintain integrated plans; oversee milestones, resources, risks, dependencies and benefits; and provide robust assurance to programme boards and senior governance forums. Working across clinical, operational, technical, information governance, finance, procurement and supplier teams, you will ensure changes are clinically informed, operationally deliverable and implemented safely. You will strengthen programme and project delivery capability, promoting consistent standards, an improvement-focused culture and clear accountability for delivery. You will manage supplier relationships, releases, upgrades and escalations, and ensure effective transition into business as usual through readiness, adoption, training, documentation, handover and benefits realisation.
Job responsibilities
- Lead planning, prioritisation, governance and delivery assurance for EPR optimisation and the wider digital programme portfolio.
- Coordinate approved EPR developments, configuration changes, upgrades, workflow improvements and benefits activity, ensuring safe implementation and effective change control.
- Develop and maintain integrated programme plans, RAID logs, decision logs, highlight reports, dependency maps, benefits plans and escalation routes.
- Provide clear, evidence-based reporting and recommendations to digital, clinical, operational and executive governance forums.
- Work closely with clinical and operational leaders, EPR teams, integration, ICT, information, data quality, information governance, clinical safety, training, communications, procurement and finance colleagues.
- Manage supplier, implementation partner and external stakeholder relationships, progressing releases, upgrades, dependencies, issues and implementation requirements.
- Lead and develop project managers, programme support officers, business analysts and matrix-managed delivery resources, setting clear expectations and supporting professional development.
- Contribute to budget monitoring, workforce and resource planning, procurement activity, risk management and benefits tracking.
- Ensure programmes transition effectively into business as usual through operational readiness, adoption, documentation, training, handover and post-implementation review.
What we are looking for
You will be educated to Masters level or have equivalent specialist knowledge and experience in digital, programme management, health informatics, service transformation or a related field. You will have significant experience of leading complex digital, EPR, transformation or programme delivery activity in a large organisation, together with strong leadership, influencing, negotiation and delivery assurance skills. You must be able to analyse complex risks, dependencies, resource constraints and delivery options and present clear recommendations to senior stakeholders. Experience of healthcare or the NHS, Oracle Health/Cerner Millennium, portfolio governance, business cases, benefits tracking and relevant programme, project, Agile, ITIL or change qualifications would be advantageous.
Person Specification
Experience
- Significant experience leading complex digital, EPR, health informatics, transformation or programme delivery in a large organisation.
- Experience delivering programmes involving clinical, operational, technical, supplier and governance stakeholders.
- Experience of programme governance, boards, highlight reporting, RAID management, dependency tracking, implementation readiness and post-implementation review.
- Experience of EPR optimisation, system implementation, digital workflow improvement, service transformation or benefits realisation.
- Experience managing staff and/or matrix-leading multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience working with suppliers or external partners.
- Experience of budget monitoring, resource planning and escalation of delivery risks.
- Experience within the NHS or healthcare sector.
- Experience working with senior clinical leadership, executive stakeholders or regional digital partners.
- Experience developing delivery models, portfolio governance or programme management office standards.
Qualifications
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent specialist knowledge, experience and learning in digital, programme management, health informatics, service transformation or a related field.
- Recognised programme or project management qualification, or equivalent demonstrable experience of delivering complex programmes in a structured governance environment.
- Evidence of continued professional development relevant to digital transformation, programme delivery, leadership or health informatics.
- Knowledge of NHS digital strategy, EPR optimisation, clinical safety or digital governance frameworks.
Special Skills & Knowledge
- Highly developed leadership, programme management and delivery assurance skills.
- Strong understanding of EPR optimisation, digital transformation, workflow redesign, benefits realisation and business-as-usual transition.
- Ability to analyse complex risks, issues, dependencies, resource constraints and delivery options and present clear recommendations.
- Excellent communication, influencing, negotiation and facilitation skills.
- Ability to develop programme plans, RAID logs, highlight reports, decision logs, benefits plans and governance documentation.
- Understanding of information governance, clinical safety, cyber security, data quality, procurement, finance and risk management.
- Ability to lead, motivate and develop teams and hold others to account.
- Experience of Oracle Health/Cerner Millennium or another large-scale EPR.
- Understanding of integration, automation, reporting, digital correspondence or patient-facing digital solutions.
- Experience of NHS capital governance, business case development or benefits tracking.
Special Requirements
- Able to travel across Trust sites and to partner organisations as required.
- Able to work flexibly to meet programme demands, including implementation, go-live or escalation activity outside normal office hours where required.
- Committed to inclusive leadership, staff development, continuous improvement and delivery of high-quality digital services supporting patient care.
Employer name: County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Head of EPR and Digital Programme Delivery employer: Cddft
At County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment for our Specialty Doctors in Emergency Medicine. Our commitment to professional development is evident through flexible working hours, opportunities for research funding, and a culture that encourages continuous learning and collaboration within a dedicated team. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the community while advancing your career in a vibrant healthcare setting.
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We think this is how you could land Head of EPR and Digital Programme Delivery
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of EPR and Digital Programme Delivery
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in health sciences administration, it's super important to spotlight any relevant experience you have in healthcare settings. Whether you've worked in a hospital, a clinic, or any related environment, make sure to detail those roles in your CV – focusing on your responsibilities and achievements that align with the job at Cddft.
Showcase Your Administrative Skills:Administrative skills are key in this field, so don’t hold back! Make sure your CV reflects your proficiency in things like scheduling, data management, and compliance with health regulations. Mention specific software you’ve used, such as patient management systems, as this will demonstrate your hands-on abilities and readiness for the role at Cddft.
Craft a Meaningful Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the health sciences field and your eagerness to contribute to Cddft. Share a bit about why you’re drawn to this sector, any impactful situations or challenges you’ve encountered, and how they’ve shaped your desire to work in health sciences administration. This personal touch can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Documents to the Job:Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach! Make sure your CV and cover letter are specifically tailored for this role. Highlight any certifications you have relevant to health administration, and ensure you clearly connect your previous roles to the skills needed for the full-time position at Cddft. This way, you're showing them you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in being a part of their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cddft
✨Showcase Your Administrative Skills
In health sciences administration, being organised is key. Make sure you can demonstrate your skills in managing schedules, paperwork, and data accurately. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, like electronic health record systems or scheduling software, and how they improved efficiency in your past experiences.
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance is crucial. Brush up on HIPAA, GDPR, or other relevant policies before your interview. We recommend preparing examples of how you've ensured compliance or handled sensitive information in past roles—this will show you're not just knowledgeable but also responsible.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Interviews for administrative roles often involve scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills. Practice responses to common situations you might face, such as dealing with a challenging patient or managing a sudden schedule change. This will not only demonstrate your ability to think on your feet but also highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Align Your Goals with the Organisation
As a full-time candidate, employers will want to know how your long-term career goals align with their mission. Take some time to research Cddft’s values and be ready to tie your passion for health sciences administration into their objectives. Demonstrating enthusiasm and career alignment can be a game-changer in this competitive field!
