At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of digital clinical systems and enhance patient care through innovative technology.
- Company: Join Mersey and West Lancashire NHS Trust, a top-rated employer in the NHS.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a supportive health and wellbeing programme.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equality and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Degree or relevant experience in IT management, with strong leadership skills.
We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop yourself and your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations. Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.
Job overview
The postholder will be responsible for the strategic development, maintenance, and support of the trust's clinical systems to develop a single, comprehensive digital clinical record. Working closely with the Deputy Director of Informatics and the Chief Clinical Information Officer, the role will contribute and lead the overall strategic development of digital systems and their use to support the trust clinical and operational services. The role provides leadership and line management to the Digital Systems and Project Teams, as well as advice, support and guidance to the staff responsible for administering or managing departmental digital systems. The post is a key member of the trust's senior digital leadership team.
Main duties of the job
- The post holder establishes strong working relationships with internal operational teams and external systems suppliers alike to deliver the necessary suite of digital systems to support the Trust.
- The role is the primary source for advice and guidance for staff managing departmental or other digital systems outside of the IT Department’s corporate responsibilities.
- To be a senior member of the EPR Programme management team and contribute to the strategic decision making and development process which impacts the whole organisation.
- Taking the lead on advising on long‑term strategic IT business plans that impact the whole organisation.
- Assist in the development of the Trust's Digital Strategy ensuring that the whole organisation continues to develop its digital maturity.
- The postholder will be expected to create an environment of continuous quality and service improvement, patient safety and increasing digital maturity, in line with the organisation’s digital strategy, the national Minimum Digital Standards and “What Good Looks Like”.
- The post holder will have a key role in helping to ensure that the organisation achieves its corporate objectives whilst making a positive contribution in ensuring that the care provided is safe, personal, and effective by providing digital solutions that are innovative, reliable, resilient and easy to use.
Working for our organisation
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
Our services:
- Acute Care: Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
- Primary Care: Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
- Community Services: Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire.
- Specialist Regional Services: We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Responsible for the management, delivery of the Digital Systems and Project services acting as the lead for Digital Systems services, offering expert advice and support to the CCIO, Informatics leadership team, Trust senior clinical management, users of corporate clinical systems, senior clinical staff and external agencies as required.
Communications and Relationships
- Provides and receives highly complex or contentious information, communicating with system suppliers, colleague networks, local internal governance arrangements, Trust staff and NHS bodies external to the Trust regarding the management, maintenance, improvement and strategic plans for corporate digital systems which impact the whole organisation.
- Assesses the impact of the gathered information on the Trust’s current plans and adjusts them as required to meet the Trust’s stated goals, aligning with the Digital Strategy and 5-year plan.
- Communicate IM&T service issues to both operational and external staff guiding them on the course of action to take.
- Develops and delivers complex IT presentations to large groups of peers and executive teams.
- Explains the financial, clinical, qualitative and patient safety benefits of the agreed plans for corporate clinical systems to staff at all levels of clinical and non‑clinical staff throughout the Trust, influencing, persuading and negotiating with staff where those plans are contentious.
Person specification
Qualifications
- Degree qualification or Post Graduate qualification MSc/MBA or ability to demonstrate relevant knowledge, skills & experience to masters level
- Prince2 Qualification
- ITIL v3 (or above)
- Relevant qualification or work experience - Change Management
Knowledge & Experience
- Substantial management experience at a senior level in an EPR provision environment within the NHS
- Significant Managerial experience in an IT Department and working with various IT systems
- Significant experience with significant involvement in managing demand from multiple work streams including large scale projects
- Substantial experience of leading a department through a period of significant technological and service change
- Ability to demonstrate success in managing large complex ICT environments
- Experience of working/managing projects as part of the NHS National ICT Strategy
- Successful implementation of complex, large scale IT projects and programmes within NHS organisations
- Experience of managing organisational change projects/programmes
- Previous NHS Experience
Skills
- Demonstrates personal and professional credibility
- Proven leader
Other
- Ability to drive to various hospitals by own car/assisted driver
- Work collaboratively with both IM&T and non‑IM&T colleagues
Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward‑thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification.
The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager.
Flexible Working
We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that all employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
Working for Team MWL
Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts.
You will be expected to undertake the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software.
Associate Director - Clinical Systems employer: Merseywestlancs
At St Helens Hospital, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment for our Therapy Assistants. Our commitment to professional development ensures that you will have ample opportunities to grow your skills while making a meaningful impact on patient care. With a focus on teamwork and collaboration, you'll be part of a dedicated team that values diversity and fosters innovation in rehabilitation services.
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We think this is how you could land Associate Director - Clinical Systems
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We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director - Clinical Systems
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