Band 8a - Shared Patient Record Technical Systems Lead in Watford

Band 8a - Shared Patient Record Technical Systems Lead

Band 8a

Main area Corporate Grade Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 360-E-11751

Department name West Herts - General Staffing Site Watford Hospital Town Watford Salary £59,798 - £67,020 pa inc HCA Salary period Yearly Closing 28/09/2026 23:59

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and motivated technical professional to lead the day-to-day technical management, optimisation and development of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Shared Patient Record.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of shared care information across health and care organisations. You will act as the technical subject matter expert for the service, leading system enhancements, integrations, testing, technical assurance, supplier engagement and the resolution of complex incidents.

Working closely with NHS partner organisations, clinical and digital teams, information governance colleagues and suppliers including Oracle Health Cerner, you will ensure that the Shared Patient Record remains secure, reliable, effective and aligned with local, regional and national interoperability priorities.

You will bring significant experience of healthcare interoperability, systems integration or digital service delivery, together with knowledge of technologies and standards such as APIs, FHIR, HL7, GP Connect and health information exchange platforms. Strong analytical, problem-solving, stakeholder engagement and communication skills are essential.

The post offers the opportunity to contribute to emerging priorities including digital care planning, NHS App integration, neighbourhood health and the national Single Patient Record agenda.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide technical leadership for the Hertfordshire and West Essex Shared Patient Record, managing its day-to-day operation, optimisation and development. Responsibilities include leading system enhancements, integrations, testing, upgrades and technical assurance; investigating complex incidents, data-quality and patient-matching issues; monitoring system performance, interfaces, access controls and digital certificates; and maintaining technical documentation and operational procedures.

The role will manage relationships with Oracle Health Cerner and other suppliers, coordinate the onboarding of new organisations and data flows, and provide expert technical advice to governance groups and regional and national forums. Key relationships include clinical, operational, digital, information governance and technical teams across partner NHS organisations, the Central East ICB, suppliers and interoperability partners.

Core hours are 37.5 hours per week, with flexibility required to support planned changes and service incidents.
Hybrid working will be considered, Will require days to be on site.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide technical leadership for the Hertfordshire and West Essex Shared Patient Record, ensuring the platform and its associated interoperability services remain secure, reliable and fit for purpose.
Key duties will include:

• Leading the design, configuration, testing and implementation of system enhancements, integrations and new data-sharing capabilities.
• Acting as the technical subject matter expert for interoperability architecture, data flows, interfaces, APIs, FHIR, HL7 and GP Connect.
• Investigating and resolving complex technical incidents, system outages, data-quality issues and patient-matching exceptions.
• Managing technical testing, release management, upgrades and change assurance to minimise risk and maintain service continuity.
• Monitoring system performance, interface availability, access controls, audit requests, digital certificates and the Master Patient Index.
• Maintaining technical specifications, architecture diagrams, configuration records, operational procedures and support documentation.
• Managing relationships with Oracle Health Cerner and other suppliers, including incidents, service requests, releases and improvement plans.
• Coordinating the technical onboarding of new organisations, systems and data-sharing partners.
• Working collaboratively with clinical, operational, technical and information governance colleagues across partner organisations.
• Providing expert technical advice to governance groups and representing the system at local, regional and national interoperability forums.
• Supporting the development of future interoperability roadmaps, NHS App integration and emerging Single Patient Record priorities.

Person specification

Education

• Degree-level qualification in Information Technology, Computer Science, Health Informatics, Digital Health, Information Systems or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience gained within a relevant technical environment.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in digital technologies, interoperability, systems integration, healthcare informatics or related technical disciplines.
• Relevant technical qualification(s) or significant practical experience in interoperability, systems integration, healthcare information exchange, infrastructure, applications support or digital service delivery.
• Demonstrable experience working at a specialist technical level within a healthcare, digital, interoperability or information technology environment.
• Knowledge and experience equivalent to postgraduate level acquired through a combination of formal education, professional qualifications and significant practical experience

Knowledge

• Specialist knowledge of Shared Care Records, interoperability platforms, health and care data-sharing frameworks, and information exchange across multiple healthcare organisations and technology systems.
• Good understanding of interoperability standards and technologies, including APIs, FHIR, HL7, GP Connect, Health Information Exchange (HIE) platforms and system integration principles.
• Knowledge of NHS digital services, Integrated Care Systems, information-sharing initiatives and the evolving national interoperability and Single Patient Record (SPR) landscape.
• Knowledge of information governance, data protection legislation, patient confidentiality, information-sharing agreements and direct care data-sharing principles.
• Experience of working with technology suppliers and third-party support providers, including service management processes, incident management, change control, testing, upgrades and release management.

Experience

• Significant experience supporting, implementing or managing interoperability, integration or digital healthcare systems within the NHS or a similarly complex healthcare environment.
• Proven experience of delivering technical system developments, upgrades, integrations and change activities, including requirements gathering, testing, implementation and post-deployment support.
• Experience of working collaboratively with clinical, operational, technical, information governance and supplier stakeholders to deliver digital solutions and service improvements.
• Experience of managing and coordinating third-party suppliers and support providers, including incident management, service requests, problem management, root cause analysis, change control, release management and technical issue resolution.
• Demonstrable experience of investigating and resolving complex technical issues, assessing risks and impacts, and maintaining service continuity within a business-critical digital service.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate complex technical issues, assess impacts and identify effective solutions within interoperability and data-sharing environments.
• Ability to interpret and translate complex clinical, operational and technical requirements into technical specifications, solution designs and implementation plans.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing work demands, manage technical risks and dependencies, and coordinate multiple activities simultaneously.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with clinical, operational, technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to present and explain complex technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences, producing clear documentation, reports, procedures and training materials.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire.

As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Victoria Houghton Job title Head of EPR Adoption & Optimisation Email address victoria.houghton@nhs.net

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
Telephone 01442 365234