Job summary
Are you looking for your next challenge in digital?
We are pleased to be able to offer an exciting opportunity to join the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) Programme Team at Northampton General Hospital. In partnership with our chosen supplier, we have embarked on our digital excellence journey to implement a nationally-leading EPR system that will transform the quality of care for our patients and staff by having instantly accessible information using the latest mobile technology, reducing paper usage and utilising clinical decision support tools.
The Data Quality Validation Staff will be responsible for ensuring that the quality of data is of the highest standard in order to support the clinical and business requirements and improve decision making across the group as part of the Trust Electronic Patient Record (EPR) Programme. As part of a dynamic and agile team that is committed to our Vision 'Dedicated to Excellence', you will have significant personal opportunities to grow and develop, as well as to tangibly impact how care is delivered in the future.
Fixed Term/Secondment Opportunity ending 31/03/26
If you are hoping to join on secondment, please discuss with your line manager prior to interview if you are shortlisted.
Main duties of the job
The primary purpose of this role is to promote the recording of high quality data across all systems by helping and advising users with data quality problems. This will involve the production of data, information and intelligence using a variety of IT tools and analytical techniques.
The post holder will be required to receive, analyse and communicate a wide range of complex and sensitive information, including confidential patient level information.
The post holder will be responsible for supporting colleagues carrying out audits to measure accuracy and completeness of the data input across our systems, provide data quality advice and support the corporate and clinical teams.
Travel to the hospital site will be required.
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
1. Compassion
2. Accountability
3. Respect
4. Integrity
5. Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Service and Business Management
6. To contribute to the development and implementation of departmental procedures and guidelines, ensuring they are embedded within the team, and monitor group wide policies, procedures and guidelines, proposing changes to improve data quality.
7. Assist the organisation in the improvement of data quality throughout the division, in line with Data Dictionary definitions, promoting the importance and a greater understanding of the need for good data quality throughout the organisation.
8. Provide expert help and advice to system users throughout the business as and when required, to ensure accuracy and completeness of data input is maintained and improved upon.
9. Develop close relationships with the users by making regular work place visits and identify potential data quality problems through links with the users.
10. Develop and maintain audit reports and improvement plans to comply with Information Governance, providing regular reports and dashboards to show progress and action plans for dealing with problem areas, and make recommendations to rectify any issues.
11. To keep abreast of new and amended processes of PAS and relevant key IM&T systems for different areas of the division, in order to determine correct advice and guidance when answering queries.
12. Maintain a data quality log and improvement plan and provide regular reports and dashboards to show progress and action plans for dealing with problem areas.
13. Analyse complex and sensitive data to identify data quality issues and create, develop and maintain data quality reports ensuring action is taken to amend anomalies found.
14. Undertake regular audits as required to comply with Information Governance requirements, provide audit reports to show results and identify areas of weakness, and make recommendations to rectify any issues.
15. Monitor data quality reports and audits, and investigate data quality queries raised by other sources, including external organisations ICS, GP practices etc. Record issues and improvements, reporting these outcomes to relevant departments, proposing change in processes within these areas to improve their data quality.
16. Plan and develop training requirements based on needs analysis, liaising directly with staff/groups responsible for data quality issues, across the division, and deliver targeted core training in a number of different processes, and specialist training in data quality, informing manager of issues and action taken.
17. To analyse and interpret complex information from a number of different sources patient clinical records, clinical information systems, demographic systems, external sources etc, using judgement to determine correct outcomes of data quality investigations, when information is not clearly defined.
18. Attend meetings to promote data quality and ensure delivery of the Data Quality Improvement Plan, discussing issues arising from audits and reports and provide suggestions for solutions.
19. Motivate and persuade all disciplines of staff necessary to achieve accurate data and timely, including Clinicians, Medical Secretaries, Nurses/Midwives, Ward Managers, Ward Clerks, GP practices, National Back Office etc.
20. Work closely with the Clinical Coding Team, ICT Trainers, Finance department and other departments across the group to develop appropriate documentation and reports to improve the quality of information provided for all information flows.
21. Motivate and persuade all disciplines of staff necessary to achieve accurate data and timely, including Clinicians, Medical Secretaries, Nurses/Midwives, Ward Managers, Ward Clerks, GP practices, National Back Office etc.
22. The role is expected to provide mentoring to junior colleagues in the department. This will involve delivering training.
23. Undertake any other reasonable and appropriate duties as may be requested, deputising in matters of Data Quality as required.
Systems and Governance
24. To ensure compliance with all legislation and obligations relating to data, ensuring to review or amend existing departmental procedures are reviewed to ensure requirements are met.
25. Ensure the confidentiality of all information and documentation and adhere to the Data Protection Act 2018, as amended or replaced in future.
26. Complete requested system amendments when the user does not have access to be able to complete the task.
Professional / Personal Development
27. The post holder will need to develop and maintain their own knowledge of developments and legislation relevant to the service area and ensure that each function reflects current professional guidance and standards.
28. The post holder will take responsibility for his or her own professional development, identifying training and educational needs and agreeing ways of addressing these with the Divisional Manager.
Please see attached job description and person specification for further details
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
29. Expert knowledge of, working with, and adhering to complex NHS Data Model and Dictionary definitions, and good understanding of the Information Quality Assurance Initiative in the Information Governance Toolkit
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
30. Expert knowledge of, working with, and adhering to complex NHS Data Model and Dictionary definitions, and good understanding of the Information Quality Assurance Initiative in the Information Governance Toolkit
31. Receiving, producing, interpreting and communicating complex and sensitive information
32. The use of research methodology, undertaking audits, and analysing results to produce comprehensive meaningful reports and action plans, and monitor progression
33. Concentrated working with unpredictable interruptions, sitting for long periods of time working on a PC, & lifting of files
34. Track record of meeting strict targets and deadlines
35. Knowledge of complex data structures and data flows
36. Understanding a wide range of policies and procedures, and experience in proposing changes to them
37. Handling, extracting and interpreting complex and sensitive data
38. Development and review of procedures and audit methodologies and propose changes to policies and procedures across the Organisation
39. Experience of undertaking long periods of concentrated work
Desirable
40. Experience of NHS Systems and applications
Skills
Essential
41. Ability to quickly assimilate complex data definitions and procedures and transfer understanding to non-technical, sometimes hostile staff
42. Investigating and resolving complex issues by interpreting information, using judgement when information is not clearly defined
43. An innovative approach to problem solving and using judgement to determine correct outcomes
44. Understand and propose changes to a wide range of policies and procedures, & develop and review departmental procedures
45. Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a dedicated team
46. Ability to deliver high quality work under pressure, being flexible to meet conflicting demands, planning and re-planning own and team workload
47. Excellent communication and presentation skills
48. Ability to persuade and motivate all levels of staff within the Organisation
49. Advanced report developing skills
50. Training and mentoring
51. Planning and developing training requirements based on needs analysis and delivery of targeted training across the Organisation to individuals and groups
52. Fast and accurate keyboard skills, with excellent IT skills Microsoft Office software
53. IT skills Microsoft Office software X Using judgement to determine correct outcomes
54. Ability to quickly assimilate complex data definitions and procedures and transfer understanding to wide range of staff and technical abilities.
55. Advanced report and audit development skills
56. Ability to observe and understand a wide range of business processes across the Organisation
57. Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team, planning team workloads and re-planning when required
Key Competencies/ Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
58. Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
59. Ability to travel to the Northampton Hospital site and to other sites across the Group