Health Informatics Career Framework - Job Description

Job Details

Job title / Senior Systems Developer
Pay band / grade:
Department:
Reporting to:
Responsible for:
Location(s):

Job Overview

General statement / The overall purpose of Informatics has been defined as to:
Enable promote and support the effective use of data, information, knowledge and technology to support and improve health and health care delivery[1]
Therefore, the role of Informatics is to ensure an organisation has the required cost effective systems, information and technology services needed to provide excellent clinical care to its patients, in conjunction with its partners throughout the wider health community.
Job specifics / The post holder will provide a comprehensive systems development, consultancy and support service to the organisation.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.  To specify, design, develop and maintain systems for all customers across the organisation.

2.  To set up and manage a process for communicating with customers the latest information regarding their developments/requests

3.  To ensure the continuous availability of all supported systems across the organisation.

4.  To provide advice and guidance on all NHS systems development issues for the organisation, enabling and informing customers to plan and run their services effectively and efficiently within local and national guidelines.

5.  To deliver high quality systems that meet the quality standards demanded by the customer.

6.  To ensure targets and standards as described in each of the customers’ Service Level Agreement are met.

7.  To provide customers with systems employing the latest technologies within the available resources

8.  To ensure adherence to and to assist in the creation of team protocols

9.  To keep abreast of and implement standards for web and other applications as directed by relevant policies and protocols.

10.  To assist in and ensure adherence to the project management framework as implemented in the team

11.  To assist in the development of standards for documentation and ensure adherence to these standards.

12.  To assist in the development of standards for the development, testing, version control and implementation of software components, and ensure adherence to these standards

13.  To ensure that all developments are in line with the appropriate policies and strategies for server, networking and security, and to liaise with staff in these specialties.

14.  To assist in the development and monitoring of processes for the support of systems, and requests for change/development

General

Performance Reviews/Performance Obligation

The post holder will be expected to participate in the organisation’s Individual Performance Review process to ensure continued professional development.

Job Limitations

At no time should the post holder work outside their defined level of competence. If the post holder has concerns regarding this, they should immediately discuss them with their manager/supervisor/consultant. All staff have a responsibility to inform those supervising their duties if they are not competent to perform a duty.

Confidentiality

In line with the Data Protection Act 1998, the post holder will be expected to maintain confidentiality in relation to personal and patient information, as outlined in the contract of employment. The post holder may access information only on a need to know basis in the direct discharge of duties and divulge information only in the proper course of duties.

Risk Management

The organisation is committed to protecting its staff, patients, assets and reputation through an effective risk management process. The post holder will be required to comply with the organisation’s Risk Management Policy, Health and Safety Policy and other associated policies and to actively participate in this process, having responsibility for managing risks and reporting exceptions.

Records Management

The post holder has a legal responsibility to treat all records created, maintained, used or handled as part of their work within the organisation in confidence (even after an employee has left the organisation). They also have a duty to manage records in line with the organisation’s records management policy. Included in these are records relating to patient health, finance, personnel and administrative functions, whether paper based or electronic. All staff have a responsibility to consult their manager if they have any doubts about the correct management of the records with which they work.

Equal Opportunities
The post holder will be expected to comply with and promote the organisation's
Equal Opportunity Policy and avoid any behaviour which discriminates against
colleagues, potential employees, patients/clients or their families on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, age, belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion, disability, sexual orientation or political opinion

Health and Safety

The post holder is required to cooperate with the organisation to ensure health and safety duties and requirements are complied with. It is the post holder’s personal responsibility to conform to procedures, rules and codes of practice; and to use properly and conscientiously all safety equipment, devices, protective clothing and equipment which is fitted or made available, and to attend training courses as required. All staff have a responsibility to access Occupational Health and other support in times of need and advice.

Job Description

This job description is not inflexible but is an outline and account of the main duties. Any changes will be discussed fully with the post holder in advance. The job description will be reviewed periodically to take into account changes and developments in service requirements.


Person Specification

Essential / Desirable
Education/
Qualifications / Degree in a relevant subject (eg ICT) or equivalent (or equivalent experience)
Vendor qualification (e.g. Microsoft Certified IT Professional – MCITP, Microsoft Certified Database Administrator – MCDBA, Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator – MCSA) / ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management (ITIL v3)
Vendor programming language qualifications (eg SQL Server 2008 Database Development - MCTS, and related to JavaScript, VBA, VB.net, XML/XSL, HTML)
ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing
PRINCE2 Foundation Certificate (or equivalent project management methodology)
Personal qualities / Able to work on own initiative and also effectively as part of a team.
Good negotiation and influencing skills.
Experience / Experience of managing the complete systems development life cycle.
High level of experience of programming in a number of computer programming languages to include some or all of ASP.NET .net framework, C#, CSS, XML/XSL, HTML, SQL server and JavaScript, as well as the administration and maintenance of IIS services.
Experienced in the usage of Microsoft Visual Studio for application development.
Experience in database design, database/datasource integration.
Experience of relational database design as well as schema and query optimisation / Five years’ or more experience of software engineering covering many roles and functions within the team.
Some management experience within the NHS, ideally in the field of software engineering.
Experience of developing and interfacing complex multi-tier applications.
Experience of Web design including implementation of accessibility guidelines
Skills and knowledge / Able to identify and understand the underlying issues in complex problems or situations.
Ability to apply project management principles.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, written, oral and presentation.
Strong and clear understanding of technical standards and methods used in software engineering.
Knowledge of current developments in web technologies, products, tools and standards.
Knowledge and understanding of database design techniques appropriate for specific applications.
Knowledge of data integration issues and tools.
Knowledge of the various forms of documentation produced by a software engineering team and an understanding of how each target audience might require a different approach. / Very well acquainted with appropriate technical standards and able to select appropriate and interoperable standards for use in specific applications.
Knowledge of the IT Infrastructure library (ITIL)
Understanding of workflow, electronic forms, document management, etc and how these might be used to improve efficiencies in business processes.
Other

Date last updated: [26/03/2011] Page 4 of 4

[1] Taken from the Functional Map for Health Informatics (Skills for Health 2004).