JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title:AssistantInformation Scientist - Document Supply

National Guideline Alliance

Directorate:Education and Quality

Grade:3

Post holder:

Responsible to:Information Scientist

Responsible for:

Hours:22.5

The Department

The RCOG has been commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to produce evidence-based guidelines for health and social care in England and Wales in a wide variety of topics including women and children’s health, cancer and mental health.

The National Guideline Alliance (NGA) is the team within the Education and QualityDirectorate, which has a staff complement of around 50 and is responsible for continuously developing at least 15 guidelines.

Purpose

NICE guidance is developed to improve the quality of care within the NHS and Social Care. It is based upon the best available evidence and informs practitioners, the public and government agencies on the most effective care for specific health conditions.

The role of theAssistant Information Scientist is:

  • To provide a document supply and informatics service to support the work of NGAevidence based guideline development
  • To contribute to the quality of information science processes within the NGA.
  • To provide administrative support for the NGA web pages.

Main duties

Document Supply
  1. Contribute to the development of guidelines by providing informatics support across the work programme, using reference management software such as STAR and Endnote.
  2. Manage document supply and inter-library loans, sourcing journal articles by the most cost-effective method.
  3. Identify and download articles that can be freely downloaded from e-journals and via NGA electronic search facilities.
  4. Obtain articles that require ordering in print or electronic formats from suppliers, such as the RCOG Library, the Royal Society of Medicine or the British Library, or visit the relevant libraries to photocopy available articles.
  5. Process invoices for inter-library loans, following agreed NGA processes.
  6. Organise and classify hardcopy and electronic references via the STAR research system, and other electronic systems that the NGA may use.
  7. Support organisational compliance with copyright requirements, by completion and storage of copyright forms.
  8. Contribute positively to the improvement of procedureswithin the NGA, identifying areas where supply processescould be improved or streamlined.
  9. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other NGA staff, contributing to the effectiveness of team meetings and communications.
  10. Re-run literature searches for guideline projects nearing completion when required.
General Administration
  1. Provide day-to-day management of the NGA web page content, making routine updates, for example, example, when guidelines are published or new guideline topics are commissioned.
  2. Assist with processing NGA invoices if required.
  3. Provide administrative cover for the NGA in the absence of other staff in NGA who have an administrative role.
  4. Undertake any other duties related to the job purpose which may be necessary in the work of the NGA.

Note: This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the job holder.

Signed: ______Date: ______

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ASSISTANT INFORMATION SCIENTIST

Education requirements

Essential criteria / Desirable criteria
  • Grade A-C GSCE in Maths and English (or equivalent)
/
  • Educated to Degree level (or equivalent)

Experience

Essential criteria / Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in an office environment performing administrative tasks
/
  • Experienced in using document supply services
  • Experienced in using online biomedical databases
  • Experienced in using reference management software (for example, Endnote)
  • Experienced in using website Content Management Systems

Skills and abilities

Essential criteria / Desirable criteria
  • Highly organised, using effective systems and processes
  • Delivers reliably to deadline
  • Demonstrable interpersonal skills to work constructively and flexibly with a wide range of stakeholders
  • Able to record information accurately
  • Able to exercise absolute discretion with confidential and sensitive information
  • Excellent computer skills (e.g. using MS Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
/
  • Internet search skills

Other requirements

Essential criteria / Desirable criteria
  • Demonstrates a flexible and adaptable approach to work
  • Undertakes tasks and supports organisational aims in a constructive and positive manner
  • Close attention to detail
  • Able to work independently
  • Contributes positively to team dynamics
  • Respectful of other team members ideas
  • Exercises tact and diplomacy
  • Punctual and reliable
  • Demonstrates commitment to self-development and learning
  • Highly self-motivated

Competencies

  1. Personal effectiveness
  • Takes ownership and organises self to deliver results
  • Is reliable, consistent and demonstrates a positive “can do” attitude
  • Makes decisions with confidence and takes initiative in problem solving
  1. Quality
  • Is skilled and knowledgeable in own functional area/ has recognised functional expertise in own team or department
  • Seeks improvement and takes responsibility for continuous self-development
  1. Communication
  • Communicates assertively, confidently and clearly at all levels
  • Adapts communication depending on audience needs and desired outcome
  • Influences successfully across the College and beyond
  1. Working together
  • Builds good working relationships
  • Contributes to the success of the team
  • Demonstrates a commitment to equality of opportunity and dignity at work
  1. Customer focus
  • Ensures a high quality customer service is provided in own area
  • Builds rapport with customers and treats them consistently and well
  • Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in order to meet customer needs and manage expectations
  1. Managing change
  • Manages change effectively in own area and supports others in the process
  • Is open-minded, seeks and encourages innovation

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