Welcome from our Chief Executive

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

Sussex Partnership's data strategy is a forward-looking step towards increasing our use of data to best benefit patients, our staff and our communities. As part of this strategy, we are increasing our capacity for professional data science within our team. The successful applicant will have specialist knowledge in an area of statistics /information analysis, which they are looking to apply within the field of healthcare. The person in this role will be supported to grow their skills as we grow as an organisation.

Data are generated from a range of clinical and non-clinical systems and this role will support the Trust by combining relevant datasets to answer direct queries as well as perform investigative analysis which will help the development of new services / operational approaches to optimise treatment and achieve improved outcomes for patients.

The post holder will apply expertise of coding and analytical languages e.g., MS SQL Server, T-SQL, Python, R, and be willing and able to expand their knowledge in this area, through supported professional development.

The post holder will have the skills or ability to rapidly develop skills, in using Business Intelligence development tools e.g., Power BI, tableau, to fulfil reporting requirements, using data models, DAX, SQL. They will have a good knowledge of data visualization and produce front end reporting in collaboration with end users.

Main duties of the job

• Implement and help design analytical and investigative analysis of Trust datasets following best practice standards and taking advantage of emerging techniques and technologies e.g., Python, R, Trusted Research Environments.
• To provide statistical and analytics expertise to make judgements on best techniques to apply to analytical investigation, including how to improve the utility of datasets where challenges of quality exist.
• To participate in wider health system development in the use of data and analytics to support improvements to patient care, population health and to the efficiency of health service delivery.
• Create front end Power BI visualisation to enable end users to interact with analytical reporting. Uses DAX to support flexibility in design and works with BI developers to move design features back through the data generation process as standards for reporting become embedded.
• Take a leading role in the continuing development and support of Sussex Partnership's emerging data science function.
• Gather highly complex requirements relating to data analytics and reporting and maintain up to date documentation. Translate customer requirements into a detailed technical specification.
• Analyse the data requirements and determine what data sources will be involved.
• Support and where appropriate lead on activities to increase data quality and completeness.
• Develops and delivers formal, complex technical presentations to colleagues.

Working for our organisation

We are a large NHS Mental Health Trust and are looking for skilled and enthusiastic people to help us provide high quality services for the patients, carers and local communities that we serve.

Joining our team you will become part of a service dedicated to helping to provide the best outcomes and experience for people using our services and a great working experience for staff. We do not underestimate the challenges ahead and work together to support one another to drive forward innovation and change. Your personal professional development is important to us and you will be provided with opportunities to develop, as well as a flexible and supportive approach to your work life balance.

Sussex Partnership is an equal opportunities employer, with a sincere commitment to our people's health and emotional wellbeing and as such, we have signed the Time to Change pledge and provide a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

In addition, our workforce is currently under-represented by people from Black and Minority Ethnic and Disabled communities. We welcome applications from people of these communities as we want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated our services good, following their most recent inspection, and outstanding in the caring domain.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Area

Detail

Communication & Relationship skills

Provides and receives highly complex information relating to analysis and reporting of clinical and non-clinical data to both technical and non-technical professionals.

Communicates information clearly, tactfully and at the appropriate level of complexity for the intended audience. Seeks to influence outcome where necessary.

Develops and delivers formal, technical presentations to colleagues.

Supports the prioritization of work concerning system design and development to support effective analysis and reporting processes with non-IM&T managers.

Knowledge, Training and experience

Specialist knowledge of statistical techniques and information management standards acquired through degree or equivalent experience. Plus, further workplace training or development.

Knowledge and expertise of coding and analytical languages e.g. MS SQL Server, T-SQL, Python, R. Capability to expand knowledge in this area.

Skills or ability to use Business Intelligence development tools e.g. Power BI, tableau, to fulfil reporting requirements, using data models, DAX, SQL to produce front end reporting in collaboration with end users. Advises on best visualizations to communicate to non-technical users, the key messages of the analysis.

In depth specialist knowledge in an area of statistics /information analysis, developed beyond degree level through further study or workplace-based experience.

Analytical & Judgement Skills

Analyses and investigates complex operational and clinical queries and offers solutions. Uses specialist knowledge to help develop understanding of issues or problems which are impacting on operational or clinical service delivery.

Applies specialist skills to developing knowledge and evidence base help within the organisation. Helps move the organisation towards a learning health system approach.

Works as part of business intelligence team to develop the appropriate design of data structures to support effective analytics and insight development.

Uses expertise to make judgements on which statistical / information analytical techniques are appropriate.

Uses knowledge to improve utility of datasets where challenges such as data quality and completeness are factors.

Planning & Organisational Skills

Initiates and plans own work. Organizes workload with colleagues and line manager to meet project deadlines and customer requirements.

May lead on discrete areas of work, supported by wider analytical and IM&BI team.

Physical Skills

Advanced keyboard skills / inputting and manipulating data, information into computer databases.

Patient / Client Care

Contact with patients is incidental.

Policy & Service

Implements departmental policies within own work area. Proposes / contributes to changes to working practices as a result of new guidelines or legislation.

Proposes changes to and re-designs statistical, information and local managerial policies, concepts and procedures which may impact on other areas e.g. contributes to cross-professional working groups advising on new data collection for implementation at local level.

Financial & Physical

Observes personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources used in course of work.

Human Resources

Responsible for day-to-day supervision or co-ordination of staff within a defined project area for which post holder has been designated lead.

Regularly responsible for providing training in own discipline/practical training or undertaking basic workplace assessments to staff within own team and outside of it within the organisation or wider Integrated Care Board.

Supports the establishment of professional analytical networks across the organisation and wider ICB. Contributes to building relationships to support the flow of best practice across such networks.

Information Resources

Responsible for introducing, adapting and improving systems to input, store and disseminate information used in statistical analysis.

Responsible for supporting the operation of one or more information systems for collection of statistical / analytical information.

Responsible for supporting the planning, development, review, update, upgrade and introduction of major new IM&T systems to meet user requirements.

Contributes towards the development of integrated datasets that support system-wide analytical insight.

Research and Development

Undertakes surveys, audits or research to support service development; audit of data quality; develops methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of data.

Test or adapts data systems, including applications and hardware. Develops information tools used Trust-wide for patient tracking and care.

Freedom to Act

Works to achieve agreed objectives and is given freedom to do this working within broad professional or organizational policies.

Advises without reference to manager to provide leadership within own specialist area.

Guidance may be provided by peers or external reference points.

Physical Effort

Desk based with requirement to attend meetings throughout the working week.

Home based working offered with requirement remaining to attend the office as agreed with suitable period of notice.

Mental Effort

Frequent requirement for concentration when analysing data, designing data structures and data scripts, writing reports.

Possible interruptions from customers; occasional requirement to concentrate for long periods on complex data analysis.

Emotional Effort

Exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances is rare

Working Conditions

Exposure to unpleasant working conditions or hazards is rare.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential criteria

• Degree level or equivalent qualification / previous professional experience
• Other training and experience in a workplace setting (see below)

EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria

• Significant experience in the application of database query and report writing tools such as SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and MS Access in report production and presentation
• Experience of complex data analysis and data comparison.
• Significant experience of analytical coding language e.g. MS SQL Server, T-SQL, python, R
• Experience applying advanced statistical methods and techniques

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.