Pathology IM&T Manager (Band 8a) - English - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board - #1721391

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Pathology IT department, in Lab Medicine, in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. This role provides strategic project support for national and local projects, operational support and leadership for the department and team. 
The role works closely with the Lab Medicine managers for the Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusions and Cellular Pathology labs, providing a pathology IM&T service on long term projects as well as daily support as needed. The team supports the management of new hardware and software into the labs from project initiation through to installation, training and aftercare. 
The successful candidate will need to have a thorough understanding of IM&T including digital and programming experience, ideally with NHS experience. They will need to be able to think strategically to manage the multiple complex projects that are on going for the service including the LIMS TCLe upgrade. They will also need to be able to respond to urgent queries and support the team to provide a high quality service. 

Leadership and management of all aspects of the Pathology IM&T agenda which includes:

 • Informatics/ digital projects identified as part of the Pathology IMTP, involving planning and implementing a broad range of activities and new ways of working across all labs and sites.

• Support of strategic and operational service modernisation through the implementation of technology.

• Manage the Pathology IM&T programmes and projects, within timeframes and with KPIs.

• Support and train teams as appropriate for staff within the team and the labs more widely.

• Production of policies, plans, documentation, guidance and training for appropriate staff to ensure implementing major initiatives, programmes and projects are produced, developed and adhered to.

 • Benefits are realised using new or existing technology where appropriate, which contributes to the Health Board’s strategic objectives and benefits patient care.

• Department budget manager for a range of highly complex, highly sensitive projects.

• Line manager for Pathology IM&T team members.

• Ensuring an effective and efficient on-site Pathology IM&T service is available to support the labs in day to day operational queries.

• Point of contact for other departmental Informatics leads e.g. Main IT, Networks Team.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services.   Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.

Our mission is “Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together”, and our vision is that every person’s chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. Our 10-year transformation and improvement strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, is our chance to work collaboratively with the public and our workforce to make our health board more sustainable for the future.

Strategy

Understand and promote the strategic direction for Pathology IM&T within and external to the Health Board. This will include:

·       Keeping up to date with the national implementation programme for NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS) and its impact on local developments.

·       Contributing to the development of the Health Board’s operational plans including supporting the setting of the strategic direction for the Informatics division.

·       Keeping up to date with national guidance, identifying opportunities for the introduction of new technology to transform working practices by using this knowledge to inform the scope and direction of projects.

·      Represent Pathology directorate by actively participating in Health Board wide Committees and Groups relating to Informatics (also external organisations such as NWIS and other Health Boards).

Management (Planning)

Lead on all Pathology IM&T related programmes including:

·         Preparation of business cases, specifications and project plans.

·         Liaise with Finance, IM&T (national/local) and other bodies, e.g. Welsh Government, to acquire resources in order to deliver projects according to plan.

Make decisions on a range of complex/highly complex project issues where there may be more than one course of action.

Lead on a range of operational/strategic plans for performance improvement in new areas across sites, imparting sometimes unwelcome news to generate need for change.

Lead in the production of Pathology Informatics programme plans and reports, the analysis and understanding of organisational performance and effectiveness in relation to performance targets and key performance indicators.

Support Cardiff and Vale UHB sustainability plans when managing projects.

Project Management

·        Manage and support complex Pathology IT projects as identified in the Service Group IMTP. This will involve planning, monitoring and controlling projects throughout the project lifecycle using highly developed techniques such as based on PRINCE 2 methodology or similar.

Communication

·       Understand when to use information which may be of a contentious or highly political nature to persuade and motivate senior leaders at all levels up to Welsh Government.

·       Ability to deliver high quality presentations, which may contain highly complex information, to a variety of professions on aspects of the Pathology informatics programme. This may include demonstrating knowledge in relation to other organisational operational or strategic initiatives and how these initiatives align with Pathology IM&T programmes.

·       Participate in forums in order to update Pathology, Service Delivery Unit and Health Board staff on any project issues/progress.

·       Ensure effective communications are maintained within Pathology and with the Informatics Directorate.

·       Support the Directorate Manager, Lead Service Managers and Service Group Manager Clinical Support Services in delivering high quality performance reports.

·       Communicate with external bodies being aware of sensitivities and political considerations.

Governance

·       Ensure guidelines and procedures exist for the safety and security of patient information in line with UKAS and data protection requirements with respect to departmental Informatics systems.

·       Establish a robust procedure for fault identification, reporting and root cause analysis.

·       Provide an out of hours support rota for Pathology as operationally necessary e.g. planned maintenance downtime etc.

·       Monitor the quality and integrity of data within Pathology Informatics systems and liaise with informatics, NWIS and/or Pathology Directorate Manager as required.

·       Regularly report through formal one to one process performance of the Informatics department including systems performance.

·       Advise Pathology Lead Service Managers of any potential, perceived or actual threat to the data integrity, data quality, and information quality or system/application security.

·       Immediate reporting to Pathology Lead Service Managers and other department e.g. Main IT, of any failure, delay or item of significance which might adversely affect LIMS, other applications or external services.

Financial Responsibility

The Service Group Managers will hold their departmental budget, however the Pathology IM&T Manager will be expected to manage the Pathology IM&T budget and:

·       Engage with procurement to ensure best value for money is secured for IM&T purchases.

·       Manage maintenance contracts for IT equipment and ensure timely renewal of critical contracts.

·       Establish pathways to ensure the Pathology Management and Service Group Manager has access to business intelligence performance data for external and internal stakeholders.

·       Demonstrate value for money when developing and deploying IM&T based projects.

HR/Management/Education/Training

·       Line manage all Pathology IM&T team staff in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

·       Responsible for first-line disciplinary, capability and resolution, matters for department staffing, participating in formal procedures when required.

·       Organise the provision of support, training and development for all new and trainee staff.

·       Support the continual development of all departmental staff.

·       Maintain own personal professional development and continuing education (national and regional meetings, update courses, workshops and lunchtime seminars).

·       Participate as an appraiser for Value Based Appraisals (VBAs).