Job summary
An opportunity has arisen to join the UK Teratology Information Service UKTIS at the Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre (RDTC). The Centre delivers a range of regional and national information services relating to prescribing and medicines optimisation, pharmacy, therapeutics and adverse drug reaction monitoring.
We require an enthusiastic and motivated individual to come and join our like-minded team. Training and mentoring will be provided for this post throughout the probationary period.
- Interview Date 25/08/2023
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will participate in the work of the UKTIS and duties are outlined in the attached job description and specifications. It is important that evidence of the essential criteria from the job description is evidenced in the application.A wide range of experience and skills can be gained from working at the RDTC. The Centre is committed to its staff and provide a comprehensive range of training and development. You will also benefit from flexible working, once training is successfully completed and a friendly and supportive environment.
This post is office-based Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm working at 16/17 Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AB. Hybrid working is available for this post.
As part of the interview process candidates will be requested to complete a short presentation on a topic selected by the panel.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
Rated 'Outstanding' by theCQC for the second consecutive time in 2019, we have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To explore and develop data sources to monitor and assess the potential hazards of exposure to drugs and chemicals in pregnancy, as a result of iatrogenic, environmental or occupational exposures. The post holder will contribute to providing the UK Teratology Information Service, a service hosted by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and commissioned by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This is a service for healthcare professionals throughout the UK which provides advice and risk assessment on any aspect of reproductive toxicity (male or female fertility, preconception advice, pregnancy advice) following exposure to drugs, chemicals and other noxious substances in the environment, the workplace or the home. This also includes advice on the effects of deliberate and accidental poisoning prior to pregnancy and during pregnancy. The main aim of the service is to prevent reproductive toxicity, especially congenital malformations, from occurring by delivering appropriate, accurate, evidence-based advice.
The service is highly active in a number of national and international research activities in the area of reproductive toxicity. The position of Principal Medical Information Scientist and Data Manager has specific responsibility for:
Leading, scoping, shaping and delivering a variety of external and internal projects in the area of reproductive toxicity. This will include:
- Using experience and knowledge to develop data platforms and identify existing data sources for teratogen surveillance.
- Using skills in data science and analytics to define, interpret and provide solutions to complex public health problems in the area of therapeutic medication use in pregnancy.
- Responsibility for data governance within UKTIS and providing advice and support to other departments within the RDTC regarding the use, access and storage of data.
- Writing and publishing high quality reports, documentation and papers for peer review.
- Line managing senior information scientists (Band 7) involved in research and data collection/analysis.
Training, assisting and supporting staff in delivering a national clinical enquiry service.
Supporting the Head and Assistant Head of UKTIS in providing independent advice and recommendations for medication and other chemical/radiological exposures to pregnant women and healthcare professionals in the UK.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To explore and develop data sources to monitor and assess the potential hazards of exposure to drugs and chemicals in pregnancy, as a result of iatrogenic, environmental or occupational exposures. The post holder will contribute to providing the UK Teratology Information Service, a service hosted by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and commissioned by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This is a service for healthcare professionals throughout the UK which provides advice and risk assessment on any aspect of reproductive toxicity (male or female fertility, preconception advice, pregnancy advice) following exposure to drugs, chemicals and other noxious substances in the environment, the workplace or the home. This also includes advice on the effects of deliberate and accidental poisoning prior to pregnancy and during pregnancy. The main aim of the service is to prevent reproductive toxicity, especially congenital malformations, from occurring by delivering appropriate, accurate, evidence-based advice.
The service is highly active in a number of national and international research activities in the area of reproductive toxicity. The position of Principal Medical Information Scientist and Data Manager has specific responsibility for:
Leading, scoping, shaping and delivering a variety of external and internal projects in the area of reproductive toxicity. This will include:
- Using experience and knowledge to develop data platforms and identify existing data sources for teratogen surveillance.
- Using skills in data science and analytics to define, interpret and provide solutions to complex public health problems in the area of therapeutic medication use in pregnancy.
- Responsibility for data governance within UKTIS and providing advice and support to other departments within the RDTC regarding the use, access and storage of data.
- Writing and publishing high quality reports, documentation and papers for peer review.
- Line managing senior information scientists (Band 7) involved in research and data collection/analysis.
Training, assisting and supporting staff in delivering a national clinical enquiry service.
Supporting the Head and Assistant Head of UKTIS in providing independent advice and recommendations for medication and other chemical/radiological exposures to pregnant women and healthcare professionals in the UK.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Person Specification
Meets All Criteria
Essential
- Relevant first degree in Biological or Pharmacological Sciences
- A relevant postgraduate qualification (Master's plus level) in reproductive toxicology
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD), such as postgraduate study, conference attendance including presentation of oral and poster communications and publication of papers
- Significant post graduate experience in the disciplines of toxicology, pharmacology and therapeutics
- Evidence of promoting and contributing to effective research programmes as evidenced by recent publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Proven experience of leading the delivery of timely, innovative data science projects with direct impact on patient care or Public Health.
- Recent or in-depth experience of working with project management frameworks.
- Leadership experience: developing delivery plans, establishing work priorities, delegating effectively, ensuring a capability to deliver, monitoring performance and giving feedback.
- Evidence of the development of partnerships across organisations and establishing collaboration networks between people to achieve desired outcomes.
- Knowledge and experience of managing data security and information governance frameworks
- Manage self and support others, especially under stressful circumstances, using excellent skills supported by relevant qualifications. The post holder is required to complete relevant local personnel training including appraisal and recruitment and selection training when in post
- Lead, support and enable a team to respond to service provision changes within the overall direction of the Head and Assistant Head of Teratology
- Project manage work tasks, whilst responding to tight deadlines
- Balance and progress multiple work activities simultaneously
- Lead the on-going development of data collection and reporting systems, auditing where necessary to ensure accuracy and validity of output
- With the Head and Assistant Head of Teratology, reviews issues, develops and implements procedures relating to the provision and quality assurance of the teratology service and clinical governance
- Ability to ensure delivery of high quality reports, and teaching materials to tight deadlines
- A proven ability to work both independently and as part of or leading a team
- Provide information for NHS professionals, carers and, where appropriate, members of the public on the safety of drugs and chemicals in pregnancy keeping ahead of new service developments relevant to the role and make recommendations for changes to working procedures and outputs where required
- Excellent critical appraisal skills, in particular o Significant experience in use of primary, secondary and tertiary literature sources, including on-line searching and the operation of scientific databases and applications that access Medline o Significant experience in interpreting data, reviewing and evaluating the quality of primary literature, particularly toxicology
- The ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information to a range of healthcare professionals, colleagues and members of the public
- Possess highly developed listening and oral communication skills in order to clearly and concisely deliver information and clinical advice
- Receive and provide information with tact, using persuasion and reassurance skills, where there are barriers to understanding
- Lead on the preparation of plans for the data science and analytical needs of stakeholders
- The post holder will take a lead on the analysis and presentation of data, providing highly complex analyses and interpretations that are relied upon by other stakeholders, colleagues and members of the public
- Must be able to produce high quality written materials, including reports and scientific reviews, being scientifically and grammatically correct and at a level acceptable for external publication
- Understanding of and commitment to modern communication methods, including web-based systems
- Possess excellent presentation and teaching skills appropriate for individuals, small and large groups of both internal and external healthcare professionals at a professional standard
- Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, in particular: Windows, Internet Explorer, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Access and the use of an e-mail application
- The post requires excellent skills in data management, for example: manipulation and analysis of complex, high volume, high dimensionality data, relational and nonrelational databases; SQL/noSQL databases, cloud storage and management, data linkage.
Desirable
- PhD qualification in the area of reproductive toxicology, with a strong component relevant to the data source
- Previous line management responsibilities
- Experience of implementing teratogen surveillance systems
- Experience of agile delivery management
- Commitment to developing own technical data science and core skills
- Evidence of ability to meet tight and challenging deadlines, managing complex data sets and multiple pieces of work
- Knowledge of post-marketing surveillance of therapeutic medications
- Knowledge of public health challenges.
- Knowledge of the code of practice for official statistics, or other equivalent quality frameworks
- Ability to work in challenging or difficult circumstances
Person Specification
Meets All Criteria
Essential
- Relevant first degree in Biological or Pharmacological Sciences
- A relevant postgraduate qualification (Master's plus level) in reproductive toxicology
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD), such as postgraduate study, conference attendance including presentation of oral and poster communications and publication of papers
- Significant post graduate experience in the disciplines of toxicology, pharmacology and therapeutics
- Evidence of promoting and contributing to effective research programmes as evidenced by recent publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Proven experience of leading the delivery of timely, innovative data science projects with direct impact on patient care or Public Health.
- Recent or in-depth experience of working with project management frameworks.
- Leadership experience: developing delivery plans, establishing work priorities, delegating effectively, ensuring a capability to deliver, monitoring performance and giving feedback.
- Evidence of the development of partnerships across organisations and establishing collaboration networks between people to achieve desired outcomes.
- Knowledge and experience of managing data security and information governance frameworks
- Manage self and support others, especially under stressful circumstances, using excellent skills supported by relevant qualifications. The post holder is required to complete relevant local personnel training including appraisal and recruitment and selection training when in post
- Lead, support and enable a team to respond to service provision changes within the overall direction of the Head and Assistant Head of Teratology
- Project manage work tasks, whilst responding to tight deadlines
- Balance and progress multiple work activities simultaneously
- Lead the on-going development of data collection and reporting systems, auditing where necessary to ensure accuracy and validity of output
- With the Head and Assistant Head of Teratology, reviews issues, develops and implements procedures relating to the provision and quality assurance of the teratology service and clinical governance
- Ability to ensure delivery of high quality reports, and teaching materials to tight deadlines
- A proven ability to work both independently and as part of or leading a team
- Provide information for NHS professionals, carers and, where appropriate, members of the public on the safety of drugs and chemicals in pregnancy keeping ahead of new service developments relevant to the role and make recommendations for changes to working procedures and outputs where required
- Excellent critical appraisal skills, in particular o Significant experience in use of primary, secondary and tertiary literature sources, including on-line searching and the operation of scientific databases and applications that access Medline o Significant experience in interpreting data, reviewing and evaluating the quality of primary literature, particularly toxicology
- The ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information to a range of healthcare professionals, colleagues and members of the public
- Possess highly developed listening and oral communication skills in order to clearly and concisely deliver information and clinical advice
- Receive and provide information with tact, using persuasion and reassurance skills, where there are barriers to understanding
- Lead on the preparation of plans for the data science and analytical needs of stakeholders
- The post holder will take a lead on the analysis and presentation of data, providing highly complex analyses and interpretations that are relied upon by other stakeholders, colleagues and members of the public
- Must be able to produce high quality written materials, including reports and scientific reviews, being scientifically and grammatically correct and at a level acceptable for external publication
- Understanding of and commitment to modern communication methods, including web-based systems
- Possess excellent presentation and teaching skills appropriate for individuals, small and large groups of both internal and external healthcare professionals at a professional standard
- Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, in particular: Windows, Internet Explorer, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Access and the use of an e-mail application
- The post requires excellent skills in data management, for example: manipulation and analysis of complex, high volume, high dimensionality data, relational and nonrelational databases; SQL/noSQL databases, cloud storage and management, data linkage.
Desirable
- PhD qualification in the area of reproductive toxicology, with a strong component relevant to the data source
- Previous line management responsibilities
- Experience of implementing teratogen surveillance systems
- Experience of agile delivery management
- Commitment to developing own technical data science and core skills
- Evidence of ability to meet tight and challenging deadlines, managing complex data sets and multiple pieces of work
- Knowledge of post-marketing surveillance of therapeutic medications
- Knowledge of public health challenges.
- Knowledge of the code of practice for official statistics, or other equivalent quality frameworks
- Ability to work in challenging or difficult circumstances
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
