Job responsibilities
Communication and Relationship Skills
Providing highly complex specialist technical advice to Systems & Development and ICT Programme staff in all relevant areas of IT software development and integration.
Providing advice and specialist training on bespoke systems and interfaces developed within the Software Development & Integration team to other ICT team members, project stakeholders and other areas of the wider Trust staff.
Identifying and grasping complex technical issues quickly and advising non-technical colleagues on complex technical issues in a clear way.
Negotiating system design and development priorities with stakeholders when planning development sprints.
Knowledge, Training and Experience
Educated to degree level or equivalent in a software/IT related discipline.
A minimum of 4 years experience working in a software developer role.
In depth knowledge and experience working with C#, .NET technologies and web based programming skills are required. Working knowledge of T-SQL programming to an advanced level, and a good understanding of SQL Server relational database is also required.
Advanced level knowledge of Microsoft Office products Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint.
Demonstrable experience of working with APIs (Advanced Programmer Interfaces) and in particular be familiar with SOAP and REST API web services.
A good understanding of HL7 and FIHR messaging concepts and standards, combined with experience of the Rhapsody Integration Engine for use with integration and interoperability within a healthcare environment.
The ability of maintain and configure Microsoft Windows 10, Windows Server 2012/2016/2019 and IIS 7 will also be required.
Ensuring projects and software releases adhere to the security and information governance standards and requirements as defined by the organisation
The post holder will have detailed knowledge of the technology area and will provide consultancy within the Systems & Development department and for the wider ICT department.
The post holder should also have experience and a good understanding of project methodologies such as Agile or Prince 2.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
Analysing complex user needs, designing systems to meet specification of others, developing code, testing and maintaining systems of organisational importance.
Assisting in identifying, mitigating and managing complex technical risks and potential problems before they become issues.
Analyse and considering options when deciding on the correct course of action when faced with specialist technical issues and technical queries.
Creative approach to problem solving especially in the areas of software development and integration.
Creating, maintaining and configuring software and/or hardware to meet end user needs.
Adopting a specialist analytical approach to IT problems and conducting and leading analysis in situations where the immediate cause of issues may be difficult to ascertain, critical to business and high profile.
Leading application development discussions and negotiations with 3rd parties and senior multi-disciplinary stakeholders to ensure that maximum value can be obtained from collaboration, convergence of technologies and the sharing of knowledge and information.
Planning and Organisational Skills
Managing own work and priorities, and be flexible when dealing with changing priorities.
Liaise with project stakeholders to provide estimates of work involved in achieving the business aims to enable a business cases to be considered.
Managing the planning and organising of complex development projects through regular sprint planning sessions. Tracking the progress of these projects using appropriate tools (Jira) to enable visibility of project progress.
Escalating any issues or delays to senior management as required.
Be flexible in approach to projects and have the ability to multitask as required, planning and managing multiple development projects simultaneously.
Physical Skills
Entry and manipulation of complex data and coding requiring advanced keyboard skills and a high level of accuracy.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care
Incidental contact with patients
Responsibility for Policy/Service Development
Contributing to the creation and maintenance of best practice software development processes to ensure reproducible developments and high quality products for use within the team.
Produces training material and user guides for internal systems.
Contributes to the development of IT security documentation required for audit purposes of software developed and used within the organisation.
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
Advising on the proper and safe use of IT equipment by users.
Ensuring that all bespoke software developments conform to best practice standards for accessibility and user experience.
Advises on the procurement of appropriate hardware (server) and software (licensing) requirements for new project implementations.
Advises on the maintenance and replacement of exiting server infrastructure for internal and publicly accessible software applications.
Responsibility for Human Resources
Deputise for the Software & Integration Development Manager as required.
Through regular 1-2-1 meetings monitor the progress of junior team members and play an active role in their career development.
Plan and allocate work to junior members of the team the team. Mentoring and training of junior members, helping them to build their technical expertise.
Provide training for other members of Trust staff on products developed by the Software Development & Integration team. This includes training of the IT training team in order to allow knowledge to be cascaded to wider staff within the organisation.
Responsibility for Information Resources
Planning, design and delivery of an agreed portfolio of appropriately developed and tested enterprise-wide software applications and interfaces to agreed standards and complying with all necessary security protocols.
Planning, design and implementation of effective integration of ICT systems, ensuring compatibility and reliability are maintained at the highest possible level.
Contributing to the delivery of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trusts bespoke software applications and associated system developments and ensuring that these applications are supported on a day to day basis once in the live environment.
Ensuring that IT developments are implemented in line with the ICT Systems & Development strategy, and ensuring that all developments meet the requirements of the organisation as determined by the Trusts IT strategy.
Maintaining user access and accounts for bespoke software applications developed by the Software Development & Integration team.
Maintaining training material and documentation for bespoke software and integration products developed by the Software Development & Integration team.
Maintaining the infrastructure (SQL and Web Severs) which host all software applications and interfaces developed by the Software Development & Integration team.
Responsibility for Research and Development
Keeping up to date, on an ongoing basis, with best practices in the technical field in order to enable the team to improve the way in which it implements systems, leading to quicker development, easier maintainability and higher quality. Spreading the results of these investigations throughout the department.
Researching and horizon scanning to the identify new and emerging technologies, tools and methodologies to improve the effectiveness of the Software Development & Integration team and the quality of their developments.
Adapting systems on an ongoing basis, as required by local or national policy, to ensure they meet changing end user needs.
Freedom to Act
Managing own workload, prioritising complex project tasks as appropriate.
Be a specialist and technical expert for all matters relating to software development and integration.
Identifying and contributing to the implementation of improvements within the development function.
Take a lead role on researching, advising and testing on new software tools and concepts that may be of value to the team, the end users or to the trust as a whole.
Physical Effort
Primary role involves continuous use of a PC.
Regular attendance of meetings throughout the working week.
Very occasional requirement to carry / move / install computer equipment.
Mental Effort
Ability to maintain prolonged periods of very intense concentration during problem analysis, design and implementation of software solutions.
Ability to concentrate during unpredictable and pressured situations and over long periods, especially when addressing complex technical IT problems and when resolving software errors.
Ability to deal with interruptions and to address unexpected and pressured incidents in the case of IT system failures.
Ability to quickly understand and analyse existing software developments and documentation and to resolve issues for these systems as and when required.
Emotional Effort
Rare exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
Working Conditions
General office conditions.
Primary role involves continuous use of a PC. Risks associated are eye strain and back strain and RSI.
Occasional travel between sites may be required.
Participating in 24/7 on call rota to provide support of systems integration and data flows via the Trust Integration Engine, and providing an escalation point in the event of ICT system incidents related to integrated systems.
