Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

18 Week Referral to Treatment (RTT) Data Validation Officer

The closing date is 22 April 2026

Job summary

This vacancy is currently only open to internal applicants from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

An opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Validation Team as a 18 Week RTT Validation Officer.

The post holder will join a team responsible for the validation of patient records against last clinic letter and clinical systems to ensure the patient is accurately recorded on the Trust Patient Administration System (PAS) or where the relevant information is not available, to note this on the patient record for further investigation.

Full training will be provided and supporting Standard Operating Procedures will be made available. The purpose of the Validation team is to improve RTT pathways and ensure that patient pathways are accurate and are visible to divisions for chronological booking.

The post holder will also be expected to work within the validation team potentially supporting other data quality projects as and when necessary, with a view to actively reduce patients waiting times and improving data quality across the Trust to improve patient flow.

The successful candidate must be able to work on their own initiative, manage own workload once set, meet Trust and Government targets as instructed, ideally will have previous NHS/hospital experience.

For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Judith Shervington Judith.shervington@nhs.net or Luke Kelsall l.kelsall@nhs.net

Main duties of the job

To become an expert in 18 week rules and guidance and become an expert in the Trusts Access Policy.

Undertake extensive validation of data derived from medical records and Trust systems to ensure primary source items of dataset are accurate.

To acquire and maintain knowledge and skills in the interpretation of relevant medical terminology

To identify and action data quality issues as appropriate

Identify and amend inaccuracies on the PAS system

To validate and enter 18 week RTT data accurately and efficiently onto the computerised information system (PAS) for the monitoring of patients pathways and for the collection of statistics

To analyse and make informed decisions regarding patient pathways from viewing electronic clinical notes

To respond and update all enquires sent to the Validation Queries mailbox

To attend any meetings and training courses as relevant to the post

To collect additional data on an ad-hoc basis when required by the Validation Manager/Team Leader.

To support the RTT performance team in all aspects of monitoring the 18 Week Target to sustain the criteria necessary for the Department of Health requirements

To record accurately the reasons for patient breaches through documentation and submission to the performance team managers

To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other staff in the departments and the Trust

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Date posted

08 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,760 to £27,476 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9365-26-0249-S1

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Working RelationshipsValidation Manager, Validation Team Leader, Validation Team Members, Medical Secretaries, Information team, Directorate Management, All other Trust staff as appropriate

Risk Assessment

Sitting at computer desk viewing computer monitors for long periods

Consistently high level of concentration required to analyse and edit patient data on PAS Able to work in a pressured environment to external reporting deadlines

Job Purpose

The 18 week pathway requires the NHS to measure the total period waited by each patient and to manage each patients journey from referral to treatment in a timely and efficient manner. Providing accurate information on how long pathways are is essential; improvements to services rely on information being reliable and being provided as close to real-time as possible, and reports to the DOH are produced and published so that patients can see how long they will wait at each Trust

To enable the Trust to monitor, report and performance manage the 18 week target. Referral to treatment data has to be recorded across all consultant led clinics and some other outpatient functions.

The role of the Data Quality Validator is to validate and input patient information in relation to patients 18-week pathways into OASIS (PAS) on a daily basis so as to keep patient records up to date.

Key Duties

become an expert in 18 week rules and guidance

Become an expert in the Trusts Access Policy

To locate missing data by whatever process is necessary including contacting medical secretaries, reviewing case notes etc

Undertake extensive validation of data derived from medical records and Trust systems to ensure primary source items of dataset are accurate

Ensure all outcomes for relevant patients are updated and entered into the relevant system following hospital attendances

To acquire and maintain knowledge and skills in the interpretation of relevant medical terminology

To identify and action data quality issues as appropriate

Identify and amend inaccuracies on the PAS system

Maintain strict codes of confidentiality and security at all times as the nature of the work involves the handling and processing of sensitive personal data, and adhere to the Data Protection Act

To validate and enter 18 week RTT data accurately and efficiently onto the computerised information system (OASIS) for the monitoring of patients pathways and for the collection of statistics

To analyse and make informed decisions regarding patient pathways from viewing electronic clinical notes

To establish good working relationships with validation team members, providing support for any patient pathway decisions when necessary

To support the Validation Manager with the completion of the validation of weekly and monthly 18 week data returns

To answer the telephone and deal efficiently and politely with queries regarding 18 week pathways and patient information

To respond and update all enquires sent to the Validation Queries mailbox

To attend any meetings and training courses as relevant to the post

To liaise with the Directorate Managers and assistants, waiting list coordinators and medical secretaries to ensure that potential breaches are reviewed and action taken to stop patients breaching

To liaise with the Information Department and maintain a consistent flow of information between both departments regarding patient pathways

Help in the completion of 18 week, weekly and monthly returns to the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in liaison with the Information Department

To actively support the Directorate Manager in identifying, reporting and resolving departmental issues in order to achieve a high standard of quality and completeness of RTT data

To collect additional data on an ad-hoc basis when required by the Validation Manager/Team Leader.

To support the RTT performance team in all aspects of monitoring the 18 Week Target to sustain the criteria necessary for the Department of Health requirements

To record accurately the reasons for patient breaches through documentation and submission to the performance team managers

To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other staff in the departments and the Trust

Standard Clauses:

The purpose of this post should remain constant, but the duties and responsibilities may vary over time within the overall role and level of the post. The post holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any such changes will be made in discussion with the post holder in the light of service needs.

Competence

The post holder is responsible for limiting his / her actions to those which s/he feels competent to undertake. If the post holder has any doubts as to his or her competence during the course of his / her duties then s/he should immediately speak to their line manager or supervisor.

Codes of conduct

All employees of the Trust who are required to be registered with a professional body, to enable them to practise within their profession, are required to comply with their code of conduct and requirements of their professional registration. Those staff that are not required to be registered with a professional body are required to comply with the Trusts codes of conduct.

Confidentiality

The post holder must maintain confidentiality, security and integrity of information relating to patients, staff and other Health Service business.

Records Management

All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records that they gather, create or use as part of their work within the Trust (including patient, financial, personnel and administrative), whether paper or computer based. All such records are considered public records and all employees have a legal duty of confidence to service users. Employees should consult their manager if they have any doubt as to the correct management of records with which they work.

Health and Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992) and all relevant Trust Health and Safety Policies and Guidance. This ensures that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors to the Trust.

Infection Control

Employees must accept personal responsibility and accountability for Infection Prevention and Control practice. Employees should ensure they are familiar with, and comply with, all relevant Infection Control policies for minimising the risk of avoidable Health Care Associated Infection. All Employees must undertake annual mandatory updates in Infection Control.

Children and vulnerable adults

You have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children / young people / vulnerable adults that you come into contact with or are responsible for in your job role and sphere of competence.

Disclosure and Barring Service

The Trust aims to promote equality of opportunity for all, with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Criminal records will be taken into account for recruitment purposes, only when the conviction is relevant. As the Trust meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. Postholders may periodically be asked to undertake a re-check.

The Trust is legally required to check all staff against the Disclosures and Barring Services Childrens and Vulnerable Adults barring lists if they engage in what is defined as Regulated Activity or Controlled Activity: Regulated Activity is defined as working closely with children or vulnerable adults, paid or unpaid, on a frequent or intensive basis. Controlled activity is work that provides opportunities for contact with children or vulnerable adults.

Equality and Diversity

The Trust promotes policies and practices that challenge discrimination, promote equality, respect individual needs, preferences and choices, and protects human rights. The Trust has a clear commitment to equality for all in employment practices based on an applicants ability, skills and aptitude for the post. A range of equality & diversity policy initiatives are in place and all successful applicants are expected to familiarise themselves with these. It is therefore the duty of every employee to comply with the detail and spirit of these policies and the law at all times. Any issues or concerns you have should be taken up with your manager or the human resource team as soon as possible.

Dignity

All employees must treat each person as an individual, offering a personalised service respecting peoples dignity and modesty at all times.

Conflict of Interest

The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the service provided for patients and its care meet the highest standard. Equally, it is responsible for ensuring that staff do not abuse their official position for personal gain or to benefit their family or friends. The Trusts Standing Orders require any member of staff to declare any interest, direct or indirect, with contracts involving the Trust. Staff are not allowed to further their private interests in the course of their NHS duties.