Application Architect

The Application Architect will play a pivotal role in the implementation of the Trust's EPR, managing the successful delivery of one or more of the modules that, together, make up the overall EPR. As part of a dynamic and agile team that is committed to our Vision 'Dedicated to Excellence', you will have significant personal opportunities to grow and develop, as well as to tangibly impact how care is delivered in the future., Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
+ Compassion
+ Accountability
+ Respect
+ Integrity
+ Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals., · To operate as a key member of the Clinical Systems Service senior management team which oversees the effective delivery of all services within the directorate and the delivery of all the directorate's objectives and responsibilities.
· To contribute to the delivery of the EPR programme and programmes associated with the Group Digital Strategy, which includes a number of projects or initiatives of significant size, complexity and risk ensuring that they do not have an adverse impact on patient care and quality.
· Input technical expertise into service requirements.
· Providing expert knowledge, be responsible for strategy and guidance on use of data terms, developing a style guide for configuration and build of EPR content.
· Develop, validate and review conceptual, logical and physical system designs for the EPR including but not exclusive to assessments, care plans and observations. Assisting with design choices to enable datasets to be delivered as a by-product of care through intelligent system architecture.
· Manage the architectural aspects of the target design, policies and standards, working pro-actively to achieve stable, viable designs.
· Manage role-based access design within the system and how it interacts with the configuration to provide the right clinician access at the right time to carry out their duties.
· Manage own team and their budgets (where appropriate) and relevant project / capital budgets ensuring excellent financial control and forward planning.
· Keep up to date with appropriate NHS data and usability standards to ensure best fit of the emerging IT architecture and solutions to the Group.
· Work with the Trust's Information Security Manager to ensure that Trust EPR systems are compliant with best practice and conform to standards expected in the security section of the IG Toolkit. Provide evidence of effective security controls for the purpose of the annual IG Toolkit Submission to HSCIC.
· Collaborate with colleagues to ensure effective integration of the Clinical Applications with other systems with the aim of maximising the efficiency of the clinical workflow overall, and longer term business planning.
· Champion and role model the Groups values and behaviours and support others in doing so to deliver the Group Vision and Mission successfully.
Clinical Applications improvement and support
· As NGH moves to an electronic patient record (EPR), proactively understand how technical architecture and data processes need to adapt to support the increasing use of digital records and support the implementation of this alongside the rest of the management team.
· Advise and provide support with change management requirements associated with the introduction and development of an EPR.
· Challenge existing practices, ensuring that progressive solutions, which consider models of best practice, are incorporated into service plans.
· Create and foster a culture of innovation, exploring emerging technology and its application to the UHN Group ambitions.
· Contribute to the development and implementation of the Group Digital Strategy, in line with Group, Trust and National priorities and initiatives, and leading digital techniques.
· Promote the adoption of agile methodologies across project teams and into the wider Group.
Management and Leadership
· Leadership and line management, creating the environment for happy, motivated and highly-performing teams.
· Have a highly developed specialist knowledge of EPR Applications Architecture that is underpinned by practical experience and theoretical knowledge.
· Proactively and positively contribute to the Clinical Systems service line by taking part in appropriate planning & development and providing digital architecture & solutions leadership.
· Provide leadership on system design and usability to inform the EPR build.
· Support the EPR Applications Manager and EPR team in design decisions and workflows.
· Act as a subject matter expert for the clinical coding specialists in implementing the point of care SNOMED coding throughout the application.
· Contribute to the development and implementation of the Group Digital Strategy, in line with Group, Trust and National priorities and initiatives, and leading digital techniques.
· Develop, lead, and support individuals and teams that are highly skilled, effective, engaged and highly motivated.
· Ensure best practice in managing staff is adopted and maintained, including regular performance appraisal, effective two-way communication and implementation of processes to ensure personnel work in a responsible, safe manner and have due regard for health & safety regulations.
· Take shared responsibility for the financial performance of the Service, including achievement of financial targets, balancing potentially conflicting demands of budgetary requirements and service requirements.
Partnership Working
· Provide expert technical and professional advice regarding the Applications Architecture.
· Represent the Digital portfolio at local levels, developing partnerships, sharing best practice and integrating knowledge across the Group.
· Represent the Group where appropriate in dealings with partner organisations and outside bodies on EPR Applications Architecture and technical issues.
· Build good relationships and ensure effective Digital partnerships with other organisations across the ICS, locally, regionally and nationally.
· Form constructive relationships with suppliers to optimise the delivery of solutions and maximise the Group's influence on the future direction of the suppliers' products.

The post holder will be competent with designing, maintaining and implementing an Applications Architecture. Experience of working with agile methodologies will be an advantage.
The postholder will have significant experience of building and managing healthcare software platforms, understanding the importance of consistency of data items and internal application architecture.
The post holder will be a senior professional within UHN and be a key enabler to the delivery of those ambitions.
Travel to the hospital site will be required.

At Northampton General Hospital we provide general acute services and hyper-acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living in Northamptonshire. As well as this we are an accredited cancer centre and provide cancer services to a wider population of Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.
We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to have obtained Pathway to Excellence® designated accreditation from the American nurses credentialing centre (ANCC).
We celebrate staff achievements and value the importance of working as one big team. That's why we talk about Team NGH. It's all about working together to provide the best possible care for our patients and supporting each other to grow and develop our skills. We are driven to helping you to be the best you can be.
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.