Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, motivated individual with excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills to work as an EPR Programme Director leading on the delivery of a unified Electronic Patient Record (EPR) across GMMH NHS FT and PCFT.
This joint programme is a significant, multi-year transformation initiative requiring a strategic, collaborative leader who can operate across complex organisational boundaries. The postholder will ensure successful implementation of the EPR, transitioning from mobilisation through business case approval and into operational delivery and go-live readiness, with a sharp focus on clinical safety, stakeholder engagement, and digital maturity.
The postholder will establish and lead a large, multi-disciplinary team, and coordinate a federated governance model that enables both Trusts to retain appropriate organisational oversight and decision-making responsibilities while working within a shared framework for programme delivery, assurance, and accountability. This includes designing joint governance forums, clarifying roles and responsibilities across both organisations, and ensuring that programme decisions are informed by clinical, operational, digital and financial leads from each Trust.
They will serve as the central point of leadership across the partnership, ensuring the programme delivers to time, scope, and budget, whilst also realising long-term strategic benefits and improving patient care.
Main duties of the job
* Overall leadership of the joint EPR Programme.
* Define and deliver the joint EPR programme strategy, aligned to the Trusts’ digital strategies, ICS priorities and national frameworks.
* Lead the development of business cases (SOC, OBC, FBC), ensuring they meet NHS assurance requirements.
* Oversee all stages of programme planning, implementation and benefits realisation, including procurement, contract negotiation and configuration.
* Establish effective programme governance, reporting to executive SROs, Boards and system partners.
* Coordinate joint planning, resourcing and governance structures across both Trusts.
* Translate strategic aims into clear operational plans with measurable outcomes.
* Establish the Benefits Realisation Strategy for the EPR programme, and approach to monitoring release of benefits.
* Build and lead a high-performing joint programme team, including programme managers, technical leads, clinical safety officers and training staff.
Working for our organisation
PCFT: We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
GMMH: The Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.
We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the northwest of England and beyond.
Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users. All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To view the detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Educated to Master’s level or equivalent by experience
* Formal qualification in programme management (e.g. MSP, PRINCE2)- Evidence of ongoing CPD
Desirable criteria
* Lean, Agile, or Six Sigma certification
* Relevant clinical or health informatics training
Experience
Essential criteria
* Proven leadership of large-scale, multi-organisation EPR implementations within NHS or regulated healthcare setting
* Experience of shaping and delivering complex digital transformation programmes
* Experience in business case development (SOC, OBC, FBC)
* Experience in financial and contractual oversight of programmes in excess of £10m
* Experience working at board level and with clinical, digital and corporate stakeholders
* Experience line managing multi-disciplinary teams and building performance-focused cultures
Desirable criteria
* Experience working with ICS-level governance structures
* Experience deploying AI or advanced analytics in a healthcare setting
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Strong understanding of EPR systems (e.g. RiO, Paris, Epic, Cerner) and interoperability standards
* Demonstrable understanding of NHS standards (e.g. DSPT, ITIL, API standards, ICS digital frameworks)
Desirable criteria
* Working knowledge of NHS change models (e.g. ADKAR, NHS Change Model) Understanding of AI, automation and digital literacy in the NHS context
* Recognised contributions to national forums or professional bodies
* Participation in national working groups or advisory boards
We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.
Sponsorship - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the
What happens after your application has been received?
You will be informed about the progress of your application following shortlisting via email. Only applicants who clearly demonstrate the criteria listed in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. Interview invites will be sent out via email.
What happens if I am offered the position after interview?
The hiring manager will make contact with you to verbally offer you the position. The hiring manager will then inform Recruitment of the decision and provide relevant paperwork. You will be sent a formal conditional offer via email.
What pre-employment checks will I need to complete?
By conducting pre-employment checks, the recruitment team will verify that you meet the pre-conditions of the role you have been offered. Pre-employment checks will be carried out according to. The checks are:
* Identity verification
* Right to work check
* Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
* Professional registration and/or qualification check
* Occupational health assessment
* Employment history and reference validation
All applicants external to the NHS will be required to provide their to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references as part of pre-employment checks.
If you are offered a position with us and you require sponsorship to support your right to work, we will review your eligibility in line with. If the role you have been offered is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not able to evidence own your right to work, your conditional offer could be withdrawn.
What happens when pre-employment checks are complete?
Recruitment will liaise with you and the hiring manager to arrange a start date for your new position. You will then be booked on to a Trust Welcome Session and be sent your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.
Other important information
* We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and recognise the importance of ensuring our diverse service user population is reflected within our workforce. Unfortunately, we know that, at present, there is underrepresentation of our communities in our workforce. We welcome applications from people from diverse communities to help us grow, learn, be better and consider brilliant innovation diverse people bring.
* If you would like to be considered under the disability confident scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria on the person specification for the post.
* If you require reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process please phone us on 0161 716 3181 at the earliest opportunity. We will support you to complete your application.
* Unfortunately we are not able to guarantee the transfer of lease cars, or cover the costs of early termination charges.
* We have a strict policy on unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Please do not contact our hiring managers directly.
We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of applications have been received. To ensure you application is considered, please submit at the earliest opportunity.