Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join The Christie's Clinical Outcomes and Data Unit (CODU) as a Senior Data Scientist. The CODU's strategy is to improve patient outcomes through the robust selection, analysis, and visualisation of data. We work closely with colleagues across the trust to support the use of data in clinical and operational decision making. We are experts in data visualisation, creating data analysis tools, and helping colleagues to use these tools in their daily work.
You will be expected to work with the Analysts, Data Scientists and Statisticians within the team, working on projects with stakeholders throughout the Christie, extracting insights from data collected throughout the hospital to be presented back to clinical and operational teams to inform improvements in the hospital.
With your organised, enthusiastic and inquisitive approach you will be able to work to tight deadlines, be a good multitasker and have a mindset for exploring data, responding to the requirements of stakeholders, ensuring the work is completed to agreed timescales and Trust requirements.
You will interpret information from many systems throughout the Trust, being one of the team's data experts, providing advice on the best approaches for data projects and explaining analysis performed to non-data experts in an approachable and easy to understand way
Main duties of the job
1. To support clinicians, researchers and non clinical staff in performing statistical analysis and producing data models
2. To lead on and manage statistical and data science projects with clinicians, researchers and non clinical staff and guide the input of team members in projects
3. To use data and technical analysis to extract insight from data for clinical and operational purposes, identifying solutions, recommending process and business rule improvements
4. To interpret statistical results and explain them, verbally and in writing, so as to be understood by non-statisticians
5. To work with other Senior a Data Scientists/Analysts/Statisticians and lead on the effective use of information to support the Team's objectives and work programme; including outcomes, data integrity, planning, software developments, projects, forecasting, investigations, assessments and risk management.
6. To consider existing complex, multi departmental, clinical data flows and harness software capabilities to provide the right information at the right time.
7. To Advise, guide, assess and co-ordinate the governed impactful use of advanced analytics, machine learning and associated data technologies
8. To identify and recommend improvements in reporting, software or other systems, which contribute to the performance of the systems or accuracy of data
9. To utilise explorative data science techniques to extract usable insights from data and explain data-driven recommendations to others through clear visualisations
About us
We are a customer facing service working with all members of the organisation, Executives, consultants, administrative staff and service users. We pride ourselves on our level of service, our quality of product and our ability to communicate and translate our data into intelligence. We work closely with our customers to ensure we are delivering what they want, we are able to communicate the most advanced analytics and statistics to wide ranging audiences and we try to make our products as interesting and informative as possible. We are forward thinking, we like to try new approaches and to find innovative solutions even to long standing problems. We like a challenge, to learn new skills and to widen our horizons at any opportunity.
Our team operate a hybrid working model, working from site and from home, and we are very open to and actively encourage flexible working, with on-site working available via a hot desk booking system. As a team, we additionally plan days when we all come into the office together to meet up, share ideas and take the opportunity to trouble shoot, and learn from each other. We are all readily contactable via Teams when working from home, both as formal meetings and informal chats and coffee meet ups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
General
10. To support clinicians, researchers and non clinical staff in performing statistical analysis and producing data models
11. To lead on and manage statistical and data science projects with clinicians, researchers and non clinical staff and guide the input of team members in projects
12. To use data and technical analysis to extract insight from data for clinical and operational purposes, identifying solutions, recommending process and business rule improvements
13. To interpret statistical results and explain them, verbally and in writing, so as to be understood by non-statisticians
14. To advise on the appropriate techniques for data analysis and interpretation, advising analysts when data science and statistical work feasible
15. To identify and recommend improvements in reporting, software or other systems, which contribute to the performance of the systems or accuracy of data
16. To utilise explorative data science techniques to extract usable insights from data and explain data-driven recommendations to others through clear visualisations
17. To explore and stay up-to-date with various modelling techniques, advising on those optimal for the purpose
18. To ensure selected techniques remain to be fit for purpose through on going monitoring and robust data pipelines
19. To plan own workload and projects appropriately
20. To test own work and peer-review team members work
21. To support the learning of team colleagues and mentor junior team members
22. To create and maintain documentation on analysis undertaken for the creation of tools and reports for CODU projects
23. Any other duties commensurate with the post and grade that may be requested by the Lead Data Scientist
Communication and Relationships
24. Communicate professionally with senior clinicians and service managers. This may require the use of specific clinical terminology to understand issues being raised in detail
25. Represent the Clinical Outcomes and Data Unit and Digital Services as appropriate in internal and external meetings, reporting back on progress. The post holder must be able to travel and be sufficiently confident to forge effective working relationships with partner organisations as required
26. Advise, support and lead on reporting at appropriate directorate, divisional and Trust level meetings
27. Be a point of contact for CODU, managing queries, problems, requests, and incidents ensuring they are logged and tracked
28. Lead, manage and action the resolution of assigned tasks in an efficient and professional manner. Post holder must conform to Trust and departmental procedures and working practices, seeking further advice and information when necessary
Knowledge, training and experience
29. Post holder must be adept at researching and understanding complex, multi-departmental clinical data flows, and apply advanced levels of understanding of specialty specific data
30. Expert at understanding problems and utilising various software to provide data insight tools using appropriate analytical techniques
31. An exceptional attention to detail, ensuring high quality and efficient new processes are implemented
32. Work closely with other teams in digital services (software development, data engineering) to understand cross over in work streams, and potential implications
33. Support the highly important requirements of the performance management and income teams. Post holder should have an awareness of NHS financial and performance reporting
34. Be continuously aware of changes to working practices for colleagues across the trust. Ensure that products are amended to reflect these changes, and meet expectations of stakeholders
Analytical
35. Apply statistical and analytical knowledge to critically appraise and challenge the results of outputs ensuring only meaningful information is delivered to the clinical/business stakeholders.
Responsibility policy and service
36. Act as an ambassador for the CODU by developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with users across the organisation, delivering against local requirements and national targets
37. Lead in the development and maintenance of a culture of service provision and continuous improvement for own areas
38. Be responsible for implementing policies for own work area and for proposing changes to policies, in line with legislation, Trust and NHS policies and guidelines across the Trust, where appropriate
39. Pro-actively participate in ensuring that services delivered within the Trust reflect best practice with respect to organisational, NHS and legislative requirements and guidelines including IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Data Protection Act (1998), Information Standards, Information Security and compliance with NHS Information Governance
40. Participate in Information Governance and security as required and ensure appropriate governance and security in own area
41. Ensure change management is applied in own areas and follows implemented policies and procedures
42. Ensure all documentation relating to own area of work is complete and fit for purpose
43. Participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for allocated incidents and problems; instigating emergency action, when required, liaising with other Trust Managers, as appropriate.
Responsibility - Staff/HR/leadership training
44. Responsible for line management of own team in line with appropriate policies, procedures, working practices and guidelines, ensuring all resources are deployed to maximise an efficient and effective delivery of support services to patients and users
45. Provide regular performance reports on progress, status and achievements for own area to be used by management and users
46. Undertake and support the development of staff in line with personal development reviews and other associated guidance.
Responsibility finance and physical
47. Be responsible for the safe use of ICT hardware and software
48. Monitor the maintenance and support contracts allocated to own area, ensuring continuity of service and budget management. Liaise with third party suppliers to identify and evaluate potential value for money contracts
49. Liaise with external agencies, suppliers and contractors ensuring delivery of service is in line with agreed contracts
50. Support business appraisals and business case production when required in partnership with Trust stake holders. Undertake solution searches and appraisals of supplier proposals
51. Ensure Trust procurement processes and procedures are followed in a timely and efficient manner and participate in the procurement process where relevant, providing assistance for the development and assessment of procurement documentation as required
52. Ensure Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs) and procurement guidelines are followed and adhered to
Project Management
53. Advise and participate in the development and implementation of projects, where required, ensuring Informatics provision of integrated solutions and user objectives are achieved.
54. Ensure project tasks, where required, are successfully delivered in line with agreed timescales and budgets.
55. Support the activities of project boards and project teams, when required, and making presentations, where required, to all levels of staff.
56. Ensure any project management documentation or reports are delivered in line with agreed standards and timescales.
Business Continuity Management
57. Participate in the development, exercising, maintaining and reviewing of business continuity plans. Participate the business impact analysis exercises highlighting critical business processes within own area.
58. Be familiar with the Trust Business Continuity Plan and personal responsibilities within where applicable.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
59. Master's degree in an analytical/statistics/data science discipline or demonstrable equivalent experience
Experience
Essential
60. Experience of using programming languages and statistical packages to solve problems using data Python, R, Stata
61. Experience of developing machine learning tools to extract insights and provide recommendations from data
62. Experience as a professional statistician/data scientist
63. Experience of utilising appropriate statistical techniques to extract insights and provide recommendations from data
64. Experience working with analytical professionals, senior managers and a multidisciplinary environment on the publication, development and use of clinical data
65. Experience leading projects with multiple stakeholders
66. Experience of the use and management of Information within the NHS, academic or pharmaceutical community
67. Extensive experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
68. Experience of documenting results for publication
69. Experience of successfully managing a number of equally important tasks successfully
Desirable
70. Experience of work in a healthcare setting
Skills
Essential
71. Technical skills in data manipulation, statistics, machine learning, programming and data visualisation
72. Ability to communicate complex system and technical issues to a variety of staff at different levels within an organisation
73. Excellent communication skills - verbal, written, presentational and interpersonal
74. Ability to clearly explain statistical methods and/or results to audiences of non-statisticians
75. Ability to interpret the working practices of others and manage the introduction of new ways of working to improve service delivery creating documentation and policies as required
76. Ability to liaise across IT disciplines ensuring common objectives are delivered
77. Good organisational skills including time management, record keeping and paying attention to detail
78. Able to work to deadlines, prioritise and manage workload in a busy and changing environment
79. Flexible, positive, resilient, methodical, team player
80. Ability to work under pressure
81. Able to confidently converse with senior clinicians, using specialised clinical terminology as required, to understand issues being raised in detail
82. Able to objectively analyse, evaluate and interpret information from a variety of sources
Knowledge
Essential
83. Knowledge of a wide range of statistical, data science and machine learning techniques, including techniques to determine the appropriate tool for a given scenario
84. Knowledge of a range of visualisations, including determining the appropriate visualisation for a given scenario
85. Knowledge of data structures and data quality methodologies
86. Knowledge of population based statistics
87. Knowledge of research methodologies
Desirable
88. Knowledge of hospital services and how services interlink
89. Knowledge of the working practices used within the Trust, Inpatients, Outpatients, Medical Records and Medical Secretaries
90. Knowledge of Oncology at disease group level
91. Understanding of how services are commissioned within the NHS
92. Knowledge of NHS England, Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and Department of Health strategies, policies and guidance
VALUES
Essential
93. Collaborative, Innovative, Respectful, Trustworthy, Integrity, Responsible
OTHER
Essential
94. Evidence of continuing professional and personal development demonstrating a keen interest in data
95. Office based role with the need for travel to Christie managed sites or partners as necessary
96. Ability to travel to relevant professional conferences nationally/internationally
97. Ability to participate with flexible working to meet deadlines