Deputy Digital Clinical & Social Care Safety Officer 8A

Job details

• Branch: Lurgan Hospital (SHSCT)
• Location: Lurgan Hosp-Finance Building
• Directorate: Medical Directorate
• Salary: Band 8a (£55,690 - £62,682 )
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 14/08/26
• Closes: Fri, 28 August 2026 @ 4:00 PM
• Interview Dates: To Be Confirmed

Notes

Important Information If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week. Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Deputy Digital Clinical and Social Care Safety Officer

BAND

8A

DIRECTORATE

Medical Directorate

INITIAL LOCATION

Trustwide

REPORTS TO

Digital Clinical and Social Care Safety Officer

ACCOUNTABLE TO

Assistant Director for Clinical and Social Care Governance

FLEXIBLE WORKING PROVISIONS AVAILABLE

Consideration will be given to compressed/elongated hours and Hybrid working

JOB SUMMARY

The role of the Deputy Digital Clinical and Social Care Safety Officer (DDSO) is to the lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of digital clinical safety governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with regional and national standards and embedding a culture of safety across all digital transformation programmes, including encompass.

The post holder will be pivotal in leading on and maintaining the Clinical Risk Management activities that support the safe utilisation of digital systems within health and social care.

Working at a senior level, the post holder will provide expert advice to senior leaders, and regional partners, ensuring that digital safety risks are proactively identified, managed, and mitigated.

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Service Delivery

The post holder will

Lead and be accountable for the organisation-wide digital clinical and social care safety strategy, ensuring alignment with regional and national standards including Clinical Safety Deliverables e.g. Clinical Safety Case Report, Digital Safety Risk Register, and a Clinical Risk Management Plan

Review and maintain the organisation’s digital safety governance framework, ensuring robust systems for risk identification, escalation, and assurance

Provide strategic oversight and assurance of digital safety incident management processes, ensuring timely investigation, organisational learning, and improvement in line with the Trusts Management of Adverse Incidents policy

Hold directorates accountable for identifying and managing digital safety risks in line with the Trusts Risk Management Strategy

Be responsible for fulfilling the digital safety duties of future digital clinical and social care system launches including the stabilisation and optimisation of encompass and benefit initiatives

Represent the organisation at regional and national digital safety forums, influencing policy, best practice, and standardisation

Create and deliver multidisciplinary digital clinical and social care safety education and communication programmes within the SHSCT

Quality & Governance

Ensure robust monitoring of digital safety KPIs, using intelligence to identify emerging risks and inform strategic decision-making

Lead the development and implementation of digital safety policies, standards, and audit frameworks, ensuring continuous compliance and improvement

Contribute to the SHSCT’s overall corporate and clinical governance processes to ensure its compliance with public sector values and professional conduct standards, operations and accountability

Provide regular assurance to Trust governance committees and senior leadership on digital safety risks, performance, and compliance

Leadership & People Management

Lead on Trustwide programmes to promote and embed a strong digital safety culture across multidisciplinary teams and Directorates

Provide leadership and line management responsibility for the level of staff within the control of the post

Provide leadership and expert advice on digital safety standards and practice

Promote the SHSCT as a leading organisation for the development of digital health transformation work

Financial & Resource Management

Adhere to relevant Directorate and Trust budgetary and resource obligations, and ensure financial targets within the post control are met

Contribute to organisational business continuity, and emergency planning from a digital safety perspective

Communication and Information Management

Interpret complex datasets to identify risks, providing strategic recommendations to mitigate harm and improve patient outcomes

Lead the development and delivery of a comprehensive digital safety education and training strategy for clinical, operational, and digital teams

Own and oversee the creation of directorate reports and the utilisation of digital safety dashboards to enhance assurances and decision making

Ensure that digital safety insights are translated into actionable improvements, influencing service design and delivery

Collaborative Working

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders to embed digital safety practices within the SHSCT, and actively contribute to the design of digital safety

Drive regional collaboration and standardisation of digital safety approaches through the creation of a regional Deputy DSO Network

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.

Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.

Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.

Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.

Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

RAISING CONCERNS - RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.

The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the Trust’s ‘Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)’ policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

The post holder will, in the event of a concern being raised with them, ensure that it is managed correctly under the Trust’s ‘Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)’ policy and ensure feedback/learning is communicated at individual, team and organisational level.

PERSONAL AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES (PPI)

Involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community where relevant, in developing, planning, delivering and evaluating our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI) and Co-Production. Further information is available at engage.hscni.net

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through their own actions and those of any staff for whom they have responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to their manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the Trust’s policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for their own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise their potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom they come into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

June 2026

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE / BAND

Deputy Digital Clinical & Social Care Safety Officer / Band 8A

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE

Digital Clinical & Social Care Safety Team / Medical Directorate

HOURS

37.5 hours

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

Hold a Health or Social Care related university degree or equivalent qualification and have at least 2 years’ experience in a *middle management role within a **complex organisation OR have at least 5 years’ experience in a middle management role within a complex organisation

*Middle Management is defined as Band 7 or above. Pay scales are the Agenda for Change Northern Ireland pay scales. ** Major complex organisation is defined as one with at least 200 staff or an annual budget of at least £50million

Hold a current registration with, or be eligible to register with, one of the following

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Social Care Council

Health and Care Professions Council

Shortlisting by Application Form

Experience

Demonstrate the ability to establish and monitor clinical and social care governance processes to enhance quality and safety

Demonstrate the ability to use own initiative, identify problems and implement effective solutions to support a positive outcome

Demonstrate the ability to influence and manage change, using effective data and leadership skills

Demonstrate experience in the implementation of digital systems that support the delivery of safe and effective health care

Demonstrate experience in the use of an electronic incident management system such as Datix

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities / Knowledge

Effective communication skills and ability to establish and maintain working relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders and hold to account

Effective governance and project management skills to enhance services and promote safety

Effective use of management and organisational skills to deliver positive outcomes within tight timeframes including the use of data

Interview

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Experience / Qualifications

Experience of digital clinical and social care safety at a regional level

Experience in the creation or delivery of educational or training programmes

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies to be effective in this demanding leadership role. The competencies concerned are set out in the NHS Healthcare Leadership Model, details of which can be found at http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/healthcare-leadership-model. Particular attention will be given to the following dimensions:

Inspiring shared purpose

Leading with care

Evaluating information

Connecting our service

Sharing the vision

Engaging the team

Holding to account

Developing capability

Influencing for results.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.