Job Description: Healthcare Science Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION: HEALTHCARE SCIENCE OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: HEALTHCARE SCIENCE OFFICER

Immediate Senior Officer: Jacqui Lunday, Chief Health Professions Officer

Location: St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh

2. JOB PURPOSE To provide support and advice to the Chief Health Professions Officer (CHPO), the Chief Nursing Officer and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on matters relating to Healthcare Science professional practice, education and regulation. The post holder will also have a central role in supporting the work streams for Healthcare Science that flow from Better Health Better Care, Safe Accurate and Effective: an Action Plan for Healthcare Science, Modernising Scientific Careers and will deputise for the CHPO when required.

The portfolio of work relating to the Healthcare Science Professions will include:

 Education and training (pre and post registration)  Workforce development  Workload measurement and management  Role development  Regulation  The Healthcare Science contribution to Health and Wellbeing  Quality improvement and service impact  Care Group specific activity as delegated

Developing and maintaining links with key stakeholders, including the Scottish Forum for Healthcare Science, The Academy for Healthcare Science, NHS Education Scotland (NES), Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS), as well as other Healthcare Science stakeholders across the 4 UK Countries, will be an important aspect of the role.

The post holder will also contribute to the ongoing development and implementation of policy in respect of HCS and support policy development and implementation across related areas within Scottish Government Health Directorates (SGHD).

A secondment of up to 2 years is available.

3. DIMENSIONS

The post holder will be based in Scottish Government Health Directorate, (SGHD), and contribute to a wide range of Healthcare Science issues maximising the profile of HCS within NHS Scotland.

The post holder will provide professional advice on matters relating to HCS to a range of directorates across the Scottish Government and will establish and maintain multi- professional working with the other clinical professions and the Chief Professional Officers to promote integrated approaches to clinical policy and development. The post holder will work with external stakeholders to ensure the delivery of CNOPPP and Health and Social Care directorates policy direction.

The post holder will establish professional links with NHS QIS, NHS NES and NHS NSS.

The post holder will work closely with National and Board leads for HCS to ensure implementation of the Delivery Plan for HCS, and monitor outcomes. 4. ORGANISATION CHART ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Chief Nursing Officer

Head of Policy and Associate Chief Nursing Officer x2 Chief Health Business Support Unit Professions Officer Health Professions

HEALTHCARE SCIENCE OFFICER

National Leads for each HCS Stream HCS Professional Leads within Boards

5. ROLE OF THE DIRECTORATES Health Directorates is part of the Scottish Government. It is also Head Office of NHS Scotland and its role is to advise and assist Scottish Ministers in the development and implementation of their policies for every aspect of the NHS in Scotland. It liaises closely with the UK Government Health Department, especially in relation to reserved matters and their impact on NHS Scotland, and with the Health Departments of Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is a member of the Health and Social Care Management Board and Head of the Directorate of the Chief Nursing Officer, Patients, Public and Health Professions. CNO reports directly to the Director General Health and Social Care/Chief Executive, NHS Scotland who in turn is accountable to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

The Chief Nursing Officer is responsible for professional NMAHP issues across all Scottish Government policy and has a team of Nursing Officers and a Chief Health Professions Officer who provide advice across the whole portfolio, including Healthcare Science.

6. KEY RESULT AREAS

 Manage the communication strategy and drive the implementation of the Delivery Plan for HCS, as well as alignment with the aspirations of Modernising Scientific Careers. Demonstrating HCS’ high quality work including their contribution to HEAT and 18 week RTT targets, in line with the person-centred agenda and the shift towards community based healthcare. This work will align with the Quality Strategy ambitions in supporting the delivery of safe, effective and person centred care.

 Implement project management methodology to deliver required outputs across the programme and provide regular briefing on progress to key stakeholders within Health Directorates.

 Contribute to the ongoing engagement with HCS leads in NHS Boards, professional bodies and with key stakeholders within the Scottish Government, the UK Departments of Health and at NHS Board level etc.  Understand the agenda for HCS in the context of current Scottish Government policies, and to further the contribution by HCS staff to improve services for patients.

 Establish and develop a network of HCS leads within NHS Boards and work with them to advance the profile of HCS by informed description of existing, new and innovative services.

 Support national workforce development and planning issues.

 Provide advice and support in respect of education and training at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

 Provide advice and support in respect of HCS regulation issues.

 Deputise for CHPO as required.

7. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK

The post holder reports to the Chief Health Professions Officer and is responsible for providing expert advice to maximise the professional HCS contribution to NHS Scotland.

Work will be largely self-generated, planned and prioritized within the timetable and action plan agreed with the Chief Health Professions Officer.

Objectives and priorities will be agreed with the Chief Health Professions Officer with ongoing review and reaction to any changing circumstances.

8. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Excluding his/her line manager the post holder has key working relationships with civil servants and clinical advisors across the Scottish Government. He/she must also build and manage effective relationships with a wide range of senior clinical and non clinical staff within the NHS, education providers, professional organizations and staff at all levels. Excellent communication skills are required since a major purpose of communication is to persuade others and to negotiate the development and implementation of change. The post holder is expected to have strong presentational skills and be able to express a view convincingly and coherently verbally and in writing.

9. MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB

Working with significant numbers of different groups and with differing agendas. Cognisance of competing priorities among partner agencies. Delivering objectives and commitments within a specific timeframe

10. QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR EXPERIENCE SPECIFIED FOR THE POST

The post holder must be an experienced registered HCS, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, and with a track record of success in a leadership role.

Evidence of successful strategic leadership and HCS project management and delivery at a senior level.

Proven change management skills including key deliverables

Knowledge and understanding of current policy and practice in HCS across a wide range of scientific disciplines and how this impacts on the profession.

Demonstrates experience of partnership working with a number of stakeholders, such as, Health and Education.

Educated to degree, or preferably, Masters level.

Knowledge and understanding of professional culture and political environment to achieve change at local, national and international level.

Excellent written and oral skills.

Ability to priorities work and work to tight deadlines.

Excellent interpersonal skills with emphasis on tact, diplomacy, negotiation, persuasion and influence.

Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Good IT skills.