Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar
Western Isles NHS Board
PUBLIC HEALTH & HEALTH STRATEGY DIVISION
Job Description
Title of Post:
Senior Public Health Analyst
Department:
Public Health Intelligence & Information Services
Pay Band:
AfC Band 7
Division
Public Health Division
Location:
Health Board Offices
Reports to:
Services
Head of Public Health Intelligence & Information
Job Reference:
SPHA270507(2)
Job Summary:
The postholder will provide data analysis support to the Public Health Department. .
This will primarily be through maintaining and analysing the main clinical and public
health datasets to provide specialist public health intelligence advice for the Board.
The postholder will also provide specialist public health advice in areas of statistical or
complex data analysis techniques. The postholder will also be assisted by the Health
Intelligence Analysts, ensuring the public health and information requirements are
met. In addition the postholder will be responsible for advising on the information and
analytical requirements of the Western Isles Managed Clinical Network in
CHD/Stroke.
Dimensions:
The postholder will ensure an organization-wide information and analysis service is
available according to the departmental strategic priorities. This will cover information
requirements primarily of Public Health but also Hospital Services and Community
Services Divisions as well as the information needs of many external agencies.
This will involve specialist advice and analysis in complex and varied areas including
data analysis techniques, epidemiology and health informatics to a variety of groups
of staff from consultants, senior managers, the general public, nursing and health
visiting staff and public health colleagues.
Role of the Department:
To provide as part of Public Health and Health Strategy, information, intelligence and
knowledge management services for Western Isles NHS Board to support the Board
in its public health surveillance and strategic planning role for healthcare provision to
the resident population of the Western Isles. Additionally to provide an information
and analysis service to the operational divisions of the organization.
Ref: SPHA010306r171106
Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar
Western Isles NHS Board
Organisational Chart:
Nurse Consultant
in Health
Protection
Senior
Public
Health
Analyst
Director of Public
Health & Health
Strategy
Head of Public
Health
Intelligence &
Information
Services
Health Intelligence
Specialist Analyst
(Systems
reporting/Waiting
Times/pathway;
monitoring)
Public Health
Specialist
(Planning)
Health
Promotion
Manager
Head of
Planning
& Development
Health
Intelligence
Analyst
(Community
services)
Health
Intelligence
Analyst
(Performance
Monitoring)
Research
Officer p/t
(Vacant)
Key Result Areas:
1.
Public Health Intelligence
Public Health Surveillance:
o To develop management reporting for number of public health information
systems including the cervical cytology, child health and others using ‘Business
Objects’ and other proprietary data querying and analytical tools.
o Assist the Head of dept. in providing a health intelligence role through the
developing of local datasets in health screening programmes, communicable
diseases, environmental health, surveillance and health protection.
o Responsible for the timely submission of infectious disease notifications to
ISD/SHPA and mainatenance of the Scottish Infectious Disease Surveillance
System (SIDSS). Update the Head of department on the developments at
Health Protection Scotland on Scottish Health Protection Information
Management System or equivalent.
o To develop reporting analyses from local laboratory system that will inform
both public health surveillance needs but also operational requirements for
laboratory activity information.
Data management and analysis:
o Ensure there are systems in place for providing an integrated information
service to support the organisation. This will involve overseeing of efficient
data collation, maintenance and management procedures and key contribution
to the development of such policies and procedures.
Ref: SPHA010306r171106
Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar
Western Isles NHS Board
o Ensure existing clinical and public health datasets are maintained for the Board
– eg. SMRs, GRO registrations and cancer datasets in accordance with
corporate and departmental data management policies.
o Provide specialist information analysis and interpretation of complex and varied
datasets eg. SMRs, Census, Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics, GRO
registrations and PAS systems.
o To assist in the process of monitoring the health and health-related behaviours
of the population served by the Western Isles NHS.
o To provide analyses of inequalities information, liaising with public health
colleagues particularly in Health Promotion Dept. and community planning
partners.
o Support the information requirements of the HEAT/Local Delivery Plan
particularly in monitoring the progress of the Board towards achieving the
health improvement targets and reductions in inequalities of its population.
o To produce summary documents of Public Health information as and when
required, and provide information and analyses for the Annual Reports of the
Directors of Public Health.
Specialist public health intelligence advice:
o To provide advice about statistical techniques, quantitative aspects of research
projects, evaluations, survey and questionnaire design and use of data in
resolving complex queries.
o To provide specialist advice on public health data sets and deprivation indices including
undertaking epidemiological statistical analyses including age standardisation, and
occasionally survival analysis and regression modeling where required.
o
o Support the Head of dept. in advising on requirements for public health
information and intelligence to support health needs assessment, health impact
assessment and equity audits.
o Assist the Head of dept. in providing an information and data analysis function
to the Department of Public Health. This may involve the derivation of
information to enable epidemiological profiling, health needs assessment
programmes and health strategy developments, and the use of patient surveys
and analysis thereof.
o To analyse critically and review Public Health information; interpret trends and
formulate recommendations on their significance.
Population Profiling and GIS:
o Assist the Head of Department in developing public health profiling techniques
and datasets such as MOSAIC or locally developed small area profiling. Assist
Head of Dept. with use of such data in possible social marketing approaches to
health improvement work programmes particularly around health inequalities.
Ref: SPHA010306r171106
Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar
Western Isles NHS Board
o Develop and use Geographic Information Systems where feasible for the
specialist spatial analysis of the above data to enable disease surveillance
monitoring and disease profiling and other applications required of the Public
Health Intelligence team. Advise the Head of Dept. on data and training
requirements.
o Key contact for organization in the production of geographic output in form of
maps and other spatial representations of data for variety of purposes.
o To develop a local common public health dataset of available data and
indicators for wider dissemination via the public health web pages. This will
include a range of agreed national and local data on health and its wider
determinants relevant to the Western Isles particular circumstances.
Miscellaneous
o Presentation of information in suitable formats including the use of
computerised graphics/presentation software.
o
Represent the Health Intelligence Team at various meetings/committees and
give appropriate management information where required
o Contribute
towards
the
development
of
bulletins/newsletters
web/leaflets/presentations on public health intelligence to both public and
professionals.
2.
Managed Clinical Networks - CHD and Stroke Data Analysis
o Principal adviser on the development of local CHD and stroke information
systems in line with the Scottish strategy for developing a national CHD/stroke
database.
o Lead adviser for the Board in monitoring its service performance against the
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (formerly CSBS) standards in the areas of
CHD and Stroke.
o Provide data analysis and specialist information support at the managed
clinical networks for CHD/Stroke and others including diabetes and cancer.
o Represent the department at the managed clinical network for stroke/CHD.
Equipment and Machinery:
Postholder should be proficient in the use of computers, video-conferencing
equipment and slide projectors and other visual aid technology. This will involve
standard keyboard ability and skills in setting up and use of appropriate presentation
equipment/software.
Ref: SPHA010306r171106
Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar
Western Isles NHS Board
Information Systems and Resources:
o Responsibility for operating a variety of population-based patient information
systems for the Public Health Division. This will involve the maintenance and
development of these systems.
o Ensure there is provision of an integrated information service and resource for
the entire organization as per the strategic priortities of the department –
providing management information to all areas of the organization as per key
areas for ‘Corporate Strategic Information’.
o Responsibility for updating of a register of all organizations patient databases
and contact point for the accessing of information from a number of databases.
o Ensure the following of efficient routine data collation, maintenance and
management procedures for the above systems.
Assignment and Review of work
Principally the work will arise from the requirements of the Division of Public Health
but also the CHD/Stroke MCN. The work will principally be assigned from the Head
of Department and on occasion the Director of Public Health. The postholder will be
given tasks and projects to progress to completion. The Head of Dept. will be
available for advice and review the work of the postholder as necessary but will not be
routinely consulted. Additionally information requests and work programmes may
arise from a variety of sources within the organization which the postholder will be
expected to evaluate and prioritise in line with the Departments priorities and
workplans.
Decisions and Judgements
The postholder will be responsible for a number of tasks and projects to progress to
completion which will be delegated by the Head of dept. or may arise from areas of
operational information in which the postholder acts as lead for the department. The
postholder is likely to have a number of such tasks/projects ongoing and will be
expected to exert some judgement on prioritizing and progressing these tasks in
accordance with the workplan and objectives of the Public Health Intelligence team.
For this the application of specialist information skills by the postholder will be
required while the postholder will have discretion to utilise support from the
departments Health Intelligence Analysts assigned to those tasks relating to public
health workstreams where SPHA has responsibility. This will involve day to day
overseeing of completion of tasks by those junior staff involved above. Additionally
the postholder will be involved in recruitment shortlisting and sitting on recruitment
panels.
Ref: SPHA010306r171106
Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar
Western Isles NHS Board
Most Challenging and Difficult aspects of the job
1. Maintaining knowledge and analysis skills on a very complex and wide range of
datasets which are often changing and being updated.
2. As part of a small team being required to give specialist advice or analysis without
assistance from more senior colleagues.
Training and Professional Development
Training and personal development are central to the organization. The Public Health
Division supports opportunities for training and professional development. The
postholder will be expected to provide training in data and analytical tools to junior
members of the department. There will also be a requirement to provide specialist
training in operation of database/spreadsheets and in epidemiological/statistical
methods to the organization when required. The postholder will coordinate the KSF
and PDP process for junior members of team for agreement with the departmental
head.
Communications and Working Relationships
The postholder will communicate with a range of groups principally in establishing
information requirements and providing management information, analysis on
principal patient datasets and specialist advice on highly complex statistical,
epidemiological or other specialist areas of public health intelligence. These
communications will typically include the following groups:
Internal
a. Clinicians (Consultants, nursing staff, GPs)
b. Senior Management
c. Computer services
d. Public Health team
e. Primary Care and Community Services teams
External
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
ISD
Health Scotland
Scottish Government Health Department
Academic and research organisations
Other NHS bodies
Local authority and other community planning partners
Physical, Mental, Emotional and Environmental Demands of the Job
o Frequent inputting of data to spreadsheets and databases which extends over
long periods and requires great accuracy and attention to detail.
Ref: SPHA010306r171106
Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar
Western Isles NHS Board
o Importance of accuracy and attention to detail in analyzing detailed and
complex statistical and database work is an important aspect of the post.
o Ability to respond to information requests at short notice, which may require
postholder to interrupt current tasks.
o Postholder will be required to work with PC equipment for most of the working
week.
Qualifications and/or experience
Essential requirements (although study in post may be possible) for the post include:
o Good first degree.
o Higher degree of postgraduate qualification (Masters) in public health or
specialist areas of epidemiology, biostatistics and informatics.
o 2 years minimum experience of a range of subject areas, which may include
informatics, statistics, epidemiology, health service or social sciences research
or health economics.
o Computer literate in windows environment with experience of spreadsheets,
databases, word processing and query langauages
o knowledge of complex statistical and/or epidemiological concepts and
techniques and have the knowledge and experience to undertake complex and
intensive data management and data manipulation.
o Oral/written communication and presentation skills
o Ability to work as a team and on own initiative.
Confidentiality
Because of the nature of the responsibilities of the post, the importance of
Confidentiality must be paramount, and the post holder will ensure that the Board’s
Code of Confidentiality and Conduct is strictly adhered to.
Job Description Agreement:
Job Holder’s Signature:
Date
Head of Department Signature:
Date:
Ref: SPHA010306r171106
Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar
Western Isles NHS Board
PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST:
Senior Public Health Analyst
Department:
Public Health Intelligence & Information Services
LOCATION/HOSPITALS:
ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL
Qualifications/Training


Experience

Knowledge/Skills






Disposition


Particular Requirements of
the Post

Good first degree.
Masters in Public Health
or relevant specialism eg.
epidemiology,
biostatistics
or
informatics.
(Consideration
of
candidates
working
towards
such
a
qualification
may
be
given.)
Several years experience
in at least one specialist
public health intelligence
area eg. epidemiology,
statistics, informatics.
Excellent numeracy skills.
Specialist knowledge of
statistical
and/or
epidemiological concepts
and techniques.
Excellent organisational
skills.
Excellent skills in working
with variety of databases
and statistical analysis
software.
Good communication and
interpersonal skills across
all levels of personnel.
Excellent
presentation
skills both verbal and
written.
Positive and flexible
attitude.
Ability to work on own
initiative, as well as part
of a team.
Adhere to codes of
patient Confidentiality.
DESIRABLE
Health Service Informatics
Experience.
GIS mapping skills
Ref: SPHA010306r171106