CCIO sought by NHS Commissioning Board

The NHS Commissioning Board is advertising for a part-time clinical informatics director to fulfil a national chief clinical information officer-like role.

The post-holder will be the de facto national CCIO and “will expected to act as a clinical informatics spokesperson for the NHS CB in relation to clinical informatics."

An essential part of the role will be “to provide support for the development of senior clinicians and future leaders in informatics through education and training and embedding informatics into the developing strategic clinical networks and clinical senates."

The successful candidate will be expected to provide clinical leadership on “the best use of information to deliver transformational change in care outcomes."

They will also “champion the development of an information culture that drives continuous clinical and business improvement across the NHS as an enabler for safe and effective care.”

EHealth Insider launched a campaign to encourage all NHS organisations to appoint CCIOs to lead on IT and information projects last year, and has followed this up with the CCIO Leaders Network.

The network supports the dozen CCIOs that are now in place and encourges more to be appointed. A national-level post is a significant level of new backing for the idea, which has always had the enthusiastic support of ministers.

The NHS CB job description tells potential candidates: “You will model the use of advanced analytics to support improved productivity in healthcare and drive the use of data in supporting innovation and research in the health sciences.”

In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to “drive the open use of data in supporting innovation and research in the health sciences."

Key responsibilities will include: ensuring information is used to improve quality and outcomes; enabling clinical leadership on informatics; enabling patient and public involvement; providing leadership for transformational change; and using insight and evidence for improvement.

The job advert calls for a "dynamic" clinical leader to help put the needs of patients at the heart of everything the NHS CB does.

“Using your expertise, you will provide guidance on the best use of informatics to deliver the NHS Commissioning Board strategic objectives; and you’ll ensure the benefits of informatics are communicated to patients and health professionals alike.”

The three-year appointment, accountable to the national medical director, is offered on a 0.6 WTE at a salary of £132,500. The closing date for applications is 17 December, with shortlisting on 4 January.

The full job advert and job description can be found at here and here. Potential candidates are invited to email Professor Steve Field, deputy national medical director.