Information Analyst

Job Overview About the Role As an Information Analyst, you will support the development and delivery of performance information, analysis and business intelligence. Working closely with clinical and corporate colleagues, you’ll help shape how data is used to inform decisions. Key responsibilities include: • Producing accurate routine and ad‑hoc performance reports • Undertaking complex analysis to support service priorities and improvement • Developing and maintaining reporting tools, templates and documentation • Supporting data quality assurance and information governance • Presenting insights clearly to a range of audiences • Providing training and guidance on Business Intelligence tools This role offers variety, exposure to senior stakeholders, and the chance to make a real difference. About You You’ll have strong analytical and communication skills, confidence working with data from multiple sources, and a proactive, organised approach. You’ll value collaboration, data quality and continuous improvement. NHS or healthcare experience is desirable but not essential. What We Offer We offer a comprehensive induction, ongoing training, regular supervision, flexible working options, and the opportunity to work on impactful analytical projects that support patient care. Main duties of the job Main Duties – Summary • Produce accurate, timely routine and ad‑hoc performance and activity reports for internal and external stakeholders • Undertake complex analysis to support service priorities, performance improvement and decision‑making • Collate, validate and interpret data from multiple Trust systems, ensuring robust quality assurance • Develop, maintain and document reporting templates, processes and timetables to support business continuity • Provide clear written and verbal briefings, explaining complex information to clinicians, managers and senior leaders • Contribute to statutory and mandatory information returns in line with national and local requirements • Support data quality monitoring and work with services to improve completeness, validity and accuracy of data • Champion information governance and maintain strict confidentiality and data security standards • Provide training, guidance and ongoing support to help stakeholders make effective use of Business Intelligence tools • Actively contribute to team development, service improvement and professional learning within the analytics function Working for our organisation Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is one of the UK’s largest providers of community and mental health services, delivering care to people of all ages across London, Milton Keynes, Surrey and beyond We provide a wide range of services spanning mental health, physical health, community services, sexual health and health and justice settings, with a strong focus on delivering care closer to home and supporting people throughout their lives. At CNWL, our work is guided by clear values of compassion, respect, empowerment and partnership. We work closely with patients, carers, clinicians, local authorities and system partners to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities across the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive and flexible working environment where staff feel valued, listened to and able to develop. We actively invest in our people, technology and systems to enable innovation, learning and continuous improvement in patient care. Joining CNWL means becoming part of an organisation where your work has genuine impact — helping to shape services, inform decisions and improve outcomes for patients and communities every day. Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities • To collate and present routine activity monitoring information in a timely and accurate manner to agreed formats and timescales ensuring that clear interpretation has been made to assist service leads. • To undertake complex ad-hoc analysis in areas defined by the Assistant Director of Performance, Business Insights and Analytics Lead, the Divisional Heads of Performance, and Service Leads. This will involve managing potentially contradictory and complex data to ascertain a credible, easily understandable position. • Contribute as required to the routine and statutory / mandatory information reports / returns for key internal and external stakeholders in accordance with required reporting timetables. • Provide assurance of the accuracy of reports by testing, validation and confirming correct operation of standard queries. • Ensuring that new reporting protocols, procedures and timetables are documented and existing protocols / procedures / timetables updated as appropriate to ensure business continuity. • Provide high quality, concise and informative briefings to a range of internal audiences as and when required. This may include presenting complex or contentious information and explaining this to an internal audience. • To contribute to the preparation and delivery of presentations which are clear and appropriate to the purpose and the audience. • To provide to requestors a clear narrative including assumptions and data sources in order to interpret requested analyses or reports; to brief requestors in person as well as written. • Resolve in a helpful manner any routine queries in relation to reports produced / developed and escalating any systems-related issues to the Lead Data Engineer • Demonstrate and champion a ‘customer focused’ approach considering at all times whether his / her work reflects the well-understood and effectively prioritised requirements of the key internal and external stakeholders Data quality and information governance • To ensure that the data held on Trust information systems is complete, valid and accurate through the production of regular data quality reporting. This will require close joint working with the Clinical Systems Team and service line managers and clinicians. • To develop and operate data quality checking routines and ensure safe data within the business requirements of contract monitoring, performance monitoring and demand modelling. • Ensure that all reports produced / reporting objects or templates developed meet specified validation and quality control requirements by the Assistant Director of Performance before they are sent out or ‘published’ using available business intelligence tools. • Regularly contributing to audits of the working practices of the team, identifying and communicating changes that could lead to improved ways of working. • To observe utmost rigour in the protection of patient-identifiable data, including continual improvement of filing practices and security techniques. • To maintain data security and information confidentiality and Information Governance good practice. • Develop a solid understanding of the IT systems operated by CNWL with regards to data models and structures so as to facilitate work to develop new and more complex reporting objects that require effective and intelligent linkage between sources of information held on different systems. • Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of NHS health informatics as they apply to Trust systems. Systems Knowledge • Assist the Assistant Director of Peformance as required to ensure that robust information systems are in place across the organisation to support the effective management and delivery of internal key performance indicators and national targets. • Develop a solid understanding of the IT systems operated by CNWL with regards to data models and structures so as to facilitate work to develop new and more complex reporting objects that require effective and intelligent linkage between sources of information held on different systems. • Demonstrate and champion how the BI tool can be used to develop and run ‘intelligent information’ reports to support service redesign, benchmarking and quality standards. • Provide ongoing support, training and guidance to key internal stakeholders so that they are able to use the new BI tool to build and run their own information reports, adjusting the content, parameters and presentation so as best to meet their needs. • Proactively identify instances where Trust systems are not set up as best to support key stakeholders’ reporting requirements and escalate issues to the Head of Information. • Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of NHS information requirements and IT developments as they apply to Trust systems. Person specification Education And Qualifications Essential criteria • Educated to degree level in relevant discipline or equivalent professional and management experience Desirable criteria • Degree in an information-related discipline • Evidence of continuing professional development PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Paid/unpaid Relevant To Job Essential criteria • Extensive work experience in a relevant role within a large complex organisation • Previous experience of working within the NHS or social care services • Expert user of MS Excel • Experience of providing training in 1:1 and group settings to stakeholders at varying levels of seniority • Experience of using common SQL-based query tools Desirable criteria • Previous experience of working within mental health or substance misuse • Experience use of a BI tool (preferably Tableau) to display complex data Skills And Knowledge Essential criteria • Understanding of national policy / regulatory requirements and developments within health and social care and their implications in terms of the information requirements of providers and commissioners of mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services • Knowledge of NHS and social care data sets (MHSDS, CSDS, etc.) and key performance indicators • Able to demonstrate understanding of the information needs of the Trust’s key internal and external stakeholders • Understanding and awareness of the range of available sources of information relevant to a Mental and Community Health Foundation Trust and how these could be effectively used • Customer awareness and understanding of providing a quality customer-focussed service • Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to quickly develop a detailed and accurate understanding of the information and broader ‘business intelligence’ requirements of service stakeholders by leading a process of expertly facilitated discussion in 1:1 or small-group settings. • Excellent numeric, critical reasoning and data analysis skills – able to interpret, analyse, integrate and effectively communicate data and information from a range of sources using tables, graphs and text. • Able to provide clear and helpful guidance on complex matters to a range of stakeholder audiences at varying levels of seniority. Desirable criteria • Knowledge of NHS data standards, the NHS data model and the data dictionary • Knowledge and understanding of the business planning and intelligence agenda within a Foundation Trust context Attitudes, Aptitudes & Personal Characteristics Essential criteria • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills • Excellent planning, organisational and project-coordination skills. Able to organise and plan own work to meet tight and often conflicting deadlines. • Able to work both as a motivated individual and a team player, prioritising his / her workload effectively and contributing to the overall workload of the team. • Demonstrably strong customer / stakeholder focus. • Able to work flexibly, responding rapidly to changing priorities. • Able to work to stringent deadlines. • A ‘systems thinker’ – able to identify and take forward opportunities to make processes more efficient and effective • Able to focus and concentrate on the detail of a problem without losing track of the bigger picture. • Possesses self-belief – demonstrates a resourceful and problem-solving approach • Possesses self-awareness – good awareness of own strengths and limitations and understanding of personal impact on others • Responsive to change and innovation.