Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is looking for proactive and detail-focussed 18 Week RTT Validation Officers to join its Performance Team. This is an exciting opportunity to gain wide range of knowledge about the NHS and SCFT; this includes becoming an expert in the national RTT rules (as well as other national performance targets), gaining an in-depth understanding of clinical specialties within the Trust, and also becoming familiar with the different admin processes that take place on a patient’s pathway to help progress them from referral, to treatment.
As you will encounter many patient pathways in this role, we will also look to you to help identify and escalate any data quality issues. You will then be involved in the improvements and process changes to help prevent these issues reoccurring. You will also provide support to clinical divisions, giving advice and guidance on the interpretation and implementation of national waiting times rules.
Despite not being a patient facing or clinical role, you will have a direct impact on patients’ journeys through SCFT. You will work as part of the Performance team to help ensure clinical pathways are recorded correctly, which in turn helps ensure that our patients receive the right treatment at the right time, preventing unnecessary delays.
This will involve you reading through a patient’s record and analysing the available information to make decisions about the pathway, and liaising with clinical divisions to expedite the patient if necessary. You will also play an essential part in helping to ensure the trust records and reports its waiting times accurately.
We are looking for individuals who are keen and quick to learn. Individuals also need to be able to manage and prioritise high workloads to meet weekly and monthly deadlines, whilst still ensuring that information is accurately recorded, to a high level of detail. Individuals must also maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
Whilst the roles are full time, we will consider part time roles. We offer flexible working arrangements, with elements of home working and flexible working hours.
Sheffield Children's is one of three independent, specialist paediatric hospitals in the country, providing dedicated healthcare for children and young people across community, mental health and acute specialist settings.
We have three overarching aims setting the direction for the Trust in our vision to create a healthier future for children and young people.
- Outstanding patient care
- Brilliant place to work
- Leader in children's health
We are committed to supporting colleagues from different heritages and lifestyles while at work. This is supported through the offer we have in place for flexible working and the three equality network groups we have in place. Colleagues are encouraged to join these groups and request flexible working.
Job Purpose
The post holder will be responsible for the comprehensive validation of inpatient and outpatient pathways in support of the Referral To Treatment (RTT) waiting times in accordance with Department of Health RTT guidelines.
RTT validators will be required to train staff in the recording of 18 week outcomes and monitor performance, escalating issues to Divisions as appropriate where there is a need for improvement.
The post holder will also contribute to the analysis of business intelligence reports and will create reports for analysis through accessing PAS data and importing into Excel and other databases.
Main Duties/Responsibilities
To have a detailed knowledge and understanding of National guidance, Trust operational processes, practices and protocols around 18 week pathway rules and RTT measurement.
To extract, analyse and interpret clinical information from case notes and other relevant sources using in-depth knowledge of medical pathways to assess 18 week date compliance.
To ensure all patients on an 18 week pathway have accurate and appropriate clock start and pathway information.
Act as first point of contact for external queries for all 18 week patient pathway information.
Ensure audit data is collected at referral; liaise with relevant staff to resolve any data quality problems to ensure 18 week data compliance is accurately recorded for all patients on an active 18 week pathway, at regular intervals.
To escalate 18 week breaches and ensure that this information is accurately documented.
Assist with routine data quality checks according to the Information Services team needs.
Assist in maintaining routine procedures to monitor and improve 18 week data collection.
To support staff in their understanding and application of the 18 week pathway.
Any other duties/ responsibilities as delegated by the manager as deemed appropriate to the role.
Please note - Interview Date - Monday 5th June 2023
Inclusive Recruitment & Selection
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change.
We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager: Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Children’s being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert atCatherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
Trust Values
The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:
- Compassion – leading by kindness and showing empathy, understanding and respect
- Accountability – striving to do the right thing and owning responsibility
- Respect – value differences, tackling inequality and fostering a culture of inclusion
- Excellence – delivering a high-quality standard of care
