Applied Clinical Data Linkage Programme Officer

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in London invites applications for the Applied Clinical Data Linkage Programme Officer. You will coordinate the expansion of the CDLS, lead data linkage governance and processing, linking data from multiple sources while protecting confidentiality and improving data quality.

Working within an academic health sciences centre, you will manage day-to-day data linkages, support new projects, and promote secure use of clinical information to advance

Qualifications

• Experience with data linkage governance and approvals.
• Knowledge of deterministic and probabilistic matching.
• Experience communicating with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to develop working relationships across organisations.
• Experience with data integration from multiple formats.

Responsibilities

• Initiate and lead discussions with health organisations to share data ideas.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external CDLS stakeholders.
• Collaborate with LUCI/CRIS teams and external project owners for approvals.
• Ensure governance standards; work with IG and Digital Services on procedures.
• Support Service Advisory Groups and engage people with lived experience.
• Maintain up-to-date data linkage knowledge and methodologies.
• Manage administrative tasks and secure data transfers (SFTP).

Skills

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Project coordination

Governance

Communication

Autonomous working

Data linkage methods

SFTP data transfer

Education

MSc in biomedical or data science

Tools

SQL

SFTP

Job description

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Applied Clinical Data Linkage Programme Officer

The closing date is 16 November 2026

The Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) established the Clinical Data Linkage Service (CDLS) in 2011 with the key objective of improving secondary uses of day-to-day clinical data through the linkage of data from different sources for the purpose of observational research. The CDLS provides a range of services designed to support all aspects of data linkage, from the initial approvals through to data extraction and processing.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, enthusiastic and analytical individual You will co-ordinate the expansion of the CDLS service, leading on data linkage governance and processing by which data from different sources are linked for clinical use in a way that protects confidentiality, maintains security and improves quality of data whilst maximising potential benefits for the Trust and its service users. You will be working in an academic health sciences centre with extensive biomedical research experience, pioneering clinical services, robust governance arrangements, and international reputation.

You will be expected to undertake the tasks required for the day-to-day managing of these elements of the CDLS, including managing and maintaining existing data linkages, leading on new data linkage projects, and promoting and supporting effective and secure utilisation of clinical information to support and maintain well-being and improve healthcare delivery.

Main duties of the job

• 1) To initiate and lead discussions with different health and care organisations to generate collaborative ideas for sharing and using clinical and non-clinical data for patient care and population health management.
• 2) To communicate effectively and respond to enquiries to the CDLS from internal and external stakeholders and users of the CDLS service;
• 3) Working with the LUCI and CRIS teams alongside external project owners from other health organisations to obtain essential approvals from relevant bodies.
• 4) To ensure that the CDLS is always meeting the highest and latest standards of information governance. To liaise directly with the Head of Information Governance and Digital Services Managers to develop and implement governance and IT procedures.
• 5) To support the ongoing operations of the Data Linkage Service User and Carer Advisory Group and the Clinical Informatics Service Advisory Group, regular meetings of people with lived experience of mental illness.
• 6) To maintain an up-to-date technical knowledge of data linkage methodology, including deterministic and probabilistic matching, to carry out linkages and data extraction in a relational database and to understand the impact of linkage error associated with different linkage methodologies;
• 7) To be responsible for managing administrative tasks in the CDLS, including receiving and handling large volume datasets via Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) with complex and sensitive information.

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) is one of the United Kingdom's largest and most comprehensive providers of mental health services, serving a local population of approximately 1.3 million people across south London and delivering specialist services nationally and internationally.

We provide the widest range of NHS mental health and substance misuse services in the UK, spanning more than 240 services including inpatient care, community teams, outpatient clinics and specialist units for children, adults and older people. Each year we deliver inpatient care for thousands of people and treat tens of thousands across the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon.

The Trust operates multiple psychiatric hospitals, and over 100 community sites and clinical teams, making our Trust a complex multi-site organisation with deep expertise across the full spectrum of mental health care. We are known for our strong partnerships with academia and research, most notably with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London and as part of King's Health Partners, contributing to world-leading research and innovation in mental health diagnosis, treatment and care.

Driven by a strategic commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing locally, nationally and globally, we combine high-quality clinical care, specialist research and community engagement to transform lives and support recovery.

Job responsibilities

See attached job description and person specification for full details of the post and its requirements

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Higher academic degree (MSc) in a biomedical or data science

Experience

• Experience working in a relevant field
• Relevant experience in data analysis and reporting.
• Experience of preparing and conducting presentations to large audiences
• Experience of stakeholder management
• Experience of working with patients, the public, clinicians and partners
• Hands on experience of relevant approval processes e.g. section 251, research ethics, other governance processes
• Demonstrable experience of developing effective working relationships between health or other organisations
• Experience of data integration in multiple formats
• Direct experience of working with Data Controllers such as NHS England, the UK Health Security Agency, and other Government and public sector departments
• Demonstrable experience of developing appropriate contracts between Data Controllers, e.g. data sharing agreements, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), etc.
• Hands on experience of constructing linked clinical datasets using relational databases
• Relevant experience of writing peer reviewed publications
• Experience of using Secure File Transfer Protocols (SFTP)

Knowledge and Skills

• Effective at networking and influencing across different professional groups and organisations.
• Analytical, logical and methodical with careful attention to detail
• Enthusiastic and proactive Team player
• Ability to work autonomously
• Self-motivated
• Creative approach to problem solving
• Capable of understanding wider objectives of the service
• Commands respect and has credibility with Colleagues
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to undertake a range of complex activities including: -project planning; -developing and monitoring KPIs; -reviewing and recording project progress; -adjusting project plans where slippage has occurred; -supporting managers in quantifying and mitigating project risks and issues. -Undertaking audits
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse groups
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to produce, analyse and interpret data
• Knowledge of data linkage methodology including deterministic and probabilistic matching
• Good working knowledge of SQL

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

£58,133 to £65,261 a yearPer Annum inclusive of HCAS