Emergency Department Validator

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust; Northampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is seeking a data validation and performance governance specialist for ED data. You will lead validation, QA, and reporting, ensuring ECDS compliance and accurate performance intelligence.

You will collaborate with clinical, operational and digital teams to drive service improvement and maintain robust audit trails. The role requires experience in complex dataset analysis, NHS data standards, and advanced Excel skills, with ability to present findings to

Qualifications

• Experience analysing and validating complex datasets.
• Experience producing reports and performance information for operational or management use.
• Experience investigating data quality issues and resolving discrepancies.
• Experience working to deadlines and managing competing priorities.
• Experience using NHS clinical and administrative systems.
• Knowledge of NHS data quality standards and performance monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Lead validation of ED activity data to ensure compliance with ECDS standards and NHS requirements.
• Review and validate patient records, attendance outcomes, clinical timestamps and activity data for accuracy.
• Develop and maintain validation processes and controls to improve data quality and reporting accuracy.
• Identify and elevate data quality risks, discrepancies and reporting issues as appropriate.
• Provide assurance regarding the integrity of data used for performance reporting and statutory submissions.
• Lead root-cause analysis of recurring data quality and performance issues and oversee corrective actions.
• Lead the production, validation and quality assurance of ED performance reports and submissions.
• Develop dashboards and performance intelligence tools; monitor trends and present findings to senior managers.

Skills

Data analysis

Data quality assurance

Performance reporting

Problem solving

Communication of data findings

Data validation

Advanced Excel

Education

GCSE Maths and English

NVQ3 in Business Administration/Information Management/Health Records

Evidence of continuing professional development

Tools

NHS clinical systems

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Data Validation and Quality Assurance

• Lead the validation of Emergency Department (ED) activity data to ensure compliance with Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS) standards, NHS England reporting requirements and Trust policies.
• Review and validate patient records, attendance outcomes, clinical timestamps and activity data to ensure accuracy, consistency and completeness.
• Develop, implement and maintain validation processes, controls and procedures to improve data quality and reporting accuracy.
• Identify, assess and elevate data quality risks, discrepancies and reporting issues as appropriate.
• Provide assurance regarding the integrity of data used for performance reporting, statutory submissions and operational decision‑making.

Record Review and Investigation

• Analyse complex patient records and information from multiple systems to establish accurate patient pathways and outcomes.
• Investigate data quality concerns, performance breaches, reporting anomalies and disputed records.
• Interpret and apply national guidance, ECDS definitions and local validation standards to complex and non-routine cases.
• Produce detailed analytical reports, investigations and recommendations to support service improvement and performance management.
• Lead root‑cause analysis of recurring data quality and performance issues and oversee corrective actions.

Performance Reporting and Intelligence

• Lead the production, validation and quality assurance of Emergency Department performance reports, including ECDS submissions, SITREP returns and internal reporting requirements.
• Ensure all mandatory submissions are completed accurately and within prescribed deadlines.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, exception reports and performance intelligence tools.
• Monitor performance trends, identify areas of risk and provide expert analysis to support operational and strategic decision‑making.
• Present performance information, findings and recommendations to senior managers, governance groups and divisional meetings.

Data Quality Improvement

• Lead the development and implementation of data quality improvement strategies across Emergency Care services.
• Identify opportunities to enhance data collection processes, validation methodologies, reporting arrangements and system functionality.
• Review and update standard operating procedures, policies and working practices relating to validation and performance management.
• Lead and support projects relating to ED performance, ECDS compliance, information quality and service development.
• Work collaboratively with clinical, operational and digital teams to improve recording practices and data quality standards.

Training and Specialist Support

• Act as the Trust's subject matter expert for ED data quality, validation processes and ECDS requirements.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance to clinical, operational and administrative staff.
• Develop and deliver training programmes relating to ED validation, data quality and performance reporting.
• Support staff development by establishing competency frameworks and promoting best practice in data recording and validation.

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with Information Governance, Data Protection legislation, GDPR, NHS data standards and Trust policies.
• Lead audits relating to data quality, validation processes and performance reporting.
• Prepare assurance reports, action plans and responses to audit findings and identified risks.
• Maintain robust audit trails and documentation for all validation decisions and data amendments.
• Represent the Trust at internal and external meetings relating to Emergency Department performance, validation and data quality.

Professional Accountability

• Work autonomously as the Trust lead for Emergency Department validation and performance assurance.
• Exercise professional judgement when interpreting national guidance, data definitions and performance standards.
• Take responsibility for the quality, accuracy and integrity of information used to support operational, divisional and organisational decision‑making.
• Prioritise workload effectively to ensure reporting deadlines, performance requirements and quality standards are consistently achieved.

Person specification

Education, Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• GCSEs (or equivalent) including Maths and English -
• NVQ level 3 in Business Administration, Information Management, Health Records, or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable criteria

• Qualification in data analysis, information management, or healthcare administration.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience analysing and validating complex datasets.
• Experience producing reports and performance information for operational or management use.
• Experience investigating data quality issues and resolving discrepancies.
• Experience working to deadlines and managing competing priorities.
• Experience using NHS clinical and administrative systems.
• Knowledge of NHS data quality standards and performance monitoring.
• Knowledge of NHS performance targets

Desirable criteria

• Experience within an Emergency Department or Urgent Care setting.
• Experience of ECDS data collection and validation.
• Experience supporting operational performance reporting.
• Knowledge of RTT, Emergency Care, and national performance targets.

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to analyse trends and identify data quality concerns.
• Ability to interpret national and local performance standards and apply them to operational data.
• Ability to produce accurate performance reports and dashboards.
• Strong problem‑solving and investigative skills.
• Ability to communicate complex data findings to non‑specialist staff.
• Ability to challenge and query data anomalies appropriately.
• Advanced Excel skills (e.g. pivot tables, formulas, filtering, data validation).

Key Competencies/Personal Qaulities and Attributes

Essential criteria

• Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
• Demonstrates initiative and sound judgement within defined procedures.
• Ability to influence and support clinical and operational teams to improve data quality.
• Able to work independently within a structured framework
• Commitment to continuous improvement and service development.
• Able to work in a high‑volume, time‑pressured environment
• Strong organisational and planning skills.

At Northampton General Hospital we provide general acute services and hyper‑acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living in Northamptonshire. As well as this we are an accredited cancer centre and provide cancer services to a wider population of Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.

We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to have obtained Pathway to Excellence designated accreditation from the American nurses credentialing centre (ANCC).

We celebrate staff achievements and value the importance of working as one big team. That's why we talk about Team NGH. It's all about working together to provide the best possible care for our patients and supporting each other to grow and develop our skills. We are driven to helping you to be the best you can be.

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Our Excellence Values:

• Compassion
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courageous
• Accountable