IDT Applications Test Lead

Transformationunitgm; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking a dedicated Applications and Clinical Systems Test Lead to enhance patient care through robust IT testing processes. This role involves managing testing strategies for critical applications, ensuring they meet business requirements and support clinical operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in testing methodologies, excellent analytical skills, and experience with NHS systems. Join a team committed to continuous improvement and innovation in healthcare technology, where your contributions will directly impact patient outcomes and system efficiency.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of testing experience, especially with Cerner Millennium applications.
• Proven ability to manage and lead IT system testing effectively.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead IT system testing and reporting at all levels.
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Knowledge of Modern Test Methodologies

Basic Knowledge of CCL

Knowledge in Concepts of Databases

Experience with NHS Systems

Good Written and Verbal Communication Skills

Education

ISTQB Foundation in Software Testing

Degree in a Numerate Subject

ISTQB Intermediate in Software Testing

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Cerner Millennium

Job description

Main area Applications and Clinical Systems Test Lead Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Working out of hours during go lives may be required) Job ref 200-NN-7063770-RB-A

Employer St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site St Georges Hospital Town London Salary Dependent on experience Closing 25/05/2025 23:59

IDT Applications Test Lead

Band 7

*The pay scales advertised have been confirmed by NHS England, we are awaiting confirmation of when these will be reflected. The new scales can be found here: Pay scales for 2024/25 | NHS Employers

Job overview

The Applications and EPR team within the IDT Department supports and builds applications for the Trust, with the key application being the Cerner iClip EPR. All applications within the remit of the IDT Department provide significant improvements in patient care through enhanced capacity for system linkages and information sharing.

The post holder will support IDT by designing, executing and managing the testing of all changes within existing IT applications and new applications within the remit of the Department, ensuring that new or modified service products meet the business requirements for which they have been developed or enhanced. They will also ensure that a testing strategy is both devised and applied that is efficient, effective and economic.

The work of the team comprises a number of clinical and technical systems. One of the key requirements in order to provide quality systems is thorough testing to provide assurance that the new systems will be able to support the trust’s business requirements and are fit for purpose.

Main duties of the job

• To manage and lead on IT system testing and reporting at all levels in an easily understandable format according to the audience. The information will often be multi-stranded and contentious as it will represent a view of corporate, divisional and/or clinical performance.

• To develop and maintain an excellent working relationship both internally to the trust and externally, including other NHS Organisations, system suppliers and contractors.

• To act as liaison, for the trust on IT Test issues and communicate effectively on complex and multi-stranded issues ensuring understanding throughout.

Working for our organisation

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To lead or advise in the formation of RFCs (“Requests for Change”), Packages and fixes and to liaise with suppliers and management regarding them.

• To liaise with and advise trainers regarding new workflows and the best way to train staff

• To act as a troubleshooter/mediator between suppliers and the trust when test issues/incidents occur.

• Participate in organising and leading testing workshops and seminars aimed at improving the use of IT systems by staff to maximise clinical, management and income benefits.

• Constantly maintain a high level of awareness and specialist knowledge and expertise in IT systems testing.

• Ensure new technologies and standards are researched and developed.

• Support projects and change requests and liaise with all areas of the trust to provide advice in relation to methods of testing and train testers as appropriate

• Compile and manage the writing of test scripts appropriate for testing the development system.

• Act as a point of contact for staff from all parts of the organisation that need testing assistance or advice.

• Undergo troubleshooting and root cause analysis activities where required.

• Review and maintain trust test strategies

• The post-holder will be required to have a detailed knowledge of all systems to be tested and an understanding of their use within the trust.

• To use their experience and judgement to design a consistent and flexible IT testing strategy and methodology to be used across the trust.

• Much of the output from the testing will be of a complex nature and the post-holder will need to understand this output within the context of the clinical and business requirements of the trust.

• The post-holder will need to identify and analyse complex system test issues and develop or assist in developing fixes where appropriate.

• The post-holder will analyse user requirements and develop appropriate test scripts to replicate the need.

• The post-holder will prepare reports for go-live, outlining decision points and making recommendations to the trust.

• Accountable for IT systems testing and for its continual improvement.

• Plan, develop, review, update, upgrade and introduce new testing scripts and scenarios to meet user and trust requirements.

• Plan and prioritise testing workloads to ensure loads are evenly balanced.

• Ensure appropriate documentation is created and maintained throughout the testing process.

• Be responsible for regular archiving and maintenance of trust test documentation.

• Ensure all testing tasks are carried out in a professional manner.

• To suggest testing methodology and software where appropriate; always obtaining best value for the trust.

• Manage the integrity of all trust testing activities.

• Promote and embed a culture of continuous quality and service improvement.

• Manage and maintain the trust IT testing policy, updating as appropriate.

• To act as mentor/manager to locum testing resources introduced to the trust, no current establishment line management responsibilities.

• Ensure that all IT systems introduced into and upgraded for use by the trust are tested and comply with trust requirements for information security, activity reporting, clinical record keeping, and business processes are fit for purpose and introduce no risks to the trust.

• Validation and QA of testing output.

• Ensure that interfaces to and feeds from other systems are always maintained.

• Develop, in conjunction with other members of ICT, trust staff and suppliers’ way of conducting testing, taking advantage of any new technical developments available.

• Report relevant issues to system user groups, suppliers, managers, etc. to ensure early resolution.

• Develop, in conjunction with other members of ICT, trust staff and suppliers testing scripts to reflect the trust’s processes.

• To audit test issues to provide an accurate view of issues and resolution (or inability to resolve) for information.

• To act autonomously to achieve agreed objectives, guided by broad principles and departmental policies.

• To use own initiative in developing testing methodology, reports and deciding responses to issues identified.

• To manage the Testing Team, recruit staff, conduct staff appraisals and develop staff. The post-holder will also recruit and manage flex contract resource as needed.

• Reports directly to the IDT Applications Technical Manager

• Management of Test Analyst team (including interims)

• Internal stakeholders: Members of the IDT senior leadership team, including Digital Infrastructure & Technical Support; Informatics & Business Intelligence; Head of Digital

Projects; and Information Governance. Other key internal stakeholders include

Applications & Systems team; Digital Project Managers; Transformation Team; Change

Managers; Workstream Leads, Clinical & Operational Staff; Departmental Application Owners.

• External stakeholders: St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group; Third party suppliers & service providers including Cerner; St. George’s University of London IT Department; NHS Digital, NHS London Strategic Health Authority, NHS England; Other LHE NHS Trusts; and SWL ICS and SWL Pathology.

Person specification

• Education - ISTQB Foundation in software testing or equivalent and Education : Educated to a degree standard in a numerate subject
• Education - ISTQB Intermediate in software testing or equivalent

Skills

• Skills and abilities - •Knowledge of modern test methodologies • Good analytical skills • Proven problem-solving skills • Knowledge in skills and in the use of technologies for detecting and tracking defects • Basic knowledge of CCL • Knowledge in concepts of databases • Experience in working with the national spine • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Applications for documenting Test Plans and Strategies (Word, Excel…
• Skills and Abilities • Familiar with standards writing techniques • Familiar with project planning and control techniques • Basic Back-End Knowledge of Cerner Millennium

Experience

• Experience - • 3 years testing experience with Cerner Millennium Applications • Tester role • NHS systems • Working as part of a Project team

Communications and Values

• Communication Skills • Good written and verbal communication skills • Professional attitude • Effective team player • Willing to work flexible hours around the time of upgrades and implementations. 4 Values - Demonstrable ability to meet Trust values

We expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the trust – being excellent, kind, responsible and respectful – and behave in a way that reflects these. More information on the vision and values of St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is attached below.

Please note that this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if sufficient applicants are received. Please check your email regularly as all candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted and informed by email.

If you are appointed to the post, as part of your pre-employment check we will be required to verify your identity. The document/s you present for this purpose will be checked for their authenticity by scanning all known security features. These features will include:

- The machine readable zone
- An ultra violet image
- An infra red image

As part of your pre-employment checks, we will also be required to obtain satisfactory, written references. Please ensure that the referee details which you provide on your application form are correct. We require at least one written reference from your current or most recent line manager. We are only able to accept references from a professional work email address.

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Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Richard Da Costa Mendes Job title IDT Applications and Clinical Systems Test Lead Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 020 8266 6390