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Job summary

Main area
Education
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Fixed term: 18 months (length of contract 18 months)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (length of contract 18 months)
Job ref
279-6933824-JAN25
Employer
279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Town
Brighton
Salary
£29,970 - £36,483 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/03/2025 23:59

Employer heading

279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Assistant Librarian (Patient Education)

Band 5

 About our Trust

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

 Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First .  In fact our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme  for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves. 

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex. 

 

Job overview

Assistant Librarian (Patient Education)
Fixed term: 18 months fixed term based on time-limited charitable funding
Full time: 37.5 hours a week
Use your information skills to make a difference to the quality of NHS services and patient education.  You will work closely with the Patient Education knowledge specialists focussing on the provision of patient education both within and outside the Trust. 


Key roles include dealing with enquiries from patients, clinicians and the general public at walk-in health information points and carrying out audits of existing patient education materials across UHSussex. You will also carry out in-depth evidence searches and deliver relevant information skills sessions to meet the needs of those providing or using patient information.


This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified information professional as you will make an impact by providing proactive, analytical and tailored support to staff and patients, and will be backed up by an enthusiastic and highly regarded team.


The postholder will need an Honours Degree / Postgraduate qualification in information & library studies or a related degree.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will work closely with the Patient Education knowledge specialists focussing on the provision of patient education both within and outside the Trust. This will involve working alongside clinicians, managers, patients, carers and the general public to facilitate high-quality evidence-based decision-making and health improvement. 

 

Key roles include dealing with enquiries from patients, clinicians and the general public at walk-in health information points and carrying out audits of existing patient education materials across UHSussex. In liaison with the Patient Education knowledge specialists, the post- holder will take an active role in developing non-print materials such as videos and Podcasts.

The post-holder will carry out in-depth evidence searches and deliver relevant information skills sessions to meet the needs of those providing or using patient information. The post-holder will also be an active member of the Carer and Patient Information Group (CPIG).

In all cases these professional tasks will be carried out as part of the Patient Education team, with appropriate levels of training, support and supervision

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex

Candidate information pack - University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

•    To answer enquiries from KLS members and patients/carers in person, by phone or email in such a way as to conform with the Trust’s values and behaviours and the KLS policy on welcoming people and answering enquiries.

•    To provide evidence search results to KLS members and patients/carers on request (see Service Delivery below) in a standard, clear format that synthesises complex information in a readable summary.

•    To carry out audits of patient education materials across UHSussex to identify current provision and gaps in service.

•    To staff solely the new walk-in health information point in the 3Ts building at the RSCH site and deal with enquiries from patients/carers and clinicians. Enquiries will include simple directional queries as well as more complex searches on health conditions but will not include offering medical advice.

•    To carry out one-to-one and small group teaching that the KLS provides, in particular, producing patient information sessions (including teaching via web conferencing software).  This will involve contributing to the service’s scheduled teaching and being available to take on ad hoc requests for teaching, often at short notice.  Teaching may be carried out at any of the hospital sites.

-- See Job Description & Person Spec for full details. 

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Familiarity with expert Internet information retrieval
  • Experience of training users in information retrieval skills
  • Information retrieval skills using expert-level electronic database searching.
  • Ability to work on own initiative.
  • Presentation skills to include facilitating, teaching and talking to groups / one-to-one
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in a healthcare, academic or public knowledge and library environment.
  • Experience of working with patients or the public.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent team-working skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Spreadsheet and word processing skills.

Education

Essential criteria
  • A good (1st or 2nd class) Honours Degree / Postgraduate qualification in information & library studies.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employerStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sharon Springham
Job title
Senior Librarian
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01273 523306
Additional information

For more information about the role please contact on

Senior Librarian (Information Resources and Patient Education) 

(01273) 523306  or by email [email protected]

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