Assistant Librarian (Patient Education)

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Assistant Librarian (Patient Education)
Fixed term: 18 months 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 focusing 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 focusing 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.

About us

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.

Job 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 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 services 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.

Person Specification

Experience

• 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
• Experience of working in a healthcare, academic or public knowledge and library environment.
• Experience of working with patients or the public.

Skills

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

Education

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

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

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

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.

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)