Job description

The Evidence Team is responsible for ensuring that UK NSC policy recommendations are up to date and fit for purpose. Towards this end, a large volume of review projects are undertaken each year. The Team’s programme of work includes the development of a range of rapid review products, systematic reviews, disease modelling exercises, cost effectiveness evaluations.

Reporting to the Senior Information Scientist, the overall purpose of the post is to support the UK NSC evidence team in its work providing a knowledge support service for UK NSC decision making.

A key aim is to ensure the provision of a professional scientific information service for the evolving programme of evidence reviews, updates and discussion documents

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has 100 or so existing recommendations which it reviews on a three year rolling basis. In addition, the Committee runs an annual call for new topics and makes recommendations on major modifications to established screening programmes. The Screening Information Specialist will provide support for these processes and will contribute to activities to ensure the smooth functioning of the knowledge support service.

The evidence review process is evolving and a key development is the need for an organised approach to horizon scanning and topic prioritisation. The post holder will contribute to the work to establish this.

The post will be based within the UK NSC evidence team. This is part of the UK NSC Secretariat.

Responsibilities

To support the Senior Screening Information Specialist by:

•*Researching/scoping, designing and undertaking systematic literature searches of medical, health care and other bibliographic databases

•*Commissioning literature searches from external suppliers and quality assuring literature searches undertaken within evidence review projects

•*Providing advice on the development of literature searches in response to requests

•*Providing a dedicated daily literature digest service for a range of screening teams

•*Documenting and presenting results of systematic literature searches for the evidence review process. In particular this will involve developing evidence maps and commissioning evidence maps from external suppliers

•*To access and supply publications as required

•*To assist with the planning and practical management of the UK NSC annual call for topics

This job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks and responsibilities required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required by their line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation.

Key Role Requirements

Qualifications

•*Bachelor’s Degree or postgraduate level qualification in information/library services/management or equivalent experience

•*Project management qualification e.g. PRINCE 2

Key skills and experience required for the role

•*Proven track record of developing and conducting a range of screening search strategies, and of analysing data and presenting results

•*Experience in an appropriate library or research environment, some of which must have been obtained in a healthcare setting

•*Experience of using and evaluating a range of printed and electronic information sources, including databases, software and Internet resources related to healthcare

•*Good oral and written communication including writing and editing skills

•*Good organisational skills and an ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines with a minimum of supervision

•*Experience of working independently with high level of personal responsibility and initiative

•*Experience of developing a methodical approach to work with care and attention to detail

•*Experience of project management processes

•*Experience of commissioning information / evidence products from external suppliers

•*understanding of how to construct targeted literature searches for example use of appropriate search terms, free text, subject headings, Boolean operators etc

•*Knowledge and understanding of the range of healthcare bibliographic databases for example Embase, Medline etc

•*Knowledge of the range of relevant journals

•*Knowledge of current issues within medical issues

•*Awareness of current screening programmes

•*Knowledge of the hierarchy of evidence-based health care and critical appraisal

•*A sound understanding of the NHS and its partner organisations, ideally in relation to topical NHS issues

•*Knowledge of issues within screening in disease prevention

•*Knowledge of a range of cataloguing, classification, indexing and abstracting processes in a screening based environment

•*Awareness of current screening programmes

Qualifications

•*Bachelor’s Degree or postgraduate level qualification in information/library services/management or equivalent experience

•*Project management qualification e.g. PRINCE 2