Systems Developer - Job Description

Post Details

Post Title: Systems Developer

Band: 7

Directorate: NHS Choices

Location: Leeds or London

Organisational Arrangements


Post Summary

NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk) is Europes largest health website, receiving over 35 million visits per
month. A software developer is required to specify, design, build and maintain systems for
NHS Choices and its customers. The ideal candidate will be willing to be flexible and eager
to take on new challenges.

We work in an agile manner, with close collaboration between systems developers and the
customer leading to delivery of higher business value. Progress is rapid and requires a high
level of disciplined self-management and ownership of outcomes. .


Key Result Areas

Development of cutting edge nationally used bespoke systems to support NHS
Choices and its partner organisations.
Collaborating with customers to identify business needs and to enable the realisation
of business value.
Responsibility for conducting effective and timely analysis of organisational, team and
individual system user stories/requirements and producing appropriate applications
solutions to meet these needs.
Providing expert technical consultancy to internal and external customers/Product
Owners, management and staff.
Head of Development
Systems Developer


Providing technical and operational perspective and be competent in the area of
applications development.
Researching new technologies, white papers and leading industry concepts and
processes in order to support the continuous improvement of the IT Development
service
Ensure the monitoring, operation and creation of best practice software engineering
processes.
Demonstrate/present potential solutions to customers, identifying additional
requirements and changes.
Maintaining and enhancing existing applications to enable changing business needs.
Defining outcome-based test criteria for requirements and participating in rigorous
testing of developed applications to ensure both fit against requirement and to
eliminate faulty code.
Suggesting changes to the team processes and approach to bring about
improvements in the teams ability to deliver
Presenting Show & Tell sessions to demonstrate what has/is being developed to
deliver assigned work
Provide consultancy, guidance and advice based on own specialist knowledge and
experience to the team and to external stakeholders


C1. Communication and Relationship
Extensive collaboration with internal and external customers, such as the Department of
Health and Local Authorities. Communicating complex technical issues and risks to non-
technical people, requiring the ability to translate technical impacts into a language
understood by business areas and to ensure that the communication has been successful.
Sensitive negotiations around change in scope and handling the contentious priorities of
balancing changing customer needs with the need to deliver to time and budget.

Influencing senior technical managers regarding the architecture and design. This often
involves highly complex technical negotiations.

Communicating with external software development companies to ensure that systems
development is undertaken in a high quality, risk averse manner. This requires
communication on highly complex technical issues and negotiation of the solutions to be
implemented.

Attending and actively partaking in formal meetings, such as Project Boards and Service
Review Boards.

Challenging and influencing decisions made by senior technical staff within the department
as well as external and internal customers, to ensure that technical risks and issues are
identified and managed appropriately.

Overcoming barriers to communication due to working remotely from customers and/or
technical software suppliers.

Working closely with colleagues to identify and implement the most appropriate solutions to
problems. Actively partaking in the sharing of technical knowledge and best practice within
the department, including presenting of ideas and partaking in robust debates. Resolving
conflicts, confrontations and disagreements positively and constructively though negotiating
and influencing.
Giving timely and specific feedback on what has been done well and where there is room for
improvement through participation in retrospectives and taking responsibility for actions in

order to improve processes and ways of working.


Responsibility for Analysis and Judgement
Analysing user needs, designing systems, developing code, testing and maintaining systems,
many of which are of national importance. Analysis of business needs, requiring specialised
skills to ask the right questions, check understanding, challenge assumptions and identify
how a system could enhance the business processes. Interpretation of those requirements
into highly complex system design recommendations. Implementing the system to high
quality. Being adaptable to changing business needs and the impact that has on analysis,
requirements understanding, design and implementation.

Acquiring a proper understanding of a problem or situation by breaking it down systematically
into its component parts and identifying the relationships between these parts, selecting the
appropriate method/tool to resolve the problem and reflecting on the result, such that learning
is identified and absorbed.

Analysing faults, identifying potential solutions and selecting the most appropriate route given
a contentious list of requirements. In depth analysis of highly complex issues with systems
and/or data. Considers alternative solutions before moving to resolve an issue. Makes a
well-reasoned response even when faced with incomplete or contradictory information.
Evaluates the chosen course of action to determine whether it has resolved the problem.

Proactively identifying and addressing highly complex technical risks and presenting a
recommended approach to non-technical decision makers.

Analysing and performing data manipulation for complex information, present summaries,
reports and data analysis, develop options, cost/benefit/risk appraisals and undertake
modelling of data to support decision making and influence business decisions.

Responsibility for Planning and Organisation
Dealing with competing priorities to meet project deliverables throughout the full development
lifecycle. Working with the team to define the teams workload and ensuring that the team
meets its commitments through removing the impediments of other team members and
mentoring them as necessary.

This will involve the complex and collaborative co-ordination of a number of activities,
components and processes in order to achieve a common goal.

Providing estimates of the work involved in achieving the business aims to enable a business
case to be considered.

Contributing to strategic planning across the department.

Identifying new and alternative approaches to performing activities in order to optimise the
current working practices and contribute to continuous improvement across the department.
This includes the analysis of processes, assessment of the potential benefits of the
approaches considered, documentation of the processes and implementation of them.

Recognising and highlighting potential points of failure in own and team processes whilst
recommending appropriate change and solutions.


Dealing effectively with uncertain situations and optimising opportunities, but understanding

the need to seek clarity when unsure.

Proactive in identifying barriers to change and seeking ways to overcome them.


Responsibility for Financial and Other Physical Resources
Has to be aware of and sometimes manage the expensive software cost implications of
failures or incorrect technical decisions. In addition, will be responsible for the management
and appropriate and effective use of expensive contractor resource.


C2. Responsibilities for Human Resources
Works effectively with colleagues to achieve shared objectives. Is required to share and
disseminate knowledge and experience with other team members, as well as colleagues
from outside of the team.

Mentoring other team members in technical specialities and disseminating specialist
knowledge of systems. Actively researches and shares technical best practice in a fast
moving field in order to improve the way in which systems are implemented and hence
deliver greater business value.

Taking part in recruitment panels in order to identify suitable candidates to join the
organisation.


C3. Health, safety and security
Complying with the HSCIC Health, Safety and Security policies, and keeping up to date with
all Health and Safety issues relevant to the job.


C4. Responsibility for Policy and Service Improvement & Development
Reviews internal processes to identify possible optimisations and contributes to the
continuous improvement of the department. This includes learning from mistakes and
highlighting potential areas of failure. These changes will primarily impact across the
department but may also change interactions with other departments and external
customers.

Improves services to internal and external stakeholders through analysing current processes,
making suggestions for change, influencing key decision makers and implementing and
monitoring the changes.


Responsibility for information resources
Designing, implementing and maintaining systems of national importance with a view to
improve patient/person care and to support other departments and external customers in
realising business value.

Considering data security in the design of systems in order to protect information and
information systems from unauthorised access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification or
destruction. For example, the use of coding techniques to prevent code injections.

Ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability of data regardless of the form the data may
take.



Responsibility for Audit, Research & Development
Keeping up to date with best practices in the technical field in order to enable the department
to improve the way in which it implements systems, leading to quicker development, easier
maintainability and higher quality. Spreading the results of these investigations throughout
the department, mentoring and supporting technical staff in their understanding.

Actively undertaking R&D activities into specialised technical areas as directed by the
Systems Architect. Mentoring other staff in the results of these investigations. Making
recommendations as to the future technical direction of the department as a result of the
R&D activities. Influencing key decision makers on these technical matters.

Regularly reviewing the work of colleagues to ensure that it meets the required standards
and adheres to best practice, in order to improve the quality of the systems delivered which
leads to a reduction in the number of issues found during user testing and live usage.

Performing tests of code written by colleagues to ensure that they meet the user
requirements.


C5. Quality
Writing automated unit tests for the code they have developed to ensure that it meets
business requirements and to enable a suite of tests to be executed which provides a
thorough regression test to enable any issues to be identified and rectified early in the
development process. This allows problems to be identified early in the development
process, when it is quicker and cheaper to fix them. It also leads to systems which are less
likely to have issues in the live environment, supporting customers in achieving their aims
and providing business value.

Writing of code which follows best practice and peer review of code written by colleagues to
ensure high quality. This results in code which is less likely to contain errors and better
supports customer aims when the system is in the live environment.

Influence the future standards of quality in the department through active investigation into
technical quality related matters and sharing of that information with colleagues and key
decision makers.


Freedom to Act
Works independently, within the direction set by the departments broad technical strategy.
Has a high level of disciplined self-management and ownership of outcomes.

Acting independently and taking action when dealing with uncertain situations or optimising
opportunities. Recommending appropriate change and solutions whilst proactively engaging
with the wider organisation to identify areas for improvement and taking the necessary action
to implement the changes.
Has responsibility for the implementation of own development work and supports other team
members in achieving their goals. Makes independent technical decisions on a regular basis
and implements those decisions without reference to line management.

Is able to provide support and resolve customer issues independently.


C6. Equality, diversity and rights
Responsibility for supporting or developing a culture which promotes equality & diversity.


Flexibility

This job description and KSF Outline is not exhaustive and may change as the post or the
needs of the service develop. Such changes will be subject to consultation between the post
holder and their manager and, if necessary, further job matching or evaluation.


Additional Information: Effort and Working Conditions

Please indicate whether the post holder will be expected work in or be directly exposed to the
following factors and provide relevant examples, including details of frequency and duration,
as appropriate:


Emotional Effort Yes No Examples
Giving unwelcome news to
customers or staff

X Explaining issues and delays to systems and
services to customers and users.
Dealing with difficult
situations

X May need to manage expectation of users, when
dealing with conflicting interests. May need to
deliver unwelcome news to a customer if
expectations cannot be achieved.
Providing counselling or
coaching to staff

X
Communicating life
changing events

X
Dealing with people with
challenging behaviour

X
Other




Physical Effort Yes No Examples
Working in unpleasant
physical conditions

X
Lifting weights or equipment
with or without mechanical
aids
X
Making repetitive
movements

X Multiple screen use, all Development staff have
at least two screens, often interfacing between
the two. This requires the developers to employ
advanced keyboard skills and excellent hand
eye coordination.
Fine manipulation of objects

X
Standing/sitting with limited
scope for movement for
long periods
X Although Development staff are generally sat at
a multiple screen desk for the majority of the
day.
Other
Physical Skills
X Multiple screen use, all Development staff have
at least two screens, often interfacing between



the two. This requires the developers to employ
advanced keyboard skills and excellent hand
eye coordination.
Mental Effort Yes No Examples
Carry out formal training or
assessments
X Peer review of the code written by colleagues.
Analyse statistics

X
Operate equipment

X Analysing technical issues with systems or pieces
of development work to check function and
capability, using various techniques and IT
Systems. PC, two monitor screens.
Give evidence in a formal
hearing or tribunal

X
Attend meetings (describe
role)

X Provide expert advice, guidance and help
formulate decisions.
Prepare detailed reports

X
Check documents

X Check technical documentation written by
colleagues to ensure accuracy.
Carry out calculations

X
Carry out fault finding

X Analyse and investigate software defects and
suggest root cause.
Other
Concentration

X Requires frequent and prolonged periods of
concentration for more than half a day for at
least 80% of the time.

Working Conditions Yes No Examples
Excessive temperatures or
noise

X
Use of VDU more or less
continuously

X Prolonged periods of concentration are required
on a daily basis sometimes in a noisy
environment.
Driving/being driven in
normal situations

X
Exposure to aggressive
verbal behaviour where
there is little/no support
X
Other

X









Person Specification

Post Title: Systems Developer

Essential at recruitment

Desirable - Extra factors that can be used to choose
between candidates who meet the essential criteria
Qualifications


Qualified to Degree Level in a suitable technical discipline or
equivalent qualification or experience
Has obtained Microsoft Certified Professional certification in
relevant subject
Knowledge &
skills
Extensive real world experience of software development,
technical support and technical assurance in a complex
technical environment.
Proven ability to transfer and develop skills and knowledge in
new technical areas at short notice.
Ability to translate complex technical problems both verbally and
in written form to a range of business and technical audiences,
including senior management and novice users, to support a
wider understanding of key issues.
Proven track record for ownership and completion of tasks and
self-management of parallel activities.
Substantial proven experience in software architecture and
development, with knowledge of :

Core Skills
C#
ASP.Net
.Net Frameworks 2-4
TSQL
XML
Has an understanding of the project management methodology.

Has knowledge and experience of working in an Agile / Lean
development environment and good understanding of other
development methodologies


Experience

Proven experience in IT development, and a track record of
implementing systems with:

(RDBM) relational database management systems such
as SQL 2005/2008.
Test Driven Development (TDD)
Unit and systems testing
Applying Object Oriented Analysis (OOA) when
designing OO applications
SOLID principles
Continuous Integration
Use of ICT in a knowledge-based organisation and in
cross-team working.

Understand and be able to articulate the key concepts of Agile
Development the Agile Document Lifecycle, the mechanics of
Scrums and Sprints, the principles of Continuous Integration.
Experience of working within an Agile delivery team, and of
defining and delivering approaches and tools to support
Continuous Delivery.

Experience of applying the Key Agile concepts in day-to-day
work.

Apply coding standards as shared tacitly within the team, to
ensure that developed products can be supported consistently.
Experience in design, code, test, correction and documentation
of large and/or complex programs and program modifications
from supplied and implicit specifications using agreed standards
and tools, to achieve a well-engineered result.
Experience of taking part in reviewing of own work and leading
reviews of colleagues' work.

Experience of one of more of the following areas would be a
great advantage.

Web and Distributed Computing
Web services and SOA
AJAX
Javascript
RDF
ReST
SharePoint
MOSS 2007 / 2010
Workflow
Infopath
Design
MVC,
IOC
Design Patterns
OS / Tools
Windows OS
Windows 2008 Server
Virtual Machines (VM Ware)
Windows 7
Microsoft Office 2007
FAST Search
Development tools
Visual Studio 2008 and later
NUnit
NCover
FXCop
JQuery
NHibernate
Cruise Control
Database / Data Warehousing
PL/SQL
SQL Server 2008
ETL (SSIS)
Reporting (SSRS
OLAP (SSAS)


Personal
Attributes
(Demonstrable)

Proactive, responsive and determined to succeed, with a good
understanding of the need for procedures and how to implement
these effectively in a high-pressure environment.

Able to maintain an effective overview of potential technical risks
before they become issues.

Develops and communicates a clear sense of direction keeping
business focus in mind. Makes recommendations for the sake of
the business not for the sake of new technologies.

Able to plan specialist and highly technical activities.

Manages own time effectively to prioritise competing demands
working with minimal supervision.

Have the confidence and skills to quickly gain a good working
knowledge of new product releases and new development tools
in order to provide the flexibility to transfer between different
projects as the need arises.

Able to identify and grasp complex technical issues arising from
business plans and user specifications and able to communicate
these issues to technical and non-technical staff in a clear and
unambiguous way.

Good self-management with an eye for detail and ability to track
issues and prioritise when under pressure.

Be an effective member of a project team, reporting on progress
and issues at daily stand-ups and to an assigned Project
Manager business owner or work manager.
Experience of using Kanban / Scrum to improve the velocity of
delivery.


Other
(Please specify)

Occasional national travel.