Job vacancy: Network Specialist, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, Durham

Job summary

Main area: Digital and Data
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 346-CORP-072-25-A

Employer: Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Lanchester Road Hospital
Town: Durham
Salary: £47,810 - £54,710 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 08/10/2025 23:59

Network Specialist

NHS AfC: Band 7

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The lead network specialist for the Trust enterprise wireless network to support the health, delivery and maintenance of an enterprise network infrastructure to meet modern standards and provide the best possible service for our staff, patients and carers.

Providing expert advice in a range of IT networks and guidance across a range of technical areas relating to area of work. Developing, monitoring and maintaining a robust network infrastructure in support of the Trusts strategic direction.

The Network Specialist works alongside the Network Manager to provide technical expertise and leadership to the Network team. They work closely with the Network Manager to develop and implement infrastructure strategies, and ensure that the network infrastructure is secure, reliable, and performing optimally. They proactively identify and implement technical improvements, including automation and monitoring, to optimise the infrastructure's performance. In addition to providing technical guidance and support to the Network Manager, they will help mentor the leading engineers in network and infrastructure server team when required, enhancing their skills and knowledge. Enterprise network expertise and knowledge are critical in troubleshooting complex network faults and issues and ensures that the Network and Infrastructure teams are up-to-date with industry best practices, and well equipped to deliver a service that enables high-quality patient care.

Has credibility with technology staff and managerial leaders. Can understand and learn quickly about relevant service delivery issues, take governance/due diligence processes and ethics into account and successfully engage and influence technical and managerial colleagues at all levels of the organisation in relation to Network technologies and the associated cyber security considerations.

Works in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to document and communicate proposed and existing technical configuration documentation in relation to field of expertise.

Please feel free to contact me for an informal discussion on the role prior to application/interview. We are looking for a strong candidate to work with the team to deliver the best possible digital experience for our customers.

Dale Hopper - Network Manager - [email protected]

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) in wireless technologies

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience
Demonstrable knowledge in application transport and network infrastructure protocols, and experience of how to support these applications/protocols when accessed through VPN and firewall appliances.
Expert working knowledge of router, switch, firewall and wireless technologies in an enterprise network.
Good understanding of network security fundamentals.
A good understanding of virtual servers and virtual desktop infrastructure in a mixed Cisco and Microsoft Active Directory operating environment.
Strong working knowledge of general IT system security principles and practice

Right to Work in the UK

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, subject to role meeting the required conditions.

We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your Right to Work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.

AI in Recruitment

We are aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being used to generate responses for application forms. Applications for this role should be written by the applicant and if, during shortlisting, a Recruiting Manager believes AI has been used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Fixed Term Posts

If the contract type on the vacancy states 'Fixed Term' this would mean the vacancy is being advertised to address a temporary need for the duration stipulated on the advert, however, in the event that permanent funding is secured for the post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.

Internal applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis.

Support with applications

We have computers facilities available in our libraries (Durham, Middlesbrough, and Darlington) to support applicants. If you would like to access to a laptop for your application, please contact the library team to arrange a time to visit, please email: [email protected] . We will always endeavour to make this available however we cannot guarantee that we will be able accommodate this before the vacancy closes.

Trust Welcome Day

Here at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust, we want you to have a positive experience when you start your new role with us. To ensure you have great welcome, for all new starters joining the Trust, we offer two start dates per month on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of that month.

On your start date, you will be invited to our in person Trust Welcome Day at our Flatts Lane Centre, Middlesbrough. Your first day will be engaging and informative, it will allow you to meet and network with a range of Trust staff, learn more about us and what we offer. For certain clinical roles, your Welcome Day may then be followed up with additional mandatory/statutory clinical training.

Applying for this post

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from individuals who have experience of mental ill health or learning disabilities. Our service users and carers tell us our staff should be consistently concerned with maintaining and improving care with pride, empathy and compassion.

This job advert may close as soon as sufficient suitable applications have been received. If interested please apply for this post as soon as possible.

In order for your application to be successfully processed we will require references from your current and previous employer(s) which must cover a minimum period of three years. Please ensure that the reference section of your application is completed appropriately giving the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current and previous line manager(s). If this section is not fully completed your application may not be processed.

If your application is successful, the information you give on your application form will be used to create and be retained on your electronic staff record and to provide access to core Trust systems.

Please note that if the post you are applying for requires a DBS check, you will be required to also subscribe to the DBS Update Service, if successful, and thereafter renew your subscription each year. The Trust will reimburse the subscription fee.

After applying via the NHS Jobs link, you will be taken to our preferred Third party recruitment system so submit your application. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Additional Information

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the protection of staff, service users and visitors to the Trust from second hand smoke and currently operates a no smoking policy which ensures all buildings and grounds are smoke free.