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Job summary

Main area
ICT
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
301-JP-25-7516013
Employer
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Lawton House
Town
Trentham
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
27/02/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Network & Systems Engineer

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

The main purpose of this post is to provide 3rd line technical support to all aspects of hardware infrastructure, software applications and related technologies.  This will require a strong understanding of partner business requirements and the potential clinical impact of any IT projects or issues.  This support will be provided across multiple communication channels, and take the form of remote and on-site technical support.

Main duties of the job

Provide 3rd line support for clinical and non-clinical users across partner and customer organisations.

Provide an escalation point and technical supervision to more junior technical teams.

Maintain and build constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.

Participate in relevant internal and external working groups/projects, services, and initiatives to provide information and analytical advice and expertise.

Interpret and explain information and issues, explaining highly complex issues to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

 

Working for our organisation

By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping  your communities and in return for this, we will support you by; 

  • Supporting your career development and progression
  • Excellent NHS Pension scheme
  • Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
  • Options for flexible working
  • Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
  • Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
  • If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
  • Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
  • Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, milage paid at business rates
  • Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
  • Free car parking at all trust sites
  • Free flu vaccinations every year
  • Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)

And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Responsibilities

  1. Play an active role in the planning, deployment and maintenance of technical systems.
  2. Liaise with suppliers in accordance with service contacts and service level agreements so as to minimise disruption to customer systems.
  3. Liaise with customers and their representatives in line with service level agreements.
  4. Complete business as usual activities for internally managed, hosted systems and customer systems as required.
  5. Resolve incidents, problems and service requests logged via the service management tool, in line with agreed service level agreements. Working closely with 1st and 2nd line colleagues.
  6. Provide technical supervision to more junior technical staff.
  7. Maintain and repair highly complex hardware and software applications/information systems to meet the needs of customers and the business.
  8. Regularly undertake formal tests of repaired, installed and/or adapted equipment and software.
  9. To implement policies created by more senior staff for own area of expertise.
  10. To recommend changes to policy and working practices to improve quality and meet national/organisational change.
  11. To be aware of, adhere to and implement team plans and policies.
  12. Accurately audit, document and maintain records of additions, modifications or removals of components of the ICT Infrastructure.
  13. Propose policy and service changes which impact beyond own area of activity. Such as providing advice and guidance to users and other IT professionals on IT policy and procedures.
  14. Cascade training and learning from specialist IT courses to colleagues within the Team.
  15. Undertake pro-active monitoring of alerts and related resolution activities.
  16. Support SSHIS and trust IM&T colleagues in the planning, development and implementation of IM&T network and systems processes and systems.
  17. Provide coordination of, and participate in, relevant internal and external working groups and providing advice and support where requested.
  18. Work with all LHE staff to develop a culture of valuing IT, information and security to support improvements in health care using digital as a key enabler.
  19. Adhere to good practice change control procedures and adhere to relevant local and NHS policies
  20. Be flexible and adjust work schedules to meet post requirements
  21. To participate in internal forums and meetings as required
  22. Contribute to the creation of technical documentation with a clear understanding of the business and service user needs
  23. Acquire and maintain detailed knowledge of technologies so that enquiries can be clearly and quickly addressed
  24. Maintain an awareness of changes to software, hardware, and technologies that could impact on core customer activities
  25. Identify opportunities where technological advancements can be applied to better use of that technologies use across the LHE.
  26. Use judgement in applying guidelines for setting priorities for resolution, monitoring progress, and applying escalation procedures for cyber incidents and problems not progressing satisfactorily
  27. Ensure organisational policies are applied in own work environment

Systems & Equipment

  1. Responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair and safe use of expensive and highly complex physical assets such as network and hardware/software infrastructure on a day to day basis on behalf of customers across the Local Health Economy (LHE) and other NHS organisations/national applications.

Decisions and Judgements

  1. Use initiative and judgment when dealing with a potential wide range of IM&T issues.
  2. Adapt practice to meet individual customer requirements, independently analysing situations and taking into consideration complex facts and interpreting these appropriately when problem solving.
  3. Appraise complex information in order to make a judgment of complex facts that require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.

Communication and relationships

  1. Communicate highly complex information some of which may be sensitive or contentious with both internal staff and customer representatives.
  2. Demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
  3. Represent the SSHIS on committees, local and national user groups and at conferences as and when required.
  4. Maintain good relationships and communication between SSHIS and its customers.
  5. Maintain a customer service focus at all times.

Physical demands of the job

  1. Advanced keyboard skills: Must have a highly developed skill in the use of computer keyboards to ensure data entry is both accurate and timely for the maintenance and support of complex and business critical servers and infrastructure.
  2. Must have an ability to use fine tools when dealing with internals on hardware and other technical equipment.
  3. May be required to occasionally carry or move heavy equipment without aids.
  4. May occasionally be required to work in dusty, dirty or cramped environments when dealing with PC equipment, networking equipment or cabling runs.
  5. Occasional requirement to use road transportation.

Most challenging/difficult parts of the job

  1. Operate under considerable pressure in a challenging inter-organisational environment.
  2. Interpretation of national guidance and international standards and legislation.
  3. May have to impart unwelcome news to customers, g. where a technical fault has caused issues with access to business critical applications
  4. May be required to handle interruptions during times of concentration so as to be able to deal with staff/customer queries.
  5. Maintaining specialist knowledge of a range of ever changing IT software, hardware and infrastructure.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Full UK Driving Licence

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience
  • Works at Post Graduate Diploma level or has extensive equivalent experience
  • Foundation Certificate ITIL Service Management or equivalent level of knowledge and experience
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist short course.
  • Evidence of on-going personal and professional development
Desirable criteria
  • Post‐graduate certificate in an IT related subject
  • Microsoft Certified Professional Qualification
  • Cisco Networking Qualification
  • IT Security Qualification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant experience of working in a Microsoft based technical support role across both desktop and server environments.
  • Extensive experience of working in an IT Support role.
  • Extensive experience of supporting server OR networking technologies
  • Experience of IM&T delivery in a healthcare environment
  • Practical experience of proactive support activities to minimise technical faults
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working with cloud technologies such as MS Azure and Office 365.
  • Experience of ITIL methodologies, including Change Management, Problem Management, Incident Management and CSI.
  • Extensive experience of supporting server AND networking technologies
  • Experience of supporting enterprise storage and Storage Area Network (SAN) platforms.
  • Experience of supporting enterprise class unified communications systems and VOIP

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Broad knowledge of and confident use of Microsoft desktop operating systems and applications.
  • Able to identify new ways of using IM&T in the workplace and provide advice in line with the HIS business plan and team objectives.
  • A good understanding of informatics systems, services and technologies
  • Well established knowledge of a range of software and hardware tools relevant to the specialist systems supported.
  • Able to coordinate and work collaboratively across multiple organizations
  • Ability to cascade and share learning on new IT processes, and issues related to users to other members of the Team.
  • Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making
  • Able to accept and carry out challenging assignments outside the range of normal duties with a positive attitude
  • Ability to analyse a range of complex technical issues and propose interim/ permanent resolution as appropriate
  • Able to plan and organise tasks and activities that may take place over a period of time; log and assign calls and actions in the service management tool.
Desirable criteria
  • Working knowledge of Cisco routing and switching hardware.
  • Working knowledge of Netapp Storage Area Network (SAN) technology.
  • Working knowledge of CommVault Backup Technologies.
  • Specialist knowledge and expertise in Service Management such as ITIL Lifecycle Stream

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria
  • Effective verbal, written and presentational communication skills
  • Have the ability to choose phrases and terminology appropriate to audience to assist in their understanding of the subject matter
  • Capable of sustained high quality effort over long periods
  • Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales
  • Capable of working as a self-contained, self-motivated employee yet also able to work as a team and support colleagues when necessary
  • Adaptable and flexible approach to duties to meet deadlines
  • Able to accept and carry out challenging assignments outside the range of normal duties with a positive attitude.
  • Able to record data accurately.
  • Able to work effectively in a crisis situation during a major incident, supporting colleagues and customers.
  • Flexibility to work on the on‐call rota
Desirable criteria
  • Able to negotiate in difficult circumstances.
  • Effective influencing and negotiation skills, to assist in the motivation of others
  • The promotion of equality of opportunity and good working relations (providing practical leadership)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Tim Hawkes
Job title
Lead: Network & Systems
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0300 3031673
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