Electronic Patient Record (Epr) Programme Director

Job summary Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) is preparing to implement a transformative Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, with the goal of being fully implemented by early 2026.
This ambitious timeline reflects SPFT's commitment to enhancing care quality, patient safety, and operational efficiency, ultimately improving patient experiences and supporting staff with more effective tools and processes.
To lead this significant programme, we are seeking an experienced and visionary EPR Programme Director.
This role will be pivotal in collaborating with Executive and Senior Leadership Teams, as well as the Integrated Care Board (ICB), to ensure organisational readiness for this transformation.
You will be responsible for laying the foundation for a smooth transition from programme delivery to business as usual, ensuring the new EPR is fully integrated and prepared for long-term success within the Trust.
The EPR Programme Director will recruit, build, and lead a skilled programme team, establishing governance structures to guide the programme through to full implementation in early 2026 and beyond.
Finegreen is assisting the Trust with this crucial appointment.
Applications should be submitted exclusively through Finegreen, who can be contacted as follows - Natasha Parmar - Head of Research on for further details, or Neil Fineberg - Chief Executive for an informal conversation on either or 0345 130 4006.
Main duties of the job Executive-Level Leadership and Change Management :Provide strategic direction and executive-level leadership to drive the EPR programme forward in line with the ambitious early 2026 full implementation goal.
Programme and Governance Infrastructure : Develop a rigorous governance framework to oversee the EPR programme, including risk management, budget oversight, and timeline tracking.
Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management :Build strong, collaborative relationships across SPFT and partner organisations, particularly with clinical and medical staff who will be central to the EPR's success.
Leadership in Transformational Change:Inspire and lead the programme team, aligning them around the vision for early 2026 full implementation, and motivate stakeholders at all levels to achieve this ambitious target.
Programme Team Recruitment and Process Development :Assemble a highly skilled programme management team equipped to support the full implementation timeline and drive key project milestones Targeted Communication Strategy:Develop a communication strategy tailored to senior executives, clinical leaders, and external partners, ensuring clear and effective messaging on the full implementation schedule and EPR benefits.
In meeting these responsibilities, the EPR Programme Director will drive a successful EPR launch, aiming for full implementation by early 2026.
T About us Welcome from our Chief Executive Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us.
We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care.
This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.
So what can we offer you in return?
We're an organisation which puts people first.
We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included.
We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development.
And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.
You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve.
Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.
If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.
Job description Job responsibilities Key Responsibilities: To lead the Trusts EPR replacement programme and ensure establishment of the EPR Delivery Group.
Critically, to manage the alignment of clinical processes alongside the implementation of the new clinical system, working alongside clinicians and service directors on redesign aspects To provide the business change process framework and develop the necessary strategic relationships to ensure a successful delivery Create and maintain productive relationships with staff across all levels, both internally and externally Ensure that the predicted business transformation and benefits realisation is driven and achieved, and provide evidence of this through reports to the Transformation and Improvement and Digital and Data Committees.
Appoint the programme delivery team and agree their roles and responsibilities Define and direct the whole programme governance arrangements (MSP based) and ensure timely and professional reports to higher and adjacent groups.
Determine the optimal implementation approach, considering patient safety and costs, and agree with the EPR Delivery Group Manage the migration from legacy systems and most importantly, ensure the patient records/information are safely available throughout the period of parallel running (single view of the patient) Fully engage the Trust in the process of implementing the new system.
Maximise achievement of the new systems capabilities through engagement of all Trust managers, staff and other relevant health care providers and partners To be professionally accountable for the development of the plans which underpin the programme delivery and direct the programme delivery team in the establishment of appropriate programme structures and governance arrangements for the successful management of the programme, including budgetary and robust risk management.
To support the programme delivery team in directing and managing the expectations and output of nominated work-stream leads Manage any outstanding procurement process and related contracts.
Manage the development of the system specifications, ensuring appropriate change control as the system is rolled out to describe the information needs of each functional area within the organisation, and becomes the blueprint for implementation (in conjunction with service re-design where appropriate) Work closely with the Director of Technology to ensure that the EPR programme plan is aligned with the delivery of the Trust Technology Programme, and to determine the back office function/needs ahead of transferring to the new EPR.
Ensuring that Information Governance and system security requirements are fully considered and addressed through all aspects of the EPR programme.
The protection of patient information is a key Trust priority and priority for this role.
The EPR Programme Director will report to the Director of Digital Delivery.
The post holder will be responsible for providing programme assurance to the Trust Board and its sub Committees through the Chief Digital and Information Officer who is the programme sponsor/senior responsible owner (SRO) To carry out other work, deemed reasonable and related to the sphere of clinical systems and business change, as required by the Director of Digital Delivery.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential Educated to degree level Masters or equivalent Prince 2 qualification or equivalent and MSP Knowledge/Experience Essential Experience in the rollout of an EPR system in a NHS trust, managing the alignment of clinical processes alongside the implementation Proven experience of delivering successful programmes of business change at strategic level Dealing with clinical system suppliers and managing the associated contract(s) In depth knowledge of business change processes and benefits realisation Detailed knowledge of health informatics Proven change management skills, both in theory and practise The ability to build purposeful relationships with key external partners and staff throughout the Trust The ability to analyse problems, situations and information, think laterally and present innovative and feasible solutions Knowledge and understanding of information issues and developments as the relate to the NHS as a whole and the commercial sector