Holywood
The Project Lead – Electronic Care Records Programme will be responsible for leading the implementation, optimisation, adoption and benefits realisation of Healthcare Ireland's Electronic Care Records (ECR) Programme across all services, ensuring successful delivery of a major organisational digital transformation initiative. Reporting to the Group Governance, Learning and Development Manager, the postholder will provide operational leadership to ensure the successful implementation of electronic care records, supporting the organisation's digital transformation plan and commitment to delivering safe, effective and person-centred care. The postholder will act as the central point of coordination between operational teams, system providers, implementation partners and corporate functions, ensuring all phases of implementation are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with organisational objectives. The role will be responsible for programme planning, stakeholder engagement, implementation governance, data migration oversight in liaison with relevant external providers, training coordination, operational readiness, system adoption and benefits realisation. The Project Lead will work closely with staff groups, Home Managers, Regional Managers, Directorate Teams and system suppliers to ensure Healthcare Ireland maximises the benefits of digital care records and achieves sustainable improvements in care quality, clinical governance, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. This role supports Healthcare Ireland's values of Quality, Innovation, Compassion and Respect, ensuring digital innovation contributes positively to resident outcomes and workforce capability. Duties and Responsibilities Programme Leadership and Delivery • Lead the implementation and delivery of Healthcare Ireland's Electronic Care Records Programme across all services, • Develop, maintain and monitor comprehensive project plans, implementation schedules and programme milestones, • Develop, implement and maintain detailed service-level implementation plans for each home (where required), ensuring clear milestones, actions, responsibilities, dependencies and completion dates are identified, • Track implementation progress against agreed plans and provide assurance regarding completion of key implementation activities, • Coordinate implementation waves and service implementation plans in liaison with Senior Management, • Ensure project delivery remains within agreed scope, timescales and resource allocation, • Monitor programme performance and provide regular progress updates to Senior Management, • Maintain a programme risk register, ensuring risks, issues and dependencies are reviewed, mitigated and escalated appropriately through agreed governance structures, • Identify risks, issues and dependencies and implement appropriate mitigation strategies, • Oversee agreed governance arrangements to oversee implementation activity, • Chair project meetings and maintain programme documentation and action plans, • Ensure lessons learned are captured and incorporated throughout the programme lifecycle, • Monitor project expenditure and implementation costs against agreed budgets and approved project resources Stakeholder Engagement and Communication • Act as the primary liaison between Healthcare Ireland, system providers, implementation partners and operational teams, • Develop positive working relationships with Home Managers, Regional Managers, Senior Management and external partners, • In liaison with the Group Governance, Learning and Development Manager, hold system suppliers and implementation partners accountable for agreed deliverables, milestones and service expectations, escalating concerns, • Ensure effective communication and engagement throughout all phases of implementation, • Provide regular updates to senior management regarding programme progress, risks and achievements, • Support services through periods of organisational and digital change, • Escalate significant implementation risks and barriers appropriately. Electronic Care Records Implementation • Coordinate implementation activities across Healthcare Ireland services, • Support services to prepare for implementation through readiness assessments in line with Healthcare Ireland’s electronic implementation outline, • Ensure implementation plans are aligned with operational requirements and organisational priorities, • Coordinate system configuration and deployment activities with suppliers, • Ensure consistency in electronic recording practices across Healthcare Ireland services, • Monitor implementation progress and address emerging challenges promptly with escalation Data Migration and Information Governance • Coordinate data migration processes to ensure safe and effective transfer of information into electronic systems, • Ensure resident information, assessments, care plans and supporting documentation are accurately transferred and validated, • Develop quality assurance processes to verify data integrity, • Work with operational teams to resolve data quality issues, • Ensure compliance with GDPR, Data Protection legislation and Healthcare Ireland information governance requirements, • Monitor adherence to organisational policies relating to electronic record keeping, • Support the development and implementation of business continuity and system downtime arrangements to ensure safe care delivery during periods of system disruption Change Management and System Adoption • Lead change management activities associated with the transition to electronic care records, • Develop and implement stakeholder engagement and adoption strategies, • Establish and support Digital Champions and Super User networks across services, • Monitor system utilisation and user engagement, • Identify barriers to adoption and implement solutions to improve uptake, • Promote a positive culture of digital innovation and continuous improvement Training and Workforce Development • Coordinate electronic care records training programmes across the organisation, • Support the development of training resources, guidance documents and implementation toolkits, • Monitor training compliance and competency achievement Operational Readiness and Go-Live Support • Conduct implementation readiness assessments for each service, • Coordinate technical readiness checks and equipment deployment, • Ensure services meet agreed implementation criteria before progressing to go-live., • Lead go-live planning and support arrangements, • Coordinate post-implementation support and stabilisation activities, • Monitor implementation outcomes and service performance during transition periods, • Ensure operational risks are escalated throughout implementation Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance • Ensure electronic care records support safe, effective and person-centred care delivery., • Work collaboratively with Governance and Operational Teams to align electronic systems with organisational policies and procedures., • Support the development of electronic assessment, risk management and care planning processes., • Monitor compliance with documentation standards and regulatory requirements, • Provide assurance regarding implementation progress and quality standards Continuous Improvement and Benefits Realisation • Establish key performance indicators to measure programme success, • Monitor implementation outcomes and benefits realisation, • Evaluate improvements in documentation quality, compliance and operational efficiency, • Identify opportunities to optimise system functionality and utilisation, • Support future digital transformation initiatives and innovation projects, • Produce reports demonstrating programme achievements and organisational benefits Leadership Responsibilities • Act as a professional role model, promoting Healthcare Ireland's values and behaviours, • Foster collaborative working relationships across services and departments, • Support Home Managers, Regional Teams and Senior Management throughout implementation activities, • Promote a culture of continuous learning, innovation and improvement, • Contribute positively to organisational development initiatives Person Specification Essential Qualifications • Degree-level qualification in Health and Social Care, Nursing, Business Management, Information Technology, Project Management or related discipline, • Evidence of continuing professional development, • Full UK Driving Licence and access to transport Desirable Qualifications • Project Management qualification, • Qualification or relevant experience in Change Management, Quality Improvement or Digital Transformation Skills & Competencies · Strong project planning, organisation and implementation management skills · Ability to develop, manage and monitor implementation plans, milestones and programme outcomes · Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills · Ability to lead change, influence others and support teams through periods of transition · Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks and implement solution · Proficient in the use of digital systems, Microsoft Office applications and reporting tool · Understanding of information governance, data protection and quality assurance principles · Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deliver results within agreed timescales