Job Summary

We are looking for an exceptional Nursing, Midwifery or AHP digital leader to take on the role of Chief X Information Officer (CXIO) and help shape the future of digital health and care at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

This senior role sits at the heart of our Digital Services and Professional Nursing, Midwifery and AHP leadership teams. You will drive clinical digital transformation across acute, community, and mental health services as we implement our new Healthset Electronic Health Record (EHR) in collaboration with Dorset and deliver our Trust-wide digital, data and technology strategy.

The CXIO plays a pivotal role in transforming how our clinical teams use digital tools. As a senior leader reporting to the CIO and professionally to the Chief Nursing Officer and CCIO, you will:

• Lead digital strategy, system optimisation, and pathway transformation across NMAHP services.
• Influence executive and clinical leadership teams on digital design and investment.
• Ensure our digital systems support modern clinical practice, improve safety, and reduce burden.
• Maintain strong governance frameworks across clinical safety, IG, and digital risk.
• Support the digital wellbeing and capability of the clinical workforce.
• Continuously scan for emerging technologies, research, and innovation opportunities.

Main duties of the job

Leadership & Digital Strategy

Be an influential advocate for digital transformation across all clinical professions.

Lead the digital Nursing, Midwifery & AHP (NMAHP) function and associated leadership teams.

Shape Trust-wide digital strategy, ensuring strong alignment with national and local priorities.

Clinical Informatics & EHR Implementation

Provide senior clinical leadership for the design, deployment, and optimisation of the Healthset EHR.

Ensure clinical safety, governance and high-quality pathway design.

Drive re-engineering of workflows to release time to care and enhance operational efficiency.

Engagement, Influence & Collaboration

Build strong relationships with frontline staff, executives, digital teams and external partners.

Use persuasive communication and expert facilitation to support staff engagement and adoption.

Represent the Trust in regional and national digital health forums.

Pathway Redesign & Improvement

Lead multifaceted workstreams that modernise pathways using digital tools and clinical informatics.

Lead and oversee education, training and support programmes to build digital literacy.

Governance & Safety Assurance

Provide leadership in risk, safety, and IG compliance relating to digital systems.

Ensure robust assurance, reporting and oversight mechanisms.

Education, Culture & Workforce Development

Shape Trust-wide digital training, learning and development programmes.

Support digital innovation, research and future technology adoption.

Responsibilities

Job Purpose: To drive the strategic integration of digital and data solutions as part of the Healthset Electronic Health Record (EHR) programme and in keeping with the digital, data and technology strategy.

The post is a senior member of both the Professional Nursing, Midwifery and AHP Leadership and Digital Leadership teams, reporting to the CIO and jointly to the Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Clinical Information Officer.

The post holder will lead the implementation, adoption and optimisation of clinical systems and workflows, coordinating the required clinical process remodelling and change adoption and training, to enhance patient care and safety, colleague experience and benefits realisation and enable the organisation to harness the EHR to improve patient outcomes, operational efficiency and innovation.

• Advocate and champion digital transformation across executive, medical, nursing, AHP leads and operational teams.
• Act as a trust-wide advocate for digital innovation within NMAHP workflows.
• Champion adoption of digital technologies aligning workflow and practice for patient benefit.
• Collaborate with other information officers and leadership to shape strategic vision.
• Lead the digital Nursing, Midwifery & AHP (NMAHP) function, manage and oversee.
• Deliver digital and data training and adoption strategies across all NMAHP.
• Align digital strategy with national and local nursing strategy and overall service policy.
• Provide clinical leadership in design, deployment, evaluation, re‑engineering and optimisation of clinical systems.
• Ensure clinical safety, governance and high‑quality pathway design; act as Clinical Safety Officer or equivalent.
• Lead strategic development of NMAHP pathways and care within Healthset.
• Coordinate stakeholder input, perform detailed options analysis for critical care delivery decisions.
• Collaborate with digital, clinical, executive and external partners to deliver benefits to patient care and staff workflow.
• Engage frontline teams to support adoption of digital tools and new models.
• Build relationships and foster consensus across the organisation and wider health system.
• Present complex information regarding Healthset delivery to internal and external stakeholders.
• Use persuasive communication to secure engagement, staff release for system design, training and optimisation.
• Analyse current workflows, design informatics‑based improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce risk.
• Maintain focus on time‑to‑care in all digital improvement work.
• Plan, organise, guide and lead Trust‑wide workstreams within Healthset, ensuring delivery plans are maintained and adjusted.
• Oversee development of specialised multi‑professional care pathways and associated training programmes.
• Take lead role in clinical safety, risk assessment, data quality governance per IG/GDPR/Caldicott.
• Support trust‑level digital clinical safety framework and mentor safety leads.
• Participate in digital governance oversight framework with senior digital team and service leads.
• Ensure assurance, reporting, risk and issue escalation mechanisms are robust.
• Align Trust policy with capabilities and governance of a full EHR and advanced technologies.
• Contribute to definition, review and monitoring of Trust digital resources and financial planning.
• Oversee development and design of organisational clinical informatics training modules and support for staff.
• Lead digital literacy for all NMAHP levels.
• Engage with leadership to deliver effective digital and data training models.
• Represent NMAHP voice in local, regional, national forums.
• Remain current with new technologies and national/regional issues affecting digital healthcare.
• Develop innovation and research, and seek NMAHP‑oriented funding opportunities.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse, midwife or allied health professional with active professional registration.
• Postgraduate‑level qualification in one or more of nursing, midwifery, AHP, informatics or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Accredited Clinical Safety Officer qualification or equivalent expertise.
• NHS Digital Academy or equivalent NHS Leadership Academy graduate.

Experience

• Senior clinical leadership experience in digital transformation or informatics roles at least band 8A for 2 years.
• Proven track record of implementing clinical systems and delivering pathway improvements.
• Strong background in operational management, clinical leadership and risk governance.

Additional Criteria

Please see the attached JD.

Benefits

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long‑term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS‑specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty and breathing coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Other Information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details:

• Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
• Deane House
• Belvedere Rd
• Taunton
• Somerset
• TA1 1HE

Employer's Website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Position Details

Date posted: 17 March 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8d

Salary: £91,342 to £105,337 per year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 184-OL-PU-4464

Job locations

• Deane House, Belvedere Rd, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1HE
• Musgrove Park Hospital, Musgrove Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5DA
• Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT