Decision details

The post holder of Post No. 906068 (Grade 7, job-share) retired on 31.03.18. Her job-share partner was unable to take on the role full-time. Despite a recruitment process which stretched far and wide (the vacancy was circulated to all NHS libraries in England in addition to being advertised on the Doncaster Jobs website) and receiving a number of applications, following the shortlisting process there were no applicants suitable to invite for interview.

In addition, just after this decision had been made, the post holder of Post No. 906037 (Grade 5, 1 FTE) took the decision to retire and will do so on 13.05.18. As the Knowledge Library and Information Service for Health continues to deliver against a performance framework in a changing environment, the service manager post - Post No. 906047 (Grade 10, Knowledge, Library & Information Services Manager) should also be in scope when considering the future skills and competencies required to lead a modernised service area.

This provided the opportunity to re-visit the staffing structure and skill mix as a whole and make recommendations for change, based on the changing needs of skill mix that the service requires to enable it to move forward with changes and developments being introduced by service developments elsewhere at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHSFT (DBTH) and the changes, developments and priorities of the Health Education England (HEE) Knowledge for Healthcare (KfH) programme and to make the first steps to stabilising the service through a succession planning process. It will also allow for staffing levels to be secure as the service continues to provide cover across its four service points across the three DBTH sites and the outreach services that it delivers to RDaSH.

1. To complete the main proposed changes to the staffing structure at DRI & Bassetlaw Knowledge, Library & Information Service so as to address the changing needs of the service, the workforce and its skill mix. Identifying the skills mix required and modifying the structure and posts will enable the service to move forward with changes and developments being introduced by service developments elsewhere at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHSFT (DBTH) and the changes, developments and priorities of the Health Education England (HEE) Knowledge for Healthcare (KfH) programme, and to take the first steps to stabilising the service through a succession planning process.
All the changes proposed below are within the current costs of the SLA held with DBTH:
- To action the changes to working hours for Post No. 906036 (Grade 5) from 0.59 FTE to 0.81 FTE with effect from 01.05.18. (The post holder shall also retain the 0.09 FTE hours they hold under the rolling contract that we have with RDaSH).
- To formally acknowledge that Post No. 918592 (Grade 7) changes from a job-share post to a part-time post, and action the changes to working hours from 0.50 FTE to 0.54 FTE with effect from 01.05.18.
- To reduce Post No. 906037(Grade 5) from 1 FTE to 0.41 FTE with effect from 14.05.18 (following the retirement of the current post holder on 13.05.18) and commence the recruitment process for the post immediately.
- To create a new Clinical/Outreach Librarian post, Grade 8 0.54 FTE with effect from 01.05.18 and commence recruitment for the post immediately (no job evaluation required as we already have another Grade 8 Clinical/Outreach Librarian in post).
- Create a new post – Modern Apprentice (Level 2/3 – depending upon outcome of further discussions with the Apprenticeship team and the outcome of the job evaluation process. Once the job evaluation process is complete, to commence the recruitment process immediately.

2. To review the current and future role and job description of Post No. 906047 (Grade 10, Knowledge, Library & Information Services Manager) in light of the changing needs of skill mix that the service has made to enable it to move forward with changes and developments being introduced by service developments elsewhere at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHSFT (DBTH) and the changes, developments and priorities of the Health Education England (HEE) Knowledge for Healthcare (KfH) programme, therefore to look at and evaluate the role in light of these changes and increased needs and demands, and to make the first steps to stabilising the service through a succession planning process. This will require revisions to the post’s job description and person specification, in consultation with the Trust. This will lead to the post-holder being at risk, as the current post will be deleted, and a new service manager post created with updated skills and knowledge requirements.

Please see attached Officer Decision Record.