(ICT)

Senior Application Operation Engineer (ICT) – NHS Band 6 | London

UK-Based Applicants Welcome | Skilled Worker Sponsorship Applications Considered

Employer: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Location: London, United Kingdom
Salary: £47,951 – £56,863 per year, including HCAS
Band: NHS Agenda for Change Band 6
Contract: Fixed-term
Duration: 12 months
Working Pattern: Full-time
Closing Date: 17 September 2026
Reference: 289-CR-178

Job Location: Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, United Kingdom

JOB OVERVIEW

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting for a Senior Application Operation Engineer (ICT) to join its Applications team.

This is an opportunity for an experienced IT and application operations professional to work within an NHS environment supporting critical digital systems, application services, user access, authentication and Registration Authority processes.

The Trust is at an important stage of its digital transformation journey following the implementation of an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) solution across its hospital sites.

The successful candidate will help maintain and improve application services while supporting secure access, service management, technical operations and digital technology initiatives across the Trust.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Job title: Senior Application Operation Engineer (ICT)
• NHS Band: Band 6
• Salary: £47,951 – £56,863 per year including HCAS
• Contract: Fixed-term
• Contract duration: 12 months
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Location: London
• Employer: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Closing date: 17 September 2026
• Skilled Worker sponsorship: Applications from candidates who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications.
• Reference number: 289-CR-178

ABOUT THE ROLE

The role sits within the Trust’s Applications team, which is responsible for ensuring that applications remain supported, secure, effective and fit for purpose.

The team works across several important areas, including:

• Maintaining applications and keeping critical services operational.
• Ensuring applications remain supported and fit for end users.
• Providing application subject matter expertise.
• Contributing to the design and development of new products and services.
• Improving user experience across systems and processes.
• Proactively managing the application portfolio.
• Reducing technical debt.
• Ensuring secure and compliant access to Trust systems.
• Supporting effective Registration Authority processes and controls.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Incident Management

The successful candidate will be expected to diagnose, prioritise and resolve complex incidents affecting applications, user access and authentication services.

Responsibilities include:

• Investigating complex application incidents.
• Identifying root causes.
• Prioritising incidents appropriately.
• Coordinating appropriate technical action.
• Supporting restoration of affected services.

Problem Management

You will identify recurring problems and trends relating to applications and access services.

This includes:

• Identifying patterns and trends in incidents.
• Investigating recurring access problems.
• Implementing remedies.
• Introducing preventative measures.
• Working with specialist teams where required.

Change Management

The role involves assessing and implementing controlled changes to application and access services.

You will:

• Analyse proposed changes.
• Assess potential impacts.
• Develop and document change requests.
• Implement approved changes.
• Ensure risks are understood and appropriately managed.
• Protect service continuity and security during changes.

Registration Authority Expertise

A key part of the role is practical knowledge of NHS Registration Authority processes.

The successful candidate should understand areas including:

• Smartcard management.
• Care Identity Service (CIS).
• Identity verification.
• User registration.
• Role assignment.
• Access governance.
• NHS identity and access management.

Access Control and RBAC

You will apply and maintain appropriate role-based access control (RBAC) models.

This includes ensuring that:

• Access is appropriate to individual roles.
• Least-privilege principles are followed.
• Access is regularly reviewed.
• Access permissions are updated when required.
• Security and governance requirements are maintained.

Information Governance and Data Security

The successful candidate should understand the principles of:

• Information Governance.
• Confidentiality.
• Data protection.
• Data security.
• Audit.
• Secure system administration.

These principles must be applied to access management and application administration activities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Application Operation Engineer will be expected to:

• Participate in the on-call service.
• Deputise for the Principal Application Operations Engineer when required.
• Act as the senior Registration Authority escalation point for complex operational issues where appropriate.
• Lead or support access-related activities for major projects and programmes.
• Support system upgrades and go-live activities.
• Support the design and implementation of access models for new or changed services.
• Ensure access models comply with national and local standards.
• Lead or contribute to regular access reviews.
• Participate in internal audits.
• Support external audits and assurance exercises.
• Develop and maintain Registration Authority procedures.
• Review access-management procedures.
• Produce guidance notes and supporting documentation.
• Provide specialist advice on secure access.
• Advise managers, system owners and project teams on compliance.
• Provide advice regarding Smartcards and the Care Identity Service.
• Provide specialist advice on RBAC.
• Produce workload and performance reports.
• Analyse compliance information.
• Monitor incidents and risks.
• Support service improvement activity.
• Support business continuity planning.
• Support disaster recovery planning.
• Participate in testing of continuity and recovery arrangements.
• Maintain appropriate documentation for application access and Registration Authority services.
• Represent the team at meetings.
• Participate in working groups.
• Attend governance forums where required.
• Participate in training activities.
• Support knowledge transfer across the team.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives.
• Work outside normal business hours occasionally when required for major projects or programmes.
• Undertake other reasonable duties as requested.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

PERSONAL QUALITIES – ESSENTIAL

Candidates should demonstrate:

• The ability to see the bigger picture.
• An understanding of how individual and team responsibilities support wider organisational objectives.
• The ability to understand and respond to diverse stakeholder needs.
• Strong attention to detail.
• A commitment to safe and secure working practices.

PERSONAL QUALITIES – DESIRABLE

It would be advantageous to demonstrate:

• A positive approach to change.
• A commitment to continuous improvement.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE – ESSENTIAL

Candidates should have:

• A degree or equivalent level of experience.
• A service management qualification or equivalent experience, such as ITIL.
• A delivery management qualification or equivalent experience, such as Agile or PRINCE2.
• Experience working within user/customer-centric teams.
• Experience delivering continuous service improvement initiatives.
• Experience solving complex user problems through technology.
• A strong focus on service outcomes and user needs.
• Experience dealing with complex end-to-end service provision.
• Experience across Service Management practices, including incident, problem, change and service request management.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE – DESIRABLE

The following experience would be advantageous:

• Experience leading or supporting audit, assurance or compliance reviews relating to system access, Information Governance or security.
• Experience supporting the transition of products from delivery into live service.
• Experience supervising, coaching or mentoring team members.
• Information Governance or Data Security training, or equivalent experience.
• Registration Authority accreditation.
• Equivalent experience in NHS identity and access management.

ABOUT CHELSEA AND WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust operates two major acute hospital sites:

• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
• West Middlesex University Hospital.

The Trust also operates award-winning clinics across North West London.

The organisation has approximately 7,500 staff and provides healthcare services to a diverse population of around 1.5 million people.

Its services include:

• Maternity services.
• Accident and Emergency.
• Children’s services.
• Full clinical services.
• Specialist HIV services.
• Sexual health services.

The Trust states that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates it Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, with Outstanding ratings in leadership and resource use.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

The Trust is continuing to invest in digital technology and healthcare infrastructure.

The organisation has implemented an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) solution across its hospital sites and has an ambitious portfolio of digital technology initiatives planned.

These initiatives are focused on:

• Empowering patients and service users.
• Improving the healthcare experience.
• Connecting systems and data across North West London.
• Improving services for local citizens.
• Supporting modern digital healthcare delivery.

This role therefore provides an opportunity to contribute to an important digital and operational environment within the NHS.

FACILITIES AND INVESTMENT

The Trust continues to invest in its facilities, including:

• A £30 million expansion of critical care at Chelsea.
• An £80 million Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

SUSTAINABILITY

The Trust is working towards sustainable healthcare through its Green Plan.

In line with Greener NHS ambitions, the Trust aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Staff are encouraged to reduce environmental impacts associated with:

• Carbon emissions.
• Waste.
• Pollution.
• Resource consumption.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust states that it is committed to equal opportunities.

The Trust believes that diversity contributes to innovation and excellence and welcomes applications from:

• Global majority communities.
• Veterans.
• Underrepresented communities.

The organisation values the perspectives and experiences that people from diverse backgrounds bring to the workplace.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

The position is a full-time, fixed-term appointment for 12 months.

The role may involve:

• On-call participation.
• Occasional work outside normal core business hours.
• Weekend shifts for some roles.
• Working across multiple sites where required.
• Supporting major projects and programmes outside normal hours.

NHS BAND AND SALARY

Agenda for Change Band: 6

Salary: £47,951 – £56,863 per year, including HCAS.

The position is offered on a fixed-term basis for 12 months.

LOCATION

Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
United Kingdom

SKILLED WORKER VISA SPONSORSHIP

Important: The employer specifically states that applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

This means candidates who currently require Skilled Worker sponsorship are permitted to apply for consideration.

However, sponsorship is not automatically guaranteed. Applicants must still meet the relevant role, immigration and eligibility requirements, and the employer will assess applications alongside other candidates.

Candidates should check the latest UK immigration requirements before applying.

CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will therefore be required to determine whether the applicant has relevant previous criminal convictions.

OVERSEAS APPLICANTS

The vacancy information states that Skilled Worker applicants applying for entry clearance to the UK have been required, since 6 April 2017, to provide a criminal record certificate from each country where they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more during the previous 10 years.

Adult dependants over 18 are also subject to this requirement.

Applicants should review the official guidance for the latest requirements.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Closing date: 17 September 2026

Applicants should submit their application before the stated closing date.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested candidates should review the full vacancy information and ensure that their experience matches the essential criteria before applying.

Pay particular attention to experience involving:

• NHS applications.
• Registration Authority processes.
• Smartcards.
• Care Identity Service.
• Identity and access management.
• RBAC.
• Incident management.
• Problem management.
• Change management.
• Information Governance.
• Data security.
• ITIL or equivalent service management.
• Agile or PRINCE2.
• Application operations.
• Service improvement.

EMPLOYER CONTACT

Director of IT: Angela Monica Anderson-Lambert

Email: a.anderson-lambert@nhs.net

For questions regarding the vacancy, applicants can contact the named Director of IT using the details provided in the original NHS vacancy.

EMPLOYER DETAILS

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address:
Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
United Kingdom

Employer website: https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/

VACANCY SUMMARY

Position: Senior Application Operation Engineer (ICT)
Employer: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Band: NHS Band 6
Salary: £47,951 – £56,863 per year including HCAS
Location: London
Contract: Fixed-term
Duration: 12 months
Hours: Full-time
Closing date: 17 September 2026
Reference: 289-CR-178
Skilled Worker sponsorship: Applications requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered.

FINAL APPLICATION REMINDER

If you have professional experience in application operations, NHS Registration Authority services, identity and access management, RBAC, service management, information governance or IT service delivery, this vacancy may be worth considering.

Review the essential criteria carefully and submit your application before the 17 September 2026 deadline.