Be the bridge: Become a patient representative for the Athena Strategic Data Platform

Please note: applications for this role have now closed.

Do you care about how health and social care data is used? Do you want to ensure it's used ethically and benefits everyone in your community? If so, then we need you!

What is the Athena Strategic Data Platform?

Athena is an innovative digital platform that consolidates health and social care data from various sources across the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Systems (ICS). It is designed to enhance decision-making, improve services, and address health inequalities for our 1.2 million residents. Athena adheres to stringent security standards, ensuring the confidentiality and ethical use of data.

Key features and benefits of Athena

• Helps achieve a single source of truth: Athena collects and combines information from different health and social care providers into one place. This creates a reliable source of information, making it easier and more accurate for professionals to make decisions that affect individuals and the wider health and social care system.
• Enhanced decision-making: With its advanced data analysis tools, Athena empowers professionals to make well-informed decisions. This results in a more efficient use of resources, better strategies for health and social care, and ultimately leads to improved results for patients.
• Service improvement and innovation: Athena gives us a clearer picture of what's happening in our health and social care services. This helps us see what we can do better and come up with new, smarter ways to care for people.
• Addressing health inequalities: Athena is instrumental in identifying and addressing health disparities within the 1.2 million residents of mid and south Essex. By looking closely at health information, it helps us find and use specific approaches to reduce these health gaps, making sure everyone has a fair chance at good health.
• Security and confidentiality: Upholding the highest standards of data security and privacy, Athena ensures that all information is managed ethically and responsibly. It adheres to strict security protocols to maintain confidentiality, including the de-identification of data to protect individual privacy.
• Powering population health management: Athena makes it easier to look after the health of our community. It helps us understand the health needs of different groups of people by analysing various factors. This means we can better predict what health services will be needed in the future and plan more effectively to meet those needs.

Why Athena needs you

Health and social care services are increasingly using data to improve how they care for everyone. As this change continues, your role as a patient representative will be even more vital.

You will ensure Athena's data usage not only aligns with public expectations but also upholds the highest standards of fairness and ethics. Your input is vital in guiding the platform's evolution, ensuring it remains transparent, trustworthy, and in tune with the needs of the community.

Your involvement is key to maintaining and enhancing public trust in how we handle health and social care data.

Your role on the Information Governance Steering Committee

By joining our Steering Committee, you will contribute to:

• Reviewing requests for access to pseudonymised data (where identifying information like names or NHS numbers are replaced with a unique code to prevent identification of individuals) or re-identified data.
• Ensuring appropriate data access and upholding data ethics.
• Providing patient perspectives on data management decisions.
• Helping shape the future of data-driven health and social care.

Requirements for this role

• About you: You need to live in the mid and south Essex area, and cannot work for an organisation in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System.
• Skills and experience: You will need computer skills and access to a device (like a laptop or smartphone) for online meetings. No prior experience in data or technical fields is needed – we provide all the necessary training.
• Patient perspective: It's important that you have personal experience as a patient within the local health and social care system. This role is about bringing the views and experiences of local patients to the forefront, ensuring that the platform reflects real patient needs and concerns.
• Time commitment: You need to be able to commit to around one hour per week. Most of this can be at a time that suits you, although we may need to arrange occasional meetings with you for specific tasks.

Support and training

• Comprehensive training: You will be provided with thorough training in information governance. This will equip you with the knowledge and understanding necessary to effectively contribute to the Steering Committee. Our training is designed to be accessible and engaging, ensuring you feel confident in your role.
• Ongoing support: Our dedicated team will be there to support you every step of the way. Whether you have questions about the platform, need guidance on specific tasks, or require additional information to perform your role effectively, we are committed to providing you with the assistance you need.

Remuneration

This role is a voluntary position with a time commitment of less than one hour per week. By volunteering your time, you will be able to contribute to your community in a meaningful way. Additionally, being a voluntary role ensures that the representative remains impartial, as they are not employed by Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board

If you would like more information, or have any questions, you can contact us at mseicb-bb.athena@nhs.net