Further information and reading

The strategy sets the direction for the development of NHS knowledge and library services in England. The priorities are to enable all NHS staff and learners to benefit equally from high-quality knowledge services and optimise the expertise of knowledge and library teams to inform decision making from board to ward, at the bedside and in community and primary care.

NHS careers – knowledge and library services

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/health-informatics/roles-health-informatics/knowledge-and-library-services

General overview of roles in NHS knowledge and library services

NHS jobs

https://www.jobs.nhs.uk

This is where NHS jobs are advertised and where you can apply for them. You can set up alerts to be notified when roles you might be interested in are advertised.

Quality and Improvement Outcomes Framework

https://library.hee.nhs.uk/quality-and-impact/quality-and-improvement-framework

The second edition of the ‘Quality and Improvement Outcomes Framework’ (Outcomes Framework), is part of the wider quality framework for NHS organisations in receipt of funding through the NHS Education Contract.

It forms part of the requirement of placement provider organisations in receipt of funding through the NHS Education Contract to “ensure that there is a proactive, high quality knowledge and library service that is available to all staff and learners” (NHS Education Contract 2021-24).

The Outcomes Framework also enables NHS organisations to demonstrate their commitment to working with and enabling high-quality NHS knowledge and library services to equip the organisation, staff, learners and patients to make decisions informed by evidence from research and knowledge mobilised by knowledge and library specialists

The Kings Fund

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk

The King’s Fund is an independent charitable organisation working to improve health and care in England.

How does the NHS work animation

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/how-does-nhs-in-england-work

NHS structure diagrams

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/how-is-nhs-structured-funding-flow

Topol Review

The Topol Review — NHS Health Education England (hee.nhs.uk)

The Topol Review outlined recommendations to ensure the NHS is the world leader in using digital technologies to benefit patients. It will involve implementing technologies such as genomics, digital medicine, artificial intelligence and robotics at a faster pace and on a greater scale than anywhere else in the world.

Value Proposition: The Gift of Time

https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/HEE%20-%20Library%20and%20Knowledge%20Services%20Value%20Proposition%20The%20Gift%20of%20Time%20FINAL%20Nov2020_0.pdf

Health Education England (HEE) commissioned the report Library and Knowledge Services Value Proposition: The Gift of Time.  This identifies key benefits of a library and knowledge service within an NHS organisation and, specifically, the specialist roles embedded within NHS teams.

Walton, G., et al. (2024) Introduction to Healthcare Knowledge and Library Services. Facet

This book brings together health information practitioners and researchers with a variety of experience across health information work within knowledge and library services in the NHS. It provides a comprehensive, practitioner-focused introduction to all aspects of knowledge and library work in the health sector with a focus on NHS England. The book begins with an overview of the NHS and how knowledge and library work sit within it. It then addresses such critical areas as services supporting evidence-based practice, the developing area of health information literacy, reflective practice, collaborative working, demonstrating impact and employing digital technology. The book ends with an exploration of what the future might hold for healthcare knowledge and library services such as, the rapid advance of artificial intelligence/machine learning and how it might shape those services and knowledge specialist roles.