Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Patient Safety Incident Lead Investigator

The closing date is 05 April 2026

Job summary

This job is currently only open to people who already work for the NHS in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly.We are committed to supporting our dedicated staff, so only current employees of the following organisations can apply:

  • Cornwall Foundation Trust
  • Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board

If you do not currently work for one of these NHS organisations, your application will not be considered at this time.

The postholder will support the patient safety specialist and head of risk and safety in delivering the requirements of the Patient Safety incident Response Plan by undertaking patient safety incident investigations.

The postholder will undertake robust patient safety incident investigations by using recognised patient safety incident frameworks and tools encompassing principles of human factors and ergonomics, systems engineering, psychology, and investigation best practice.

Main duties of the job

The investigator will lead and produce safety investigation reports to an excellent, accessible standard. The investigator will lead the investigation process, ensuring the investigation balances depth with proportionality.

The investigator will have an impeccable standard of written English and will be expected to model the Trust's communication standards.

The investigator will need to work with a range of internal and external stakeholders ensuring sensitive engagement with patients, families, staff, and others affected by incidents. The outcome will be the identification of systems learning from a patient safety incident that will guide sustainable clinical risk reduction and quality of services improvement, ensuring that a Just Culture and human factors principles are maintained.

The postholder will be required to travel between hospital sites to undertake visits to non-clinical and clinical areas to conduct observational/investigatory work which will occasionally require working during evenings and at weekends.

As lead investigator, the postholder will be expected to demonstrate significant expertise in the application of systems engineering and human factors principles. The lead investigator will be required to offer supervision and coaching to the B7 investigator in the team. The lead investigator will also be expected to demonstrate leadership skills in the convening of roundtable meetings.

About us

We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 5,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 10 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increase the numbers of people who use out services.

Details

Date posted

20 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

201-26-331

Job locations

Carew House

Barncoose Terrace

Bodmin

PL31 2QN


Job description

Job responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant postgraduate (masters-level) or equivalent professional experience.
  • Recognised qualification or formal training in systems-based investigation including clinical human factors and ergonomics.

Relevant Experience

Essential

  • Experience of completing detailed and robust investigations into patient safety/clinical/risk incidents within a community and mental health setting
  • Experience of presenting sensitive information from investigations that is evidence based to a diverse audience to promote learning and improvement

Skills and aptitude

Essential

  • Highly effective interpersonal, communication, verbal and influencing skills

Knowledge and abilities

Essential

  • Knowledge of Patient Safety processes and systems to include associated National publications
Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant postgraduate (masters-level) or equivalent professional experience.
  • Recognised qualification or formal training in systems-based investigation including clinical human factors and ergonomics.

Relevant Experience

Essential

  • Experience of completing detailed and robust investigations into patient safety/clinical/risk incidents within a community and mental health setting
  • Experience of presenting sensitive information from investigations that is evidence based to a diverse audience to promote learning and improvement

Skills and aptitude

Essential

  • Highly effective interpersonal, communication, verbal and influencing skills

Knowledge and abilities

Essential

  • Knowledge of Patient Safety processes and systems to include associated National publications

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 (opens in a new window).

Additional 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 (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Carew House

Barncoose Terrace

Bodmin

PL31 2QN


Employer's website

https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Carew House

Barncoose Terrace

Bodmin

PL31 2QN


Employer's website

https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Patient Safety

Kerry Crowther

kerry.crowther@nhs.net

01208251300

Details

Date posted

20 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

201-26-331

Job locations

Carew House

Barncoose Terrace

Bodmin

PL31 2QN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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