Job summary
Job summary
The Patient Safety Incident Investigator will support the Head of Patient Safety to provide Trust-wide oversight, assuring quality and effectiveness of all types of patient safety investigations as part of the Trusts annually agreed Patient Safety Incident Response Plan (PSIRP). This is required within the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) which has been implemented in response the NHS Patient Safety Strategy (2019).
Reporting to the Head of Patient Safety, the Patient Safety Incident Investigator will lead the investigation of patient safety incidents, ensuring early and meaningful engagement with the patient and/or family, keeping them central to any investigation, undertaking robust patient safety incident investigations by working with a range of internal and external stakeholders to investigate, analyse and use judgement through the collation of evidence and findings using the agreed methods within the Trusts PSIRP.
By working with the Head of Patient Safety, they will ensure that the organisation has the processes that support an appropriate response to patient safety incidents (including contribution to cross-system/multi-agency reviews and/or investigation where required).
The outcome will be the identification of systems learning from a patient safety incident that will then guide sustainable risk reduction and service improvement, ensuring that a Just and Learning Culture and human factors principles are maintained.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
Provide expert advice, guidance and support to all staff on matters related to patient safety incident investigations and responses. Ensure compliance at all times with local and national guidance.
Work as part of a wider team to ensure that patient safety is appropriately prioritised and considered in the work of the organisation.
Ensure the incidents are managed effectively within the divisions/corporate teams, revising policy and training to ensure staff understand the role of the Lead Investigator with more complex serious incidents and never events.
Support the development of training strategies that support Trust staff to improve their understanding of safety methodologies and risk management, using tools and techniques to deliver effective investigations that achieve the desired outcomes.
Contribute to the development and improvement of systems learning approach and cultural changes associated with the introduction of the patient safety incident response framework and lead on allocated improvement and innovation projects.
Contribute directly to building incident investigation capacity and capability across the organisation, by delivering systems based training programmes, teaching and supporting individuals development of investigation skills and knowledge either as a whole or on an ad hoc basis.
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
- Best services for local people
- Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
- Best use of resources
- Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Improvements in patient safety are most likely to come through local investigations into patient safety incidents which are focused on learning not blame, that also involve and support families and staff. Patient Safety Incident Investigations (PSII) are led, chaired or overseen by those with a seniority level of Band 8a or above (NHSE/I). The investigation of patient safety incidents is conducted for the purpose of preventing future occurrences and includes the gathering and analysis of information, the drawing of conclusions, including the determination of causes, and, when appropriate, the making of safety recommendations. The patient safety agenda, looks to promote patient safety thinking beyond why things go wrong in healthcare (Safety I), to examining why things routinely go right and how that can be maximised (Safety II).
The Patient Safety Incident Investigator will support the Head of Patient Safety to provide Trust-wide oversight, assuring quality and effectiveness of all types of patient safety investigations as part of the Trusts annually agreed Patient Safety Incident Response Plan (PSIRP). This is required within the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) which has been implemented in response the NHS Patient Safety Strategy (2019).
Reporting to the Head of Patient Safety, the Patient Safety Incident Investigator will lead the investigation of patient safety incidents, ensuring early and meaningful engagement with the patient and/or family, keeping them central to any investigation, undertaking robust patient safety incident investigations by working with a range of internal and external stakeholders to investigate, analyse and use judgement through the collation of evidence and findings using the agreed methods within the Trusts PSIRP.
By working with the Head of Patient Safety, they will ensure that the organisation has the processes that support an appropriate response to patient safety incidents (including contribution to cross-system/multi-agency reviews and/or investigation where required).
The outcome will be the identification of systems learning from a patient safety incident that will then guide sustainable risk reduction and service improvement, ensuring that a Just and Learning Culture and human factors principles are maintained. They will support the development of a patient safety culture and safety systems. The post holder will work with other safety related leads across the trust, working to identify trends and themes for priority actions and to work with colleagues in clinical services to demonstrate that improvements have been made, and the outcomes for patients improved.
The Patient Safety Incident Investigator will act as a Patient Safety Specialist for the Trust, and will provide senior leadership support to the wider Patient Safety Team, supporting the fulfilment of the department to provide help, support and guidance on patient safety matters in order to drive forward the national patient safety agenda and ensure the Trust complies with all patient safety related regulations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Improvements in patient safety are most likely to come through local investigations into patient safety incidents which are focused on learning not blame, that also involve and support families and staff. Patient Safety Incident Investigations (PSII) are led, chaired or overseen by those with a seniority level of Band 8a or above (NHSE/I). The investigation of patient safety incidents is conducted for the purpose of preventing future occurrences and includes the gathering and analysis of information, the drawing of conclusions, including the determination of causes, and, when appropriate, the making of safety recommendations. The patient safety agenda, looks to promote patient safety thinking beyond why things go wrong in healthcare (Safety I), to examining why things routinely go right and how that can be maximised (Safety II).
The Patient Safety Incident Investigator will support the Head of Patient Safety to provide Trust-wide oversight, assuring quality and effectiveness of all types of patient safety investigations as part of the Trusts annually agreed Patient Safety Incident Response Plan (PSIRP). This is required within the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) which has been implemented in response the NHS Patient Safety Strategy (2019).
Reporting to the Head of Patient Safety, the Patient Safety Incident Investigator will lead the investigation of patient safety incidents, ensuring early and meaningful engagement with the patient and/or family, keeping them central to any investigation, undertaking robust patient safety incident investigations by working with a range of internal and external stakeholders to investigate, analyse and use judgement through the collation of evidence and findings using the agreed methods within the Trusts PSIRP.
By working with the Head of Patient Safety, they will ensure that the organisation has the processes that support an appropriate response to patient safety incidents (including contribution to cross-system/multi-agency reviews and/or investigation where required).
The outcome will be the identification of systems learning from a patient safety incident that will then guide sustainable risk reduction and service improvement, ensuring that a Just and Learning Culture and human factors principles are maintained. They will support the development of a patient safety culture and safety systems. The post holder will work with other safety related leads across the trust, working to identify trends and themes for priority actions and to work with colleagues in clinical services to demonstrate that improvements have been made, and the outcomes for patients improved.
The Patient Safety Incident Investigator will act as a Patient Safety Specialist for the Trust, and will provide senior leadership support to the wider Patient Safety Team, supporting the fulfilment of the department to provide help, support and guidance on patient safety matters in order to drive forward the national patient safety agenda and ensure the Trust complies with all patient safety related regulations.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources draw appropriate conclusions and present in a clear concise manner Ability to assimilate and understand the work of the Trust, its policy context, operational issues and challenges. An ability to think quickly and respond to situations, identifying risks, proposing solutions and strategies. Excellent oral and written skills, including an ability to convey difficult messages with tact, sensitivity and diplomacy to a range of individuals Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate with staff and managers at all levels within the organisation, engendering trust and confidence. Negotiation and influencing skills Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills. Knowledge and experience of developments in quality improvement science Knowledge of the NHS patient safety strategy Knowledge of systems thinking, human factors understanding and just culture principles Able to negotiate and influence with a range of stakeholders Attention to detail
Desirable
- Experience of developing & delivering training programmes Experience in providing advice on complex matters to professional and other people High quality presentation skills and ability to provide and effectively communicate highly complex, sensitive and contentious information to staff, patients and relatives/carers, particularly where a potentially antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere may present significant barriers to acceptance Experience of investigating using SEIPS 2.0
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Masters level (in a relevant discipline) or equivalent level, or equivalent experience of working at a senior level
Desirable
- Patient safety qualification or previous experience Clinical qualification Teaching qualification Human factors training Systems investigation training
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources draw appropriate conclusions and present in a clear concise manner Ability to assimilate and understand the work of the Trust, its policy context, operational issues and challenges. An ability to think quickly and respond to situations, identifying risks, proposing solutions and strategies. Excellent oral and written skills, including an ability to convey difficult messages with tact, sensitivity and diplomacy to a range of individuals Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate with staff and managers at all levels within the organisation, engendering trust and confidence. Negotiation and influencing skills Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills. Knowledge and experience of developments in quality improvement science Knowledge of the NHS patient safety strategy Knowledge of systems thinking, human factors understanding and just culture principles Able to negotiate and influence with a range of stakeholders Attention to detail
Desirable
- Experience of developing & delivering training programmes Experience in providing advice on complex matters to professional and other people High quality presentation skills and ability to provide and effectively communicate highly complex, sensitive and contentious information to staff, patients and relatives/carers, particularly where a potentially antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere may present significant barriers to acceptance Experience of investigating using SEIPS 2.0
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Masters level (in a relevant discipline) or equivalent level, or equivalent experience of working at a senior level
Desirable
- Patient safety qualification or previous experience Clinical qualification Teaching qualification Human factors training Systems investigation training
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.
