Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Patient Safety Partner

The closing date is 31 March 2026

Job summary

The Patient Safety Partner - Can you help shape the future of Patient Safety at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust?

Are you able to spare approximately 8 hours per month to support patient safety here at the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust? If yes, we would like you to consider becoming a Patient Safety Partner (PSP).This is an 18-month fixed term role, supported by the Trust based on guidance provided by NHS England. Here at the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust, we are excited to welcome a team of PSPs to work alongside our staff, patients, and families to influence and improve safety within our hospital.PSPs can be patients, carers, family members or other lay people. We are particularly keen to welcome to the team people who have not previously been involved in working in a healthcare setting before but who can bring valuable insight, or can relate to, a patient safety incident or event and the effect or impact this can have on patients or their families.

Main duties of the job

The role is to reflect the voice and needs of people who use hospital and community-based health services including patients, family members, carers and the public. PSPs will be actively involved in the design of safer healthcare at all levels across the organisation.

Patient Safety Partners (PSPs) will take part in patient safety related activities and support the quality and safety team with a patient safety, risk, and quality remit.As a PSP you may bring the voice and needs of patients, families, carers and the public, into the work of the quality and safety team, and relevant committees in a way that provides appropriate challenge and fosters learning and change.As the role develops there will be the opportunity to get involved in other activities to support patient safety, for example supporting teams to implement recommendations from incidents.

About us

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.

We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.

Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.

Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo

Date posted

04 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£150 a day One day per month per Patient Safety Partner (£150 per day)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

384-AGB-EMF19874

Job locations

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Guildford

GU2 7XX

Job description

Job responsibilities

We are looking for a person who has the resilience to listen to complex and sometimes challenging information and make rational and objective decisions that will represent the needs and interests of patients, and ultimately improve the quality of patient care.You will need to have the time to read through meeting papers in advance of the meetings and come ready with comments or questions that will aid the group to think through the patient perspective.

You will need to have an awareness of the range of experiences and perspectives that different people within our communities might have. For example, what you hear might mean for people that find it difficult to access health services because of socio-economic issues, existing health conditions or accessibility needs for example.This person will also have the confidence to sit alongside senior personnel from across the Trust including Governors, the Chairman of the Board and Non-Executive Directors, doctors and support staff and treat everyone as an equal partner in the decision-making of the group.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Desirable

Excellent communication skills including the ability to digest complex written reports and verbal updates
Ability to evaluate without bias a range of information and evidence
Able to work alongside senior leaders on issues of policy and strategy as an advocate for patient safety
IT - word, email, excel, PowerPoint.

Knowledge and Experience

Desirable

Demonstrates insight into Patient Safety
Able to provide a patient, carer or lay perspective and to put forward views on behalf of wider community, including those from seldom heard groups
Understand and maintain patient and hospital confidentiality within the structures and mechanisms of Patient Safety across RSFT.
Experience of championing improvements in a healthcare setting; able to be a critical friend
Demonstrate up to date knowledge of patient safety and quality legislation

Person Specification

Qualifications

Desirable

Excellent communication skills including the ability to digest complex written reports and verbal updates
Ability to evaluate without bias a range of information and evidence
Able to work alongside senior leaders on issues of policy and strategy as an advocate for patient safety
IT - word, email, excel, PowerPoint.

Knowledge and Experience

Desirable

Demonstrates insight into Patient Safety
Able to provide a patient, carer or lay perspective and to put forward views on behalf of wider community, including those from seldom heard groups
Understand and maintain patient and hospital confidentiality within the structures and mechanisms of Patient Safety across RSFT.
Experience of championing improvements in a healthcare setting; able to be a critical friend
Demonstrate up to date knowledge of patient safety and quality legislation

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Guildford

GU2 7XX

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Guildford

GU2 7XX

Employer's website

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