Band 8b Head of Patient Safety

Job responsibilities

The post holder supports the development of a culture of patient safety in close co-operation with the Group Chief Nurse and the Group Deputy Director of Patient Safety and Risk by

• Leading on the patient safety agenda in the Trust and ensuring tangible reduction in patient harm
• Leading and co-ordinating the Trusts patient safety strategy which will incorporate developing, reviewing and updating policies and processes to ensure that patient safety and quality improvement is embedded throughout the Trust.
• Ensuring that the patient safety strategy includes the safety improvement priorities agreed by the Trust Board and that progress against these are reported to the Executive and the Trust Board
• Review and implement all policy developments around patient safety across the Trust
• Ensuring the Trust is up to date with evidence based thinking on patient safety and develop external links and relationships with the patient safety leads
• Working closely with clinical staff to further develop local ownership of patient safety strategy
• Supporting colleagues in other departments and directorates in translating learning into service improvement
• Providing trust oversight of the triangulation of divisional patient safety issues
• Providing constructive challenge as appropriate to ensure divisional reporting is robust
• Interpreting national guidance related to patient safety and preparing papers for the Trust Board on the best implementation approach
• Deputising for the Group Deputy Director of Patient Safety & Risk, as required

The post holder will work closely with the quality governance, operational and corporate management teams and staff at all levels in the organisation.

Values

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

• Undergraduate Degree or equivalent professional qualification
• Masters level qualification, or equivalent experience
• Business/Project Management qualification and/or IHI Improvement Advisor and Coaching qualifications, or equivalent experience
• Clinical qualification and professional registration
• Training or teaching qualification or experience
• Risk management or root cause analysis qualification or experience
• Evidence of further professional and personal development

Experience

Essential

• Expert knowledge of quality improvement tools and techniques
• Significant demonstrable experience in project management in an acute care environment
• Ability to collate and analyse statistical and qualitative information
• Experience of implementing change projects
• Experience of effective working within a team and alone
• Experience of working with minimal supervision
• Knowledge of the components of governance, risk management and assurance function; current NHS national policies, standards, requirements and directions that relate to measuring and improving the quality and safety of patient care
• Demonstrates commitment to improving the quality of patient care
• Ability to support a range of staff and quality/ clinical services /professional activity
• Experience of working with patients/service/ stakeholders to improve quality of service
• Experience in managing staff, setting objectives and performance management and holding people to account

Desirable

• Experience in providing advice on complex professional and other HR issues

Skills and aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to deal confidently with staff at all levels of an organisation
• Well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a range of professionals
• Ability to make decisions and solve complex problems
• Advanced planning and organisational skills
• Ability to develop strong professional networks
• Excellent leadership, Influencing and motivational skills
• Able to negotiate and influence at an organisational level and externally with a range of stakeholders
• Excellent abilities in concise and accurate report writing and presentation of information
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Proficient in the use of MS Office applications: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Access, Explorer, Powerpoint and Excel
• Ability to define, collate, retrieve & manipulate data
• Knowledge and understanding of professional standards and requirements
• The ability to maintain and respect confidentiality - Information
• Governance, Issues of confidentiality (Data Protection, Freedom of Information Act, Caldicott)
• Developing & delivering training programmes

Desirable

• Excellent communication skills at all levels, confident when speaking in public and at large meetings

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).