Patient Safety Partner

First Community Health and Care

This job is now closed

Job summary

First Community Health and Care is committed to placing the voices of patients and families at the heart of their services. We have supported the establishment of two new and exciting ‘Patient Safety Partner’ roles that are open to members of the public to work as an advisor to help us design and deliver safe healthcare across the organisation.

This is a new and innovative position which stems from a growing body of work both nationally and within First Community focusing on involving patients across all levels of healthcare with particular focus on improving safety.

We are seeking to recruit 2 Patient Safety Partners to each attend one large meeting or committee a month that focuses on safety and quality. Membership of the group will be for a fixed period of 18 months and successful applicants will receive payment for involvement for attendance at the meeting. Reasonable expenses will also be covered for training required for the role and any preparation time prior to the meeting.

We are seeking positive and enthusiastic people who have a broad and keen interest in helping to improve safety in health services and patient experience and provide a solution-focused approach to help make a difference.

Main duties of the job

Successful applicants will require the following skills and experience.

Have had recent and relevant experience of being a patient, carer of someone using health services or have had a lived experience of an adverse event and having moved beyond it and can now impart the knowledge and insight learned from it and how it can enhance quality of care.
Are able to put forward views of behalf of the wider community/groups of patients (not own opinion only).
Confident to contribute to discussions in large groups and have the ability to critically challenge our thinking in a constructive positive way.
You are able to respect and listen to other points of view and can tackle issues sensitively.
Able to commit to at least 1 day a month to the role for 18 months.
Have no conflicts of interest that would prevent participation in the role.

First Community recognise, value, and support the important role Patient Safety Partners will play and that their active contributions are integral to the Organisation in achieving its aims. We will provide Patient Safety Partners with a meaningful and valuable experience and the opportunity to make a real difference to First Community. You will also receive induction and training and a named member of staff to provide you with support and guidance for the meetings.

About us

First Community is a CQC rated ‘Outstanding’ staff owned social enterprise, which delivers NHS community services to residents across east Surrey and in parts of West Sussex. First Community has a CQC rating that puts us among the top two % of organisations providing outstanding NHS care in the country. First Community values diversity and inclusion and is committed to the recruitment and retention of under-represented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

Date posted

28 March 2022

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£150 a day

Contract

Bank

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B9078-22-7912

Job locations

2nd Floor Forum House

41-51 Brighton Road

Redhill

Surrey

RH1 6YS

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Patient Safety Partner Role

We are seeking two Patient Safety Partners to take part in our safety and quality governance. The role will involve the following:

· Reviewing and commenting on (where relevant) meeting papers.

· Willingness to represent a view of patients, carers and the wider public on all matters, and to share perspective and experience.

· Reviewing and commenting on (where relevant) reports including a review and update of the patient safety strategy itself.

Membership of and attendance at the relevant meetings will mostly be held remotely via Teams and other options are available for candidates who do not have IT access.

Time commitment

The total time commitment for each Patient Safety Partner role is expected to be 1 full day per month. This includes preparation for and attendance at group meetings.

Skills and experience:

Candidates will need to have a genuine commitment to developing excellent health services along with an understanding of and broad interest in patient safety. The ideal candidate will have personal or lived experience or having had a family member experience an adverse harm event in health care. As an advocate of patient safety, there is a requirement that candidates will have the confidence to communicate well verbally with senior leaders over strategic issues and provide a patient carer or lay perspective.

They will be expected to apply their skills, knowledge, and experience to support decision making that will drive forward First Community’s ambition are at the centre of shaping our safety agenda.

· Ability to speak publicly

· Willingness to challenge as a “critical friend”.

· Provide advice and make recommendations, when necessary, relevant to their areas of expertise or lived experience.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Patient Safety Partner Role

We are seeking two Patient Safety Partners to take part in our safety and quality governance. The role will involve the following:

· Reviewing and commenting on (where relevant) meeting papers.

· Willingness to represent a view of patients, carers and the wider public on all matters, and to share perspective and experience.

· Reviewing and commenting on (where relevant) reports including a review and update of the patient safety strategy itself.

Membership of and attendance at the relevant meetings will mostly be held remotely via Teams and other options are available for candidates who do not have IT access.

Time commitment

The total time commitment for each Patient Safety Partner role is expected to be 1 full day per month. This includes preparation for and attendance at group meetings.

Skills and experience:

They will be expected to apply their skills, knowledge, and experience to support decision making that will drive forward First Community’s ambition are at the centre of shaping our safety agenda.

· Ability to speak publicly

· Willingness to challenge as a “critical friend”.

· Provide advice and make recommendations, when necessary, relevant to their areas of expertise or lived experience.

Person Specification

Other

Essential

Ability and confidence to speak in larger groups

Experience

Essential

Willingness to challenge as a critical friend.
Provide advice and make recommendations, when necessary, relevant to their areas of expertise or lived experience.

Desirable

Previous experience of working as an advisor

Person Specification

Other

Essential

Ability and confidence to speak in larger groups

Experience

Essential

Willingness to challenge as a critical friend.
Provide advice and make recommendations, when necessary, relevant to their areas of expertise or lived experience.

Desirable

Previous experience of working as an advisor

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.