Patient Safety Practitioner

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will be an experienced Health Professional (AHP, RN, RM) working in direct support of the Matron for Patient Safety to play a key role in the delivery and embedding of the National Patient Safety Strategy and the Trusts Patient Safety Incident Response Plan (PSIRP). The post holder will contribute to a culture of continuous improvement within the Trust, to improve patient safety and experience and to enhance staff and patient involvement in service changes.

The post holder will achieve this by:

The post holder will assist the Matron for Patient Safety in the delivery of the Trusts Patient Safety Incident Response Plan and Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF).

Under the direction of the Matron for Patient Safety, the post holder will apply project management and service improvement skills to lead specific Trust-wide projects with a clear focus on patient safety and Trust wide key harm projects. They will deliver and monitor implementation through performance frameworks which demonstrate that practice meets key benchmarks and standards across the whole organisation.

Working as a member of the Quality and Safety Team, they will support the training and development of staff through the delivery of the key Quality and Safety Improvement Training Programmes, as well as support delegated aspects of the Trust Quality Account objectives working closely with the Quality Improvement Lead.

Working as a member of the Quality and Safety Team, they will support the delivery of the Patient Safety Strategy, through patient safety education programmes and the facilitation of improvement action plans.

The post holder will be responsible for working with the Deputy Director of Nursing teams to establish high quality healthcare practice, through the provision of strong leadership, providing direction to staff across the Trust and the provision of the identification, monitoring and mitigation of risks for patient safety and quality improvement work streams.

The post holder will assist the Matron for Patient Safety in being a professional link to (and provide strategic information) to enable divisionally led plans to continuously improve staff at all levels by critically reviewing elements relating to the quality and assurance of safe patient care, as well as through improvement strategies, learning and the effective sharing of good practice.

The post holder will also be able to provide comprehensive advice and support as required, to colleagues in dealing with complex situations, risk, clinical incidents and leading on investigations.

The post holder will be expected to present information and data in a variety of formats, including undertaking presentations to internal and external groups and the production of high-quality written reports.

2. Key Responsibilities

Specifically, the Patient Safety Practitioner will be responsible for:

Safety:

Advise on patient harm prevention issues and support staff in the implementation of associated strategies.

Support the Matron for Patient Safety with the transition and embedding of the Patient Safety Strategy and the Trust Patient Safety Incident Response Plan (PSIRP).

Promote a just culture in which the reporting of incidents and systems-based analysis is routine practice in all areas, from which changes in practice are identified and implemented.

Identify and analyse trends and themes from patient safety incidents.

Promote a culture of harms prevention where this is integral to the development and maintenance of clinical services, identifying national and regional initiatives and assessing requirements and their suitability for implementation.

Work closely with the Professional Development and Education Unit to develop and implement patient safety educational programmes, ensuring that all clinical risk areas are identified and included.

Provide reports on Quality and Safety strategies and improvement projects.

Support and educate staff on the investigation of patient safety incidents using systems-based analysis and ensuring that continuity of patient care is maintained, and staff are supported throughout.

Lead on patient safety investigations when appropriate and as agreed with the Matron for Patient Safety.

Under the direction of the Matron for Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Lead support patient safety and quality improvement work streams.

Facilitate the rapid response and review of patient safety incidents.

Work alongside the Corporate and Operational teams in the Trust transition and embedding of the Patient Safety Incident Response Plan.

Quality:

• Support individual members of staff, teams and other stakeholders in improving their clinical practice or services across the organisation through teaching and mentoring in relation to patient safety.
• To be responsible for providing accurate records of information required by the Trust for audit purposes.
• Contribute to the development of a range of practice and quality improvement initiatives in line with the Trust Quality Account objectives.
• Complete regular reviews of national standards and guidelines to ensure compliance and best practice.
• Adopt the role of an expert practitioner in the development of patient safety strategies and harms working across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Participate in the collation of patient safety data required for National Audit Programmes.
• Support the ongoing development of information for patients and visitors.
• Ensure appropriate communication channels are established to disseminate patient safety related information and policies.
• Support the development of patient safety educational resources appropriate for all staff.
• Ensure appropriate risk management strategies are in place.
• Develop systems in which information gathered from complaints, legal claims and coroners reports can be collated to enable the Trust to identify areas of concern and develop strategies to address them.
• To have organisational knowledge relating to Trust protocols and procedures and adhere to them.
• Respond to requests to be involved in patient safety projects, adjusting project plans accordingly, in a timely manner
• Working in partnership with clinical and corporate teams, local and regional networks and support services to influence and advise in order the post holder will implement strategic improvements to maintain excellent patient care.
• To be computer literate in all Microsoft office tools (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Office) and encourage implementation of the Trusts Quality Strategy

To have knowledge, understanding and experience of Quality Improvement methodology and project delivery.

Education:

Devise, plan, develop, deliver and evaluate educational programmes at many levels including within wards / departments and at a Trust wide level in relation to patient safety in collaboration with the PDEU (Professional Development Education Unit).

Utilising a range of communication skills to effectively enable a lessons learnt approach to education in a range of clinical areas.

To provide supervision, mentorship and support for junior staff in the team.

Support provision of practice opportunities for pre-registration and post registration students.

Governance:

Provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information where there are significant barriers to acceptance which need to be overcome especially when discussing complex issues and incidents which require a high level of interpersonal communication skills as this is often delivered in an emotive atmosphere.

Ensure that the highest standards in corporate governance and probity are maintained.

Be responsible for the development and maintenance of robust clinical governance arrangements and activities within own sphere of responsibility.

Review, analyse and interpret governance data to monitor standards for service improvement and safety.

Under the guidance of the Matron for Patient Safety develop policies and procedures and identify clinical governance requirements/components of all Trust policies and procedures.

Leadership:

To inform the Matron for Patient Safety of any professional or practice issues, which are detrimental to patient care, give cause for concern or require further consideration or action.

Contribute and participate in meetings relevant to all patient safety work stream priorities.

Exercise leadership skills and be aware of position as a role model, to manage own boundaries and develop productive relationships throughout the organisation.

Actively promote integrated professional working relationships both internally and externally.

Take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery protocols and guidelines.

Monitor progress of project work and provide regular, timely, concise, up-date reports with any issues or recommendations clearly highlighted.

Develop and maintain own competence in agreed basic and advanced clinical skills. The opportunity will exist for the post holder to work clinically on wards at times of organisational pressure.

Managerial:

The post holder will line manage staff and services as appropriate. This may include staff management responsibilities such as undertaking appraisals, managing sickness, performance and conduct issues and responsibility for the effective recruitment and deployment of staff.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registration with the appropriate professional body (e.g., HCPC/NMC).
• Degree or equivalent demonstrable level of experience in an area of practice commensurate with patient safety.
• Post basic clinical qualification in relevant area or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Leadership Qualification or experience
• Teaching Qualification
• Experience of working alongside the Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Academy
• Quality Improvement training
• Clinical audit experience
• Humans Factors Qualification or experience

Knowledge and Awareness

Essential

• Understanding of current national policy and issues in compliance and standards and the wider NHS in relation to Patient Safety.
• Knowledge of Quality Improvement methodologies
• Sound understanding of the principles of evidence-based care.

Desirable

• Knowledge of change management processes in leadership and support of large groups of staff

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to work collaboratively with others across organisational and professional boundaries
• High level of personal and professional integrity
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Commitment to collaborative and partnership working
• Excellent organisational skills
• Able to manage time and organise work priorities effectively to meet deadlines
• Forward thinking approach
• Self-motivated

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Computer literate in Microsoft Office programs and the use of electronic data systems (e.g. Datix).
• Analytical and judgement skills analysis of highly complex facts /situations requiring analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options requiring expert analysis and specialist knowledge.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work collaboratively with others across organisational and professional boundaries
• Ability to inspire and motivate
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with other agencies at a variety of levels
• Ability to use and keep up to date with social media platforms
• Ability to design and deliver group training

Desirable

• Ability to use coaching skills to support others to define and achieve their objectives
• Ability to manage change effectively.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a health service setting with evidence of ongoing development or evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
• Experience of delivering/supporting quality improvement projects using QI methodology.
• Experience of preparing and delivering presentations to audiences with a variety of levels of understanding of the topic.
• Experience of working with a range of teams.
• Evidence of teaching and developing staff.

Desirable

• Acute clinical experience
• Understanding of operational and professional issues in an acute Trust
• Ability to prioritise and demonstrate effective time management and organisational skills.

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).