Job summary
The Patient Safety Partner (PSP) is a new and evolving role developed by NHS England to help improve patient safety across health care in the UK. Lancashire teaching Hospitals are excited to welcome a team of PSPs to work alongside our staff, patients, service users and families to influence and improve safety within our services.
A patient safety partner (PSP) is actively involved in contributing to the design of safer healthcare at all levels in the organisation.
The time commitment for each Patient Safety Partner will be dependent on the areas of work that they are involved. We aim to be as flexible as possible, but with a view for this to be 12 hours per month.
Patient Safety Partners (PSP) will not be employees or workers of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Terms and conditions of appointment will be provided on commencement.
Main duties of the job
Talking with patients and staff about safety and what matters to them. Advocating for patients, carers, and families and to ensure that their perspectives and considerations are prioritised. Contributing to safety governance by sitting on relevant committees, reviewing, and commenting on meeting papers and reports. Inputting into how safety issues should be addressed and providing feedback and challenge to enable us to learn and change as an organisation. Inputting into any relevant Trust strategies and policies relating to patient safety. Helping to develop patient safety information resources.
The PSP will need to comply with relevant policies and maintain strict confidentiality in respect to discussions and information when required.
About us
We have 9000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.
Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.
Youll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things youd never have done. Youll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.
Youll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, challenge others to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Skills and experience
- Understanding of and broad interest in patient safety.
- Ability to communicate well in writing and read comprehensive reports.
- Ability to understand and evaluate a range of information and evidence.
- Confidence to communicate well verbally with senior leaders about strategic issues, as an advocate for patient safety.
- Experience of handling and communicating about potentially upsetting or emotional information. Self-awareness to manage the situation and be open to support if required.
- Ability to provide a patient, carer, or lay perspective and to put forward views on behalf of the wider community/groups of patients (not own opinion only).
- Experience of championing health improvements; able to be a critical friend.
- Interaction with multiple stakeholders at senior management level.
- Experience of working in partnership with healthcare organisations or programmes.
- Sound judgement and an ability to be objective.
- Personal integrity and commitment to openness, inclusiveness, and high standards.
Training
Training will be designed to meet the individual needs of the PSPs; this will include skills in leadership, influencing and decision-making skills; this will be made available to you as part of your induction. Other training will also be required, and where possible and appropriate this training will be with staff. Mandatory training, which is provided online may also be required, including in one or more of the following:
- Information governance
- Equality and diversity
- Safeguarding children level 1
- Safeguarding Adults level 1.
- NHS Patient Safety Syllabus training - eLearning for healthcare
Specific support for this role includes:
- Mentorship by one of the patient safety team.
- Monthly group discussion and reflection with the two other PSP facilitated by the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Director of Quality and Experience.
- Support new PSPs.
- Attend debriefs where required.
Planning and organising
- Ability to plan time to prepare for meetings and undertake any other activities required as part of the role.
- To attend PSP support meetings and training events.
Personal
- Willingness to develop learning and work in collaboration with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to improve patient safety.
- Ability to review, digest and comprehend a range of information and opinions.
- Willingness to listen and to question until you reach the level of information required to understand.
- Willingness and ability to provide a voice for patients, carers and relatives and express views.
- Adhere to the principles of the PSP agreement.
- Ability to reflect the different views and diversity of patients/carers/relatives including those living with different conditions and from different backgrounds.
- Be supportive and innovative in delivery change.
- Inform relevant person if unable to attend meetings or undertake any other identified activity.
- Inform the chair of the meeting if there is a conflict of interests, e.g. patient or patient group are known personally to the PSP.
- Commit to attending pre-planned meetings that require PSP involvement.
- Support to colleagues.
- Support and guide new PSPs where required.
- Take part in PSP networks to receive peer support and share learning.
Communication
- Report any safety incidents to staff.
- Ensure that patient confidentiality is always maintained.
Infection control
- Adhere to the principles of hand hygiene when entering and leaving ward areas.
- Ensure that visitors and staff adhere to the principles of hand hygiene and direct them to hand washing facilities where necessary.
Equality and diversity
- Have an understanding of individual patients needs, consideration for cultural and religious requirements.
- Act in accordance with trusts policy and procedures.
Health and safety
- Report any environmental factors that may contravene health and safety requirements.
- Ensure that all work is carried out in line with trust policies and procedures.
- Attend induction and regular mandatory training.
Role Review
Due to the trusts commitment to safety and continuous improvement, it is likely that the role will evolve over time. These duties will be subject to review; any amendments will be made in consultation and agreement with the PSP.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Skills and experience
- Understanding of and broad interest in patient safety.
- Ability to communicate well in writing and read comprehensive reports.
- Ability to understand and evaluate a range of information and evidence.
- Confidence to communicate well verbally with senior leaders about strategic issues, as an advocate for patient safety.
- Experience of handling and communicating about potentially upsetting or emotional information. Self-awareness to manage the situation and be open to support if required.
- Ability to provide a patient, carer, or lay perspective and to put forward views on behalf of the wider community/groups of patients (not own opinion only).
- Experience of championing health improvements; able to be a critical friend.
- Interaction with multiple stakeholders at senior management level.
- Experience of working in partnership with healthcare organisations or programmes.
- Sound judgement and an ability to be objective.
- Personal integrity and commitment to openness, inclusiveness, and high standards.
Training
Training will be designed to meet the individual needs of the PSPs; this will include skills in leadership, influencing and decision-making skills; this will be made available to you as part of your induction. Other training will also be required, and where possible and appropriate this training will be with staff. Mandatory training, which is provided online may also be required, including in one or more of the following:
- Information governance
- Equality and diversity
- Safeguarding children level 1
- Safeguarding Adults level 1.
- NHS Patient Safety Syllabus training - eLearning for healthcare
Specific support for this role includes:
- Mentorship by one of the patient safety team.
- Monthly group discussion and reflection with the two other PSP facilitated by the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Director of Quality and Experience.
- Support new PSPs.
- Attend debriefs where required.
Planning and organising
- Ability to plan time to prepare for meetings and undertake any other activities required as part of the role.
- To attend PSP support meetings and training events.
Personal
- Willingness to develop learning and work in collaboration with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to improve patient safety.
- Ability to review, digest and comprehend a range of information and opinions.
- Willingness to listen and to question until you reach the level of information required to understand.
- Willingness and ability to provide a voice for patients, carers and relatives and express views.
- Adhere to the principles of the PSP agreement.
- Ability to reflect the different views and diversity of patients/carers/relatives including those living with different conditions and from different backgrounds.
- Be supportive and innovative in delivery change.
- Inform relevant person if unable to attend meetings or undertake any other identified activity.
- Inform the chair of the meeting if there is a conflict of interests, e.g. patient or patient group are known personally to the PSP.
- Commit to attending pre-planned meetings that require PSP involvement.
- Support to colleagues.
- Support and guide new PSPs where required.
- Take part in PSP networks to receive peer support and share learning.
Communication
- Report any safety incidents to staff.
- Ensure that patient confidentiality is always maintained.
Infection control
- Adhere to the principles of hand hygiene when entering and leaving ward areas.
- Ensure that visitors and staff adhere to the principles of hand hygiene and direct them to hand washing facilities where necessary.
Equality and diversity
- Have an understanding of individual patients needs, consideration for cultural and religious requirements.
- Act in accordance with trusts policy and procedures.
Health and safety
- Report any environmental factors that may contravene health and safety requirements.
- Ensure that all work is carried out in line with trust policies and procedures.
- Attend induction and regular mandatory training.
Role Review
Due to the trusts commitment to safety and continuous improvement, it is likely that the role will evolve over time. These duties will be subject to review; any amendments will be made in consultation and agreement with the PSP.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Understanding of and broad interest in patient safety
- Ability to communicate well in writing and read comprehensive reports.
- Ability to understand and evaluate a range of information and evidence.
- Confidence to communicate well verbally with senior leaders about strategic issues, as an advocate for patient safety
- Experience of handling and communicating about potentially upsetting or emotional information.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Understanding of and broad interest in patient safety
- Ability to communicate well in writing and read comprehensive reports.
- Ability to understand and evaluate a range of information and evidence.
- Confidence to communicate well verbally with senior leaders about strategic issues, as an advocate for patient safety
- Experience of handling and communicating about potentially upsetting or emotional information.
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.
