Job summary
The Patient Safety Incident Investigator will undertake
robust patient safety incident investigations by working with a range of
internal and external stakeholders to investigate, analyse and use judgement
through the collation of evidence and findings using the agreed methods within
the Trusts Patient Safety Incident Response Policy and Plan.
The Investigator will use a systems-based
approach to investigations to achieve the outcome of the identification of
systems learning that will then guide sustainable risk reduction and service
improvement, ensuring that a fair, learning culture and human factors
principles are maintained.
Main duties of the job
Lead on a systematic approach to the analysis and
evaluation of patient safety investigations.
Undertake learning responses following patient safety
incidents in line with the Trust Learning Response Policy and Plan. This
includes the completion of patient safety incident investigations. Learning
responses must use methods that comply with the requirements of the Patient
Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF).
Provide expert advice, guidance and support to all staff on
matters related to patient safety incident investigations and responses.
Ensure compliance at all times with local and national
guidance.
Promote patient safety strategies and further improvements
at all opportunities throughout the organisation.
Contribute to and lead on, where appropriate, to patient
safety strategies.
The post holder has to provide and receive and interpret
highly complex, sensitive and contentious information and will need to
demonstrate empathy, training, motivational and persuasive skills to both
staff, patient/carers and professional colleagues within and out-with of CDDFT.
Contributes to financial initiatives relevant
to patient safety.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have been employed for a minimum of two years
of as a HCA within the NHS for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Undertake
learning responses following patient safety incidents in line with the Trust
learning response policy and plan. This includes the completion of patient
safety incident investigations. Learning responses must use methods that comply
with the requirements of PSIRF
Provide
expert advice, guidance and support to all staff on matters related to patient
safety incident investigations and responses. Ensure compliance at all times
with local and national guidance
Work autonomously as an investigator and in conjunction
with subject matter experts and clinical colleagues, escalating any identified
risks to the head of patient safety and risk
Support Duty of Candour and work closely with Family
Liaison Officers to ensure compassionate engagement in a timely and sensitive
manner with patients and families and educate and support clinical colleagues
in these conversations.
In conjunction with subject matter experts, identify and
review all sources of information in relation to patient safety incidents and
use a variety of analytical skills to identify systems learning. The
information may include paper and electronic records, interviews, liaising with
stakeholders, patients and their families and carers
Ensure that all patient safety incident investigations
undertaken are logged on the Trust safety quality system and all documents
pertaining to them are saved to the relevant record
Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and
contentious information relating to patient safety incidents and present this
information to teams and groups as appropriate
Undertake regular audit of the quality of learning
responses to ensure the suitability and effectiveness of these
Present learning responses at a variety of forums,
including approval and learning forums
Provide compassionate engagement with staff involved in
incidents including signposting of support when required
Offer expert guidance on patient safety investigation
method and support learning response leads in completion of safety
investigations which do not meet PSII criteria
Apply the principles and practice of a fair and learning
culture across a diverse range of clinical services and recognise when
specialist expert opinion is required
Apply the principles and practice of embedding human
factors principles as part of patient safety investigations
Liaise with the Trust family liaison officer to provide
seamless engagement with patients and their families following a patient safety
incident and throughout response processes, encouraging and supporting active,
compassionate engagement.
Support the patient safety and specialty teams in the
development of SMART action plans to ensure learning is embedded and sustained
into clinical practice working collaboratively with clinical and Trust wide
patient safety improvement plan
Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of
national and local safety initiatives
Contribute to the development and improvement of systems
learning approach and cultural changes associated with the introduction of the
patient safety incident response framework and lead on allocated improvement
and innovation projects
Support specialist colleagues in the delivery of safety
improvement projects using QI method
To undertake a programme of education for Trust-wide
learning which supports the patient safety strategy
Contribute directly to building incident investigation
capacity and capability across the organisation, by delivering systems based
training programmes, teaching and supporting individuals development of
investigation skills and knowledge either as a whole or on an ad hoc basis.
This includes the provisional of continuing professional development (CPD) for
staff in PSIRF roles
Manage, develop and maintain effective systems for the
collection and evaluation of information to support robust governance processes
Liaise with external colleagues to deliver cross-system
learning responses and appraise them of quality assurance in relation to
patient safety incidents
Maintain key relationships with other teams within the
Trust including the legal team, patient safety and experience team and the care
group governance teams. This includes information sharing
Attend external meetings as required. This includes
attendance at inquests if required
Ensure that the Trust policies and processes for
investigation are reviewed and developed in line with best practice as per
national guidance
Promote and maintain communication that will often be
complex and sensitive in nature to enable achievement of agreed objectives and
standards
Support and influence senior colleagues in implementing
clinical and operational decisions relating to safety improvement strategies
Maintain professional requirements for
registration abiding by professional codes of conduct and ensuring ongoing
continuous professional development
Job description
Job responsibilities
Undertake
learning responses following patient safety incidents in line with the Trust
learning response policy and plan. This includes the completion of patient
safety incident investigations. Learning responses must use methods that comply
with the requirements of PSIRF
Provide
expert advice, guidance and support to all staff on matters related to patient
safety incident investigations and responses. Ensure compliance at all times
with local and national guidance
Work autonomously as an investigator and in conjunction
with subject matter experts and clinical colleagues, escalating any identified
risks to the head of patient safety and risk
Support Duty of Candour and work closely with Family
Liaison Officers to ensure compassionate engagement in a timely and sensitive
manner with patients and families and educate and support clinical colleagues
in these conversations.
In conjunction with subject matter experts, identify and
review all sources of information in relation to patient safety incidents and
use a variety of analytical skills to identify systems learning. The
information may include paper and electronic records, interviews, liaising with
stakeholders, patients and their families and carers
Ensure that all patient safety incident investigations
undertaken are logged on the Trust safety quality system and all documents
pertaining to them are saved to the relevant record
Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and
contentious information relating to patient safety incidents and present this
information to teams and groups as appropriate
Undertake regular audit of the quality of learning
responses to ensure the suitability and effectiveness of these
Present learning responses at a variety of forums,
including approval and learning forums
Provide compassionate engagement with staff involved in
incidents including signposting of support when required
Offer expert guidance on patient safety investigation
method and support learning response leads in completion of safety
investigations which do not meet PSII criteria
Apply the principles and practice of a fair and learning
culture across a diverse range of clinical services and recognise when
specialist expert opinion is required
Apply the principles and practice of embedding human
factors principles as part of patient safety investigations
Liaise with the Trust family liaison officer to provide
seamless engagement with patients and their families following a patient safety
incident and throughout response processes, encouraging and supporting active,
compassionate engagement.
Support the patient safety and specialty teams in the
development of SMART action plans to ensure learning is embedded and sustained
into clinical practice working collaboratively with clinical and Trust wide
patient safety improvement plan
Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of
national and local safety initiatives
Contribute to the development and improvement of systems
learning approach and cultural changes associated with the introduction of the
patient safety incident response framework and lead on allocated improvement
and innovation projects
Support specialist colleagues in the delivery of safety
improvement projects using QI method
To undertake a programme of education for Trust-wide
learning which supports the patient safety strategy
Contribute directly to building incident investigation
capacity and capability across the organisation, by delivering systems based
training programmes, teaching and supporting individuals development of
investigation skills and knowledge either as a whole or on an ad hoc basis.
This includes the provisional of continuing professional development (CPD) for
staff in PSIRF roles
Manage, develop and maintain effective systems for the
collection and evaluation of information to support robust governance processes
Liaise with external colleagues to deliver cross-system
learning responses and appraise them of quality assurance in relation to
patient safety incidents
Maintain key relationships with other teams within the
Trust including the legal team, patient safety and experience team and the care
group governance teams. This includes information sharing
Attend external meetings as required. This includes
attendance at inquests if required
Ensure that the Trust policies and processes for
investigation are reviewed and developed in line with best practice as per
national guidance
Promote and maintain communication that will often be
complex and sensitive in nature to enable achievement of agreed objectives and
standards
Support and influence senior colleagues in implementing
clinical and operational decisions relating to safety improvement strategies
Maintain professional requirements for
registration abiding by professional codes of conduct and ensuring ongoing
continuous professional development
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a healthcare setting with an understanding of complexities of current NHS
- Experienced in managing patient complaints including investigation across professional groups , developing action plans that resolve the issues identified and preparing comprehensive reports for sharing with commissioners/SHA /Patients and relatives.
- Experienced in handling difficult situations such as serious untoward event and complaints where the environment is highly emotional and sensitive.
- Experience of Risk Management
- Experience and evidence of delivering high standards of performance to achieve national and local targets
Desirable
- Evidence of patient safety improvement work
- Experience of family and patient engagement
- Experience and knowledge of systems-based approaches to investigation
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Current professional registration with a relevant clinical body, ie NMC, GMC, HCPC
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to analyse and rigorously review all aspects of care, interpreting information and using knowledge and judgement to recommend modifications where necessary
- Compassionate engagement skills
- Excellent report writing skills
- Excellent oral & written communication skills
- Good IT skills across a range of IT software
- Ability to cope with multiple tasks and to prioritise workload efficiently whilst working under pressure
- Confidence to engage at a senior level within the organisation and with external stakeholders
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Proven ability to meet deadlines and targets
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters level education or equivalent qualification & experience
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Clinical qualification relevant to registration, ie nursing or medical degree
Desirable
- Training / qualification in conducting investigations
- Formal qualification in patient safety or quality improvement
Special Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel/work across all Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a healthcare setting with an understanding of complexities of current NHS
- Experienced in managing patient complaints including investigation across professional groups , developing action plans that resolve the issues identified and preparing comprehensive reports for sharing with commissioners/SHA /Patients and relatives.
- Experienced in handling difficult situations such as serious untoward event and complaints where the environment is highly emotional and sensitive.
- Experience of Risk Management
- Experience and evidence of delivering high standards of performance to achieve national and local targets
Desirable
- Evidence of patient safety improvement work
- Experience of family and patient engagement
- Experience and knowledge of systems-based approaches to investigation
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Current professional registration with a relevant clinical body, ie NMC, GMC, HCPC
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to analyse and rigorously review all aspects of care, interpreting information and using knowledge and judgement to recommend modifications where necessary
- Compassionate engagement skills
- Excellent report writing skills
- Excellent oral & written communication skills
- Good IT skills across a range of IT software
- Ability to cope with multiple tasks and to prioritise workload efficiently whilst working under pressure
- Confidence to engage at a senior level within the organisation and with external stakeholders
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Proven ability to meet deadlines and targets
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters level education or equivalent qualification & experience
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Clinical qualification relevant to registration, ie nursing or medical degree
Desirable
- Training / qualification in conducting investigations
- Formal qualification in patient safety or quality improvement
Special Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel/work across all Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
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.
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).
Additional 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.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
