Quality and Patient Safety Facilitator, Quality Governance (NHS AfC: Band 7) - Medical Director[...]

The Quality and Patient Safety Facilitator will play a key role in the delivery of the Trust’s quality and safety programme and effective governance. This role requires individuals who are driven, ambitious and passionate about the provision of high quality, safe and effective care to patients with a desire to influence and work in close partnership with clinical and managerial staff. The post holder will work across the organisation and with Clinical Service Units (CSUs) and also with external partners, including commissioners and patient groups to ensure that the Trust meets its strategic objectives in relation to patient safety and quality.

Key responsibilities will be to support CSU teams to ensure robust systems for quality, safety and governance are in place. The post holder will support in the delivery of quality in relation to safety, patient experience with a particular focus on clinical outcomes. The post holder will provide support to CSUs through project leadership regarding specific quality improvement programmes, identify and share learning and act as a subject expert in key areas of governance and clinical effectiveness i.e. clinical audit.

Experience:

• Experience of working in the NHS at a senior level involving patient safety and quality
• Experience of people management and service management at an operational level, including financial management
• Experience of multidisciplinary and partnership working
• Experience of working with partner organisations
• Experience of managing projects, demonstrating achievement and performance managing outcomes
• Experience in the use of an IT system supporting incident reporting and risk management
• Experience of working in a pressured environment and dealing with unpredictable and dynamic situations
• Ability to undertake complex risk assessment, identify, co-ordinate and facilitate subsequent appropriate actions
• Experience of managing and supporting the investigation of patient safety events utilising the most appropriate method
• Experience supporting National Clinical Audits/Local Clinical Audit and/or NCEPOD

Skills:

• The ability to communicate effectively with and build relationships with clinical teams and managers (corporate and operational services)
• Demonstrate effective skills in organisation, prioritisation and personal discipline and ability to deliver consistently against deadlines
• Ability to manage projects and produce management and assurance reports for committees
• The ability to communicate effectively and deal with hostility, suspicion, opposing views and objections whilst establishing effective working relationships
• The ability to influence people with opposing views, and respond appropriately to the unpredictable and unacceptable, explain proposals to clinical teams and managers in an honest and transparent way
• Ability to make decisions independently, with support where required, based on changes to health policy or regulation, including recommendations arising from a CQC inspection
• Ability to interpret changes to national guidance and regulations relating to quality and safety and communicate this to clinical teams and CBUs
• Ability to plan a broad range of complex activities and work programmes relating to quality and safety, working with CBUs and corporate teams
• Ability to engage with patients, families and service users directly on sensitive issues that arise through incidents, complaints and investigations
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing, producing clear, concise reports, policy and guidance
• Ability to communicate with staff groups at all levels of the organisation
• The ability to assess and analyse quality and performance information
• Ability to work alone and in a team and to facilitate group discussions
• Ability to use a computer and relevant software to produce quality and safety reports
• Ability to work independently as well as part of the wider team, recognising when it is appropriate to escalate matters to line manager
• Undertake a training needs analysis of the CBU and develop and deliver training programmes/materials to meet these needs

Knowledge:

• Leadership development; programme/study or evidence of practical application of leadership knowledge
• Knowledge of patient safety and improvement methodology, including its application in practice
• Knowledge of the fundamental standards of quality and safety and the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
• Knowledge of national policy, legislation and requirements with regard to patient safety, quality improvement, assurance and regulation
• Knowledge of planning and policy development, organisational and cultural change
• Thorough understanding of information governance requirements and the application of IG principles when working across organisational boundaries
• Knowledge of approaches to education and training for quality and safety

Qualifications:

• Education to master’s degree level/working towards this, or equivalent professional training or qualification
• Project management qualification, or detailed knowledge
• Evidence of current continuous professional development
• Patient Safety/Risk management qualification

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.