Patient Safety Incident Investigators

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 Trust’s Patient Safety Incident Response Policy and Plan. Using a systems-based approach, the investigator will identify systems learning to guide sustainable risk reduction and service improvement, while maintaining a fair, learning culture and human factors principles.

Main duties of the job:

• Lead 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, including completion of investigations using the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF).
• Provide expert advice, guidance and support to all staff regarding patient safety incident investigations and responses.
• Ensure compliance with local and national guidance at all times.
• Promote patient safety strategies and further improvements throughout the organisation.
• Lead and contribute to patient safety strategies when appropriate.
• Interpret highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, demonstrating empathy, training, motivational and persuasive skills to staff, patients, carers and professional colleagues.
• Contribute to financial initiatives relevant to patient safety.

Job responsibilities:

• 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 with patients and families in a timely and sensitive manner, and educate and support clinical colleagues in these conversations.
• Identify, review and analyse all sources of information related to patient safety incidents, including paper and electronic records, interviews and stakeholder liaison, to identify systems learning.
• Log all investigations in the Trust safety quality system and ensure all documentation is saved to the relevant record.
• Present learning responses at a variety of forums, including approval and learning forums.
• Provide compassionate engagement with staff involved in incidents, including signposting support when required.
• Offer expert guidance on patient safety investigation methods and support learning response leads for investigations that do not meet PSIRF criteria.
• Apply fair and learning culture principles across a diverse range of clinical services, recognising when specialist expert opinion is required.
• Embed human-factors principles as part of patient safety investigations.
• Liaise with the Trust Family Liaison Officer to provide seamless engagement with patients and families throughout the response process.
• Support the development, implementation and monitoring of national and local safety initiatives and SMART action plans to embed learning into clinical practice.
• Lead or support specialist colleagues in delivering safety improvement projects using QI methods.
• Deliver Trust-wide education programmes to support the patient safety strategy.
• Build incident investigation capacity and capability through delivery of systems-based training, teaching and individual support, including provisional CPD for staff in PSIRF roles.
• Manage effective systems for collection and evaluation of information to support robust governance processes.
• Liaise with external colleagues to deliver cross-system learning responses and appraise them on quality assurance.
• Maintain relationships with other teams within the Trust, including the legal team, patient safety and experience team and the care governance teams, facilitating information sharing.
• Attend external meetings as required, including inquests when necessary.
• Review and develop the Trust’s investigation policies and processes in line with best practice and national guidance.
• Promote clear communication to achieve agreed objectives and standards.
• Influence senior colleagues in implementing clinical and operational decisions relating to safety improvement strategies.
• Maintain professional registration and continuous professional development as required.

Person Specification:

• Experience:
• Experience working in a healthcare setting with an understanding of the complexities of the current NHS.
• Experience managing patient complaints, including investigation across professional groups, developing action plans and preparing comprehensive reports.
• Experience handling difficult situations such as serious untoward events and complaints in emotionally sensitive environments.
• Experience in risk management and evidence of delivering high-standard performance to achieve national and local targets.
• Evidence of patient safety improvement work and family and patient engagement.
• Experience and knowledge of systems-based approaches to investigation.
• Statutory Registration:
• Current professional registration with a relevant clinical body (e.g., NMC, GMC, HCPC).
• Special Skills & Knowledge:
• Ability to analyse and rigorously review all aspects of care, interpreting information and using knowledge and judgement to recommend modifications where necessary.
• Good IT skills across a range of software.
• Ability to cope with multiple tasks, prioritise workload efficiently and work under pressure.
• Confidence to engage at a senior level within the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to work on one’s own initiative and as part of a team.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and targets.
• Qualifications:
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
• Relevant clinical qualification (e.g., nursing or medical degree).
• Training or qualification in conducting investigations.
• Formal qualification in patient safety or quality improvement.
• Special Requirements:
• Ability to travel/work across all Trust sites to meet the post requirements.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check:
• The post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
• Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year (pro rata).