Head of Patient Safety

The Patient Safety team leads on the delivery of quality improvement (QI) programmes in line with NHS England’s National Patient Safety Strategy. This includes working primarily with local NHS organisations to support teams in undertaking QI projects to improve outcomes for patients, families, and carers. The team is currently working on four national patient safety improvement programmes including maternity and neonatal safety, systems safety (Patient Safety Incident Response Framework), Martha’s Rule and managing deterioration and medicines safety.

As Head of Patient Safety, you will be responsible for overseeing delivery of and providing quality improvement expertise across all patient safety programmes, as and when required. The post holder will lead a high performing team including programme managers and clinicians, all of whom are skilled in programme delivery. The post holder will be the Patient Safety Lead, working with peers and colleagues across the 15 Health Innovation Networks. They will also take on key strategic roles on behalf of the Director of Programmes and Quality Improvement (QI) and lead annual business planning and contract specification delivery. The post may change over time and the post holder will be required to commit to being flexible and responsive to accommodate the changes. They will be required to work closely with other Heads of employed by the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing leadership and programme oversight to the respective programme portfolio ensuring successful outcomes and delivery of projects.
• Ensuring (and modelling) robust project management processes are in place for all projects including effective project governance, development and maintenance of project scopes and briefs; project initiation documents; milestones and key deliverables; risks and issues log etc.
• Responsible for effective management and delivery of programme portfolio to the agreed budgets, ensuring compliance with organisational policies and procedures relating to financial management.
• Providing support to the Director of Programmes able to write clearly and concisely, including producing reports.
• Ability to explain improvement approaches, and methodologies, particularly the difference between performance and improvement data.
• Excellent oral communication, presentation and negotiating skills. Is confident presenting to large groups and can handle challenge from senior specialist professionals.
• Ability to prioritise, work to, and set deadlines and function effectively under pressure with competing demands.
• Strong track record of successful project and programme delivery.
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Advanced skills in Word, PowerPoint, Project, and Excel.
• High levels of emotional intelligence to inform working with a wide range of internal and external partners.
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary.
• Ability to work both autonomously and within a small team.
• Adaptability and flexibility to cope with uncertainty and change.
• Ability to travel within region, with occasional travel to national meetings (eg London, Birmingham, Manchester).

Appointment will be subject to evidence of right to work in the UK and an enhanced DBS check, due to the potential for the postholder to be working in an environment with children and vulnerable adults.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Advanced data skills, particularly around measurement for improvement methodology and interpretation.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Health Innovation East is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and will provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process where needed.