Patient Safety Partner (Visa Sponsorship Available)

The role of a Patient Safety Partner (PSP) is to support the design of safer healthcare at all levels in the organisation and will be involved in key projects related to patient safety. At Medway NHS Foundation Trust, our Patient Safety Partners will reflect the voice and needs of the people that use our hospital and community-based health services to help us develop safer services in partnership with patients, families and carers.

PSPs will sit on committees to support safety improvement by exploring how safety issues should be addressed and providing appropriate challenge to ensure learning and improvement. PSPs will also be involved in the development and implementation of relevant strategy and policy. The successful candidate will need to comply with relevant policies and maintain strict confidentiality in respect to discussions and information when required.

Main duties of the job

• Attendance at relevant Quality and Safety committees to contribute to and support compliance with monitoring and improvement.
• Acting as an adviser/critical friend to the Clinical Governance team in the development and delivery of the Patient Safety Strategy.
• Putting forward views on behalf of the wider Community/Groups of Patients/Service Users through the Patient Experience team.
• Evaluating a range of information and evidence and communicating with senior leaders about strategic issues, as an advocate for patient safety.
• Championing Quality and Safety improvements to support the Trust in implementation of the relevant strategy and policy.

Skills and experience

• Understanding of and broad interest in patient safety.
• Ability to communicate your view and feedback about patient safety reports, policies and guidelines.
• 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.
• Ability to provide a patient, carer, or lay perspective and to put forward views on behalf of the wider community/groups of patients.
• Experience of championing health improvements; able to be a critical friend.
• Interaction with multiple stakeholders including NHS staff, voluntary sector and community groups.
• 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

There is a requirement for Patient Safety Partners to be trained in patient safety knowledge when needs are identified and training is available. Where possible and appropriate this training will be with staff. Mandatory training may also be required, including in one or more of the following:

• Patient Safety Syllabus
• Information governance
• Equality and diversity
• Safeguarding level 1
• Infection prevention including hand hygiene.

Further training will be available to PSPs to support them to be effective in their role.

What support will you receive?

You will have a named person who will meet you regularly to discuss your experience and tackle any concerns. We will reimburse expenses for reasonable out of pocket expenses in accordance with the relevant Trust policies.

Personal

• Adhere to the principles of the PSP agreement.
• Inform relevant person if unable to attend meetings or undertake any other identified activities.
• Report any safety incidents to staff.
• Ensure that patient confidentiality is always maintained.

Equality and diversity

Have an understanding of individual patients' needs; consideration for cultural and religious requirements. Act in accordance with trusts policy and procedures.

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.

This post will be subject to an enhanced disclosure check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Trust Values

• Putting patients first
• Responsive to, and supportive of, patients and staff
• Open, welcoming and honest
• Unfailingly kind, treating everyone with respect, compassion and dignity
• Determined to develop our skills and continuously improve the quality of care

Requirements

• Live, work, study or have connections with Medway or the area of Medway and Swale
• Commit to the role for a minimum of 1 year

Skills & Knowledge

• 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
• Ability to provide a patient, carer, or lay perspective and to put forward views on behalf of the wider community/groups of patients

Personal Qualities

• Sound judgement and an ability to be objective
• Personal integrity and commitment to openness, inclusiveness and high standards

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 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.