Patient Safety and Risk Manager

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is seeking a proactive Patient Safety and Risk Manager to lead the CSS Clinical Governance Team in delivering safety, risk and quality improvement across the Clinical Group. You will manage the Patient Safety and Risk team, oversee incident reporting, and drive learning from safety incidents to improve patient care.

You will work with clinicians and governance groups to embed learning, implement PSIRF, develop risk management policies and deliver

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level in a relevant subject
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Master’s Degree in a relevant subject
• Qualification in management/ leadership or evidence of leadership skills
• Experience with patient safety investigations and risk management systems

Responsibilities

• Lead management of patient safety incidents, including triage, investigations, PSIRF learning responses and reviews.
• Oversee incident reporting, escalation, Duty of Candour and accurate recording.
• Develop and oversee risk management systems and risk registers; ensure timely identification and mitigation of risks.
• Provide governance reports to committees and lead safety, risk, governance and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Patient safety

Incident investigation

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Training development

Leadership

Decision making

Education

Degree level in a relevant subject

Master's degree

Leadership/management qualification

Tools

Ulysses

Job description

We have vacancies in the following sectors

Select below to see the jobs in that sector

The Patient Safety and Risk Manager will work within the Clinical Scientific Services (CSS) Clinical Governance Team to lead patient safety and risk management across the Clinical Group. Reporting to the Senior Quality Governance Manager, the post holder will manage the Patient Safety and Risk team, oversee risk reporting and governance activities, and support delivery of the Quality Governance agenda. Working closely with colleagues across the Trust, they will promote continuous improvement, embed learning from patient safety incidents, implement the NHS Patient Safety Strategy, National Standards for Patient Safety Investigation, and the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF). The role also includes developing and delivering patient safety, risk, and quality improvement training, acting as an expert resource to support safer systems and a culture of continuous improvement.

Main duties of the job

Leads the management of patient safety incidents, including triage, investigations, PSIRF learning responses and reviews, ensuring compliance with Trust policies, CQC standards and national requirements. Oversees incident reporting, escalation, Duty of Candour and accurate recording on Ulysses. Analyses safety data to identify trends, produces reports and action plans, and provides expert advice, training and support to clinicians, managers and governance groups to embed learning and improve patient safety. Leads the development and oversight of risk management systems, including Ulysses and specialty risk registers, ensuring risks are identified, assessed and managed effectively. Supports audits, develops risk management policies and tools, and provides governance reports to committees. Provides leadership across patient safety, risk, governance and quality improvement by managing staff, leading projects, supporting Trust safety alerts and promoting a culture of learning, psychological safety and continuous improvement. Oversees reporting on incidents, complaints, claims and inquests, identifies themes and recommendations to improve services, supports budget and staff development responsibilities, and deputises for senior governance leads when required.

Working for our organisation

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - what better place to shape and develop your leadership career.
We deliver care to over 1 million patients & users each year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. Our 30,000 plus strong workforce is central to our success and innovation.
You will play a pivotal part in supporting our operational excellence and strategic ambitions. You’ll work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams, driving improvements that enhance patient experience, staff wellbeing, and service efficiency across the Trust.
MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, ideas, and expertise are valued. You’ll have access to professional development, digital tools and opportunities to contribute to transformational projects that shape the future of healthcare delivery.
We are committed to supporting your growth and wellbeing, recognising the vital role you play in our organisation’s success.
Join us and help shape the future of our Trust—make a real difference to our teams, our services, and our communities, and fundamentally, our patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS

• Educated to Degree level in a relevant subject
• Evidence of recent commitment to relevant ongoing professional development
• Master’s Degree in relevant subject
• Qualification in management/ leadership or evidence of leadership skills

EXPERIENCE

• Evidence of undertaking investigation training and experience of conducting complex patient safety incident learning responses and reviews
• Able to demonstrate understanding of investigatory and review tools, techniques and methodologies
• Demonstrable experience of handling complex or contentious patient safety incidents
• Experience in developing systems demonstrated by the ability for problem solving in ensuring compliance with legislation and with local and national policy and procedures.
• Significant experience of providing advice and support to staff during patient safety investigations
• Experience in delivering training.
• Experience in staff management.
• Significant experience of dealing with patients and their representatives involved in patient safety incidents and liaising with individuals and organisations acting on their behalf
• Demonstrable experience of managing multiple priorities
• Understanding the essential principles and components of legal protocols and procedures
• Experience of providing training in clinical risk in multiple healthcare settings and to differing levels of audience
• Experience of providing information and assurance to arms-length bodies such as CQC
• Experience of presenting data to a range of audiences in a variety of formats (eg conversations, presentations, reports)
• Understanding of Regulatory bodies and activities
• Knowledge of Safeguarding and Mental Health Legislation processes and how these apply in healthcare settings.
• Practiced in continuous quality improvement methodologies and how to use these within a range of healthcare settings
• Experience of managing and embedding change
• Experience of chairing committees or meetings and/or leading project/working groups
• Experience of deputising for senior management
• Experience at reporting at Board/committee level
• Project management and planning experience

SKILLS, ABILITIES AND KNOWLEDGE

• Relevant knowledge and understanding of patient safety and how to apply both local and national requirements, including an understanding of the NHS Patient Safety Strategy; and associated Standards and Framework.
• An understanding of incident handling and risk management processes and how to apply these within a healthcare setting.
• Experience of implementing/ maintaining risk management processes and report writing relating to process and performance
• Knowledge of confidentiality codes, procedures and legislation
• Excellent written skills, including drafting of investigation report, letters and board/committee reports
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with staff at all levels of the organisation, patients and members of the public
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive and contentious information where there are significant barriers to understanding and acceptance and in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere
• Able to create, maintain and enhance effective working relationships
• Ability to plan, chair and manage meetings effectively
• Ability to manage and deescalate aggressive behaviour.
• Ability to develop systems and policies in line with Trust strategy to enhance quality of service delivery
• Ability to ensure the service is responsive to change and to anticipate/react to change with particular reference to relevant policy/legislation
• Ability to develop and facilitate training
• Ability to give presentations to individuals and groups
• Good analytical and numerical skills
• Ability to work to deadlines under pressure
• Ability to effectively respond to emergency situations
• Ability to demonstrate empathy, tact and firmness across a range of situations
• Understanding of the essential principles and components of legal protocols and procedures

ATTRIBUTES

• High levels of diplomacy and tact
• Persuasive, negotiating, empathetic and re-assurance skills
• Ability to react to unpredictable situations/behaviour
• Ability to deal with distress/aggressive individuals
• Ability to overcome barriers to understanding
• Understand the concept and importance of confidentiality
• Able to develop effective working relationships with staff from a variety of agencies and disciplines
• Flexible approach to work
• A commitment to Equal Opportunities

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Rebecca Rowley Job title Assistant Director Clinical Governance - CSS Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0161 7015423