Patient Safety Incident Investigator

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust; Dartford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a key member for its patient safety team in Dartford. The candidate will coordinate investigations into patient safety incidents and ensure effective communication with stakeholders. This exciting role emphasizes collaboration, innovative approaches, and adherence to the NHS Patient Safety Strategy, making it ideal for professionals dedicated to improving patient care.

Benefits

Employee support programs

Inclusive workplace environment

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in patient safety incident management and investigation.
• Ability to produce complex reports.
• Familiarity with NHS policies and patient safety frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Monitor incident reports on a daily basis.
• Coordinate patient safety investigation activity.
• Produce reports summarizing investigation findings.

Skills

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Investigative methodologies

Communication with stakeholders

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to be an integral member of the team contributing to the evolving Patient Safety Strategy at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. The Trust has adopted the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) and Learn from Patient Safety Events (LFPSE). The successful candidate will be a key member of the patient safety team, working across Trust sites to support clinical and non-clinical colleagues in conducting thorough investigations into Patient Safety Incidents (PSIIs) and other learning responses such as After Action Reviews (AARs) or case reviews, using appropriate investigative methodologies with emphasis on system factors and learning/improvements to ensure safe patient care. The role requires forward-facing collaboration and openness to innovative ideas to engage our invested community in patient safety. This position does not offer visa sponsorship. Applicants must have valid right to work in the UK at the time of applying.

Support the central Patient Safety Team with the delivery of the annual work plan and NHS Patient Safety Strategy.

Act as a coordinator for patient safety investigation activity across the Trust.

Contribute to the development, application, monitoring and review of patient safety learning responses.

Support the process of analysing, embedding, and testing the effectiveness of learning across the Trust.

Provide oversight and direction to Trust staff and act as the advisor in relation to patient safety matters for the Trust.

Support the provision of integrated reports triangulating issues from concerns, incidents, complaints, claims and inquest cases, national and local investigations to ensure key learning and improvement is progressed across hospital services and the wider system.

Responsibilities

• Monitor incident reports on a daily basis from across the Trust.
• Follow up on incidents reported to determine levels of harm, liaising with Divisions and other staff.
• Escalate patient safety concerns to the Lead Patient Safety Incident Investigator and/or Head of Patient Safety.
• Produce reports summarising findings, outcomes and recommendations from investigations that require learning responses (e.g., PSII investigations) and report trends and themes for Trust PSII activity and other learning responses.
• Draft complex reports outlining investigation findings and support Divisional governance leads as they compile action plans.
• Help support Divisions with thorough investigations into PSIIes or other learning responses (AARs, case reviews) as necessary, using investigative methodologies with emphasis on system factors and learning/improvements.
• Review and quality check investigation reports as part of the quality check process prior to Patient Safety Assurance Panel and Executive sign-off.
• Assist in the analysis and formulation of action plans arising from risks/trends in patient safety and PSII activity.
• Work to the process outlined in Trust policy for incident management, including the PSIRFP; help Divisions use appropriate investigative methodologies to identify and review all information sources related to the incident under investigation.
• Use analytical skills to understand contributory factors and system factors to identify safety improvements; familiarity with paper and electronic records, witness statements and patient safety investigative tools (e.g., SEIPS) and internal/national data sources is required.
• Liaise with patients, families or carers and other service users to ensure stakeholders receive information and reports; ensure engagement principles and Duty of Candour are followed per Trust policy; ensure patients/families can ask questions during the investigation.
• Use professional judgment in highly complex situations requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of options.
• Monitor quality performance management indicators and escalate incidents of concern as needed to senior Divisional staff and/or SIDG; ensure lessons are learned and translated into quality improvements.
• Monitor the implementation of action plans from PSII investigations, including providing support to Divisional leads in implementing changes and providing reports on outstanding actions.
• Contribute to production and dissemination of a Trust-wide Governance Newsletter and ensure a quarterly patient safety update for shared learning.
• Support the Patient Safety and Governance team with all patient safety related events/activities as required.
• Support Trust strategies for improvement in relation to Patient Safety indicators.
• Provide administrative support to ensure the effective functioning of the Safety Incident Declaration Group, Patient Safety Group and Trust Patient Safety Assurance Panel.
• Attend and advise other key committees regarding Patient Safety as requested (e.g., Divisional or Speciality Governance, Patient Safety Group).

Working for our organisation

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Regardless of race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you will have opportunities to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we have achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas to overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and are committed to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) as our shared model of change to enhance services and ensure excellence in patient care. If applying for a role, note that NHS employees may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage vaccination against COVID-19 and annual vaccination against Flu to protect staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to prioritise patient safety and care, and protect you and your colleagues.

Monitor incident reports daily; follow up on incidents; escalate concerns to Lead Investigator and/or Head of Patient Safety. Produce reports on investigations with learning outcomes; support governance leads in action plan development. Review and quality-check investigation reports prior to sign-off. Engage with patients and families with candour and appropriate information sharing.

Our staff are our most valuable asset. We are committed to making staff feel appreciated, supported and included in the Trust's successes. Our mission is to be an outstanding place to work providing the best care for patients and excellent career opportunities. Our core values and behaviours are embedded throughout the organisation.

If you are considering applying, note that the vacancy may close earlier than stated to aid processing. If you have not heard within 21 days of the closing date, please assume you have not been shortlisted. Parking permits are allocated subject to eligibility and space availability. The Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is a smoke-free organisation; smoking or vaping is not permitted on hospital sites.