Patient Safety Lead; Patient Safety Specialist

Royal Berkshire Nhs Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in Reading is seeking an experienced professional to ensure effective governance and lead the patient safety agenda across Maternity, Gynaecology, Neonatal, and Paediatric services. The ideal candidate must be an NMC registered Nurse or Midwife with significant leadership and organizational change experience. This role includes managing clinical governance, collaborating with teams, and ensuring compliance with national standards, providing a crucial contribution to patient safety within the healthcare system.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

27 days annual leave for new starters

NHS pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

On-site nursery

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Significant experience in midwifery.
• Proven leadership in clinical governance and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure effective governance and risk systems across maternity, gynaecology, neonates and paediatrics.
• Lead the Patient Safety Team, ensuring compliance with standards.
• Assist management in incident investigations and report writing.

Skills

Leadership experience

Organisational change experience

Education

NMC registered Nurse or Midwife

Job description

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has been rated 'Good' by the CQC and is looking for an experienced professional to lead the Maternity, Gynaecology, Neonatal and Paediatric patient safety agenda.

Responsibilities

• Ensure effective governance and risk systems across maternity, gynaecology, neonates and paediatrics.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Women and Children’s services management team to ensure effective communication and compliance with national and local standards.
• Lead the Patient Safety Team in the Women & Children’s services, working within the patient safety incident response framework (PSIRF) alongside the Trust Patient Safety Team.
• Act as single point of contact with Maternity & Neonatal Safety Investigations (MNSI); coordinate documentation uploading and investigation interviews.
• Participate as a member of the Perinatal Mortality Reporting Tool Group; attend the Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity Meetings.
• Liaise with Professional Midwifery Advocates (PMA) to support midwifery staff involved in clinical incidents.
• Work with the women’s services management team and clinical governance leads to ensure governance arrangements and reporting are effective.
• Manage all aspects of the clinical governance and risk portfolio within Women’s Services, including incident investigation, audit and complaints.
• Assist the Women & Children’s services management team in the investigation of complaints.
• Collaborate with Medical, Midwifery and Nursing teams to implement changes and staff development identified through governance.
• Provide reports and evidence to demonstrate compliance with CQC Outcomes for Quality and Safety and NHS Improvement Quality Governance Framework.
• Report maternity incidents likely to result in severe brain injury to the Head of Legal Services within 48 hours.
• Notify MNSI of cases meeting the Each Baby Counts criteria and any maternal deaths within the required timeframe.
• Oversee tracking of progress against LMNS, ICB plans and transition milestones, flagging issues and risks.
• Provide reports for BOB LMNS regional committees, Quality Assurance, Learning and Patient Safety Committees.
• Ensure data and information quality standards are met and provide expert clinical advice on Trust-wide policies requiring specialised patient safety input.
• Support and empower Ward / Department Managers to conduct risk assessments and develop action plans.
• Maintain and review the Maternity, Gynaecology, Neonatal and Paediatric risk register.
• Analyse complex data from incidents and complaints, present findings to senior managers in written and oral formats.
• Represent the Trust at STP Local Maternity System governance meetings.
• Ensure compliance with Trust-wide policies and guidelines within Maternity, Gynaecology, Neonatal and Paediatric services; disseminate safety alerts and report actions.
• Provide written monthly and quarterly reports on risk, incidents and complaints, recommending actions and tracking implementation.

Qualifications

• NMC registered Nurse or Midwife with significant experience in midwifery.
• Leadership experience.
• Organisational change experience.

Desirable Criteria

• Registered midwife.
• Human Factors training.
• Masters degree, significant governance experience, PSIRF, Patient safety training and governance, Risk management.
• UK professional registration.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If appointed, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Appointments are conditional on satisfactory completion of core NHS Employment Checks. The Trust may close the vacancy prior to the advertised closing date due to high responses. All new appointments are subject to a 6‑month probationary period, except for executive positions.

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is committed to a smoke‑free environment. Smoking is not permitted on any Trust site.

Staff Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities and emphasis on work‑life balance.
• Annual leave: 27 days for new starters, + bank holidays; increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years of NHS service (pro‑rata for part‑time staff).
• NHS pension scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Money Advice Service.
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff.
• On‑site nursery (based at RBH).
• Full educational library services.
• Cycle to work scheme and lock‑able storage for cycles.
• Bus to work scheme.
• Excellent rail and bus links.
• Large range of health‑service discounts at many major brands.