Patient Safety Officer

Integrated Care System; Carmarthen; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider seeks a Patient Safety Officer for its Quality Assurance and Safety Team. This full-time role involves overseeing investigations into patient safety concerns, engaging with staff, and ensuring compliance with best practices within the health service. The ideal candidate will have a background in healthcare, excellent analytical and reporting skills, and should be willing to address concerns effectively while supporting a diverse patient base. Knowledge of Welsh is desirable but not essential as training will be provided.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience of using a database and making judgements about data entered.
• Ability to work with senior clinicians and manage difficult conversations.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload of investigations into serious concerns.
• Liaise with frontline staff to manage patient concerns.
• Write investigation reports and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Analytical skills

Report writing

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Educated to diploma/degree level or equivalent experience

Tools

Patient information system

Concerns management system (DATIX)

Job description

An opportunity for a Patient Safety Officer post has arisen in the our busy Quality Assurance and Safety Team. We are looking for an enthusiastic, and self-motivated individual. The successful candidate will strive to ensure that our patients receive the best possible service from the Health Board.

Ideally, candidates will have previous experience in a similar role, be able to demonstrate experience of systematically gathering information and communicating findings through reports and presentations, excellent computer skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience of working with healthcare and knowledge of a concerns management system such as DatixCloudIQ would be an advantage but not essential as full training will be provided.

Main duties of the job

Working as part of the Quality Assurance and Safety Team, be a Lead Investigations Officer, managing your own caseload of investigations into serious concerns.

This includes:- liaising with frontline staff to receive, manage and respond to serious concerns in line with Health Board policy and procedures, NHS Putting Things Right Guidance and recognised best practice;

- working closely with staff and managers to undertake investigations in a timely and efficient way in order to achieve the best possible outcome for complainants, patients and the clinical service concerned;

-writing of investigation reports;

-liaising with patients and/or next of kin; and maintaining accurate, up to date investigative records of concerns, using the Health Board's concerns management system (DATIX)

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest

Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire

Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings

47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers

Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Job responsibilities

Hywel Dda University Health Board is committed to ensuring that, as far as is reasonably practicable, the way we provide services to the public and the way we treat our staff, patients and others reflects their individual needs and that individuals or groups will not face discrimination, harassment or victimisation, or be treated less favourably on the basis of sex, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, disability, race, age, sexual orientation, religion and belief, family circumstances including marriage and civil partnership. To this end, the UHB has an Equality and Diversity Policy and Equality Impact Assessment Policy and Procedure and it is for each employee to contribute to enacting these policies.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 04.08.2025

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Educated to diploma/degree level or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Knowledge of the NHS Putting Things Right Guidance, Health Board Concerns Management Procedures, Risk Management procedures
• Good knowledge of medical terminology and concepts
• Knowledge of change management principles
• Knowledge of Root Cause Analysis Tools and Proportionate Investigations for investigation of concerns
• Knowledge of the patient information system
• Knowledge of the concerns management system (DATIX)
• Knowledge of the Duty of Quality and Duty of Candour.

Experience

• Experience of analysing problems and providing solutions
• Experience of using a database and making judgements about the data entered
• Experience of report writing and presentation of findings
• Experience of involvement in developing a service or process
• Experience of working with senior clinicians/service providers and challenging them where appropriate
• Experience of undertaking investigations and/or researching/providing information/advice to patients and/or the public in a healthcare environment
• Experience of dealing with distressed service users
• Experience of analytical skills
• Experience of the AMAT system.

Language Skills

• Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Other

• Able to travel and work across the Health Board in a timely manner

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Assistant Patient Safety and Assurance Manager

£30,420 to £37,030 a yearPer annum (pro rata if part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Job share,Flexible working,Home or remote working