Quality Investigations Officer

SOUTH WESTERN AMBULANCE SERVICE; Bristol; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional ambulance service is seeking an Investigating Officer to lead patient safety investigations and ensure high-quality care. The role involves conducting thorough investigations, producing detailed reports, and promoting a culture of continuous quality improvement. Ideal candidates will possess excellent communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills. This is an opportunity to join a supportive team in Exeter, with a commitment to professional development and competitive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive NHS salary

Generous holiday entitlements

Career and salary progression

Free parking across Trust sites

Wide range of discounts from various organisations

Qualifications

• Experience in writing high-quality reports.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with integrity.
• Understanding of patient safety principles.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Patient Safety Incident Investigations.
• Produce high quality investigation reports.
• Support the Quality Leads in investigations.

Skills

Excellent verbal communication

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Report writing

Problem-solving

Education

Relevant experience in incident investigations

Tools

Data analysis software

Job description

· Undertake investigations that are required under PSIRF and adverse incidents that require a higher level of investigation within the Trust.
· To undertake, under the supervision of the Quality Leads or Assistant Quality Leads, Patient Safety Incident Investigations (PSIIs) or facilitate After Action Reviews (AARs), Patient Experience and Coroners investigations in accordance with Trust policy, best practice and national guidance.
· Produce high quality investigation reports and present findings to the PSII review meetings including the following key tasks:
o Reviewing records.
o Producing a chronology of events.
o Interviewing staff (where required) to support the investigation process.
o Interviewing patients/families (where considered appropriate) to support the investigation process.
o Liaising with other healthcare professionals, organisations and external bodies.
o Analysing data.
o Producing an investigation report.
o Identifying learning.
o Presenting findings to PSII Review meetings.
o Feeding back findings to the Trust, staff, patients and their carers/families.
· Support the Trust's Quality Leads in undertaking investigations and review of incidents in relation to Inquests from the HM Coroner and investigations into clinical negligence claims. This will require the production of high quality reports that are to be provided and presented to Coroners court, Trust solicitors and other interested parties.
· Attend inquests, as appropriate, to present investigation findings.
+ Produce and maintain accurate and up to date investigation files ensuring accurate records of Duty of Candour compliance are maintained, in accordance with the Trust's Information Governance arrangements.
+ Work within Trust policies to meet required standards and deadlines, relating to PSIRF investigations, and Coroners requests in accordance with national or legislative requirements. Maintain accurate records to provide assurance that national and local timescales are adhered to.
· Contribute to investigations undertaken by external organisations, ensuring they accurately reflect the Trust's involvement. This will include liaising with external organisations and attending multi-agency meetings.
· With the support of the Quality Leads, identify key areas of learning for the organisation following investigation.
Communication
Support and actively contribute to the promotion of a culture of continuous quality improvement within all facets of the Trust to ensure best practice in the delivery of patient care.
· Implementation of Duty of Candour in the absence of the Family Liaison Officer (FLO), and provide resilience for this role.
· Keep all relevant parties informed of progress during an investigation including Quality Leads and, in the absence of the FLO, patients and their families.
· Deal with telephone and email enquiries relating to investigations in accordance with Trust procedures, ensuring an accurate log is maintained of all communications.
+ Deal with telephone and email enquiries relating to investigations in accordance with Trust procedures, ensuring an accurate log is maintained of all communications.
+ As part of the investigation process provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information ensuring that Information Governance policies are adhered to.
· Provide feedback to the Quality Leads and Patient Safety Manager on the key areas of learning identified during investigation through the development, agreement and timely delivery of action plans.
· Provide feedback to those involved in investigations, under Duty of Candour regulations, including initial contact, regular updates and feedback following investigation of incidents. This will include patients, next of kin, staff and other organisations.
Training and Guidance
Provide support and guidance to Managers, Operations Officers and others in managing Adverse Incidents submitted by staff and help ensure that each incident is investigated and closed according to Trust policy.
Actively participate and contribute to the effective running of the Patient Safety team, and assist with the development and education of others to increase awareness of the Quality Patient Care Directorate and role throughout the Trust.
General Team Responsibilities
Contribute to the efficient running of the Patient Safety functions and provide assistance as required within the Quality Patient Care directorate.
· Support the Quality Lead with any other reasonable request in support of the Patient Safety team's role and objectives.
· Provide resilience for other roles within the Quality Patient Care Directorate.
· Deputise for the Assistant Quality Lead, as required.
Personal Development
Take a part in activities that lead to personal growth and/or team growth.
· Attend appraisal sessions with direct line manager.
· Take a lead in identifying own development needs.

A rare and exciting opportunity to join the Patient Safety team as an Investigating Officer has arisen. The successful candidate will support the delivery of quality for the Trust, ensuring safe and high quality services and learning from experience with the welfare of patients and staff at the heart of this role. Collating and analysing data from a variety of sources you will complete reviews of incidents, in line with the principles of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF). Utilising these skills you will complete a wide variety of investigations for a number of audiences. Your excellent communication skills will be utilised in many forms and you can develop these skills to successfully communicate with patients, families, staff, external organisations and other stakeholders. You would be joining an extremely supportive, proactive team with an opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills., Main duties of this role is the collation and analysis of data, to produce high quality incident investigations and also provide resilience across the Directorate in other roles. The successful candidate will need to have a really 'can do' attitude to their role and responsibilities. We are looking for someone who can integrate with an established and successful team, who are hard-working, resilient and have the most amazing ability to question data, identify learning for the organisation and push for improvement. The successful candidate will have to manage the duties detailed in the job description with empathy, integrity and a positive outlook. If you demonstrate excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills alongside experience in administration, writing high quality reports, great inter personal skills and a really inquiring mind then this may be the job for you.

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.
We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.
The role is based in Exeter, one of the most vibrant, attractive and historically interesting cities in England, with excellent transport links and a great mix of independent shops, cafes and bars.
If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.
In return we will equip you with the skills and resources you need to thrive in your role.
You will have opportunities to progress to roles across the Trust and enjoy continuous professional development.

+ Competitive NHS salary
+ A standard working week of 37.5 hours
+ Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
+ Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
+ Generous Pension Scheme
+ Career and salary progression
+ Car leasing scheme
+ Free parking across Trust sites
+ Staff networks
+ Wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK