Patient Safety Lead

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·       Collaborate with the Head of Patient Safety to apply and continuously improve the Quality Assurance Framework for monitoring provider quality standards.

·       Lead and manage a programme of announced and unannounced quality-themed review visits to assess clinical care within contracted services, coordinating pre-visit intelligence and stakeholder communication.

·       Oversee the development, monitoring, and evaluation of quality schedules within NHS and non-NHS provider contracts for an assigned portfolio.

·       Work with providers to ensure the development and implementation of effective service improvement plans based on recommendations from quality reviews.

·       Monitor provider progress in implementing patient safety and quality improvement actions, ensuring successful outcomes.

·       Critically review, appraise, and report on information and evidence supporting quality and patient safety standards for commissioned services.

·       Manage the performance of serious incident investigations, assessing report quality and reviewing the implementation of corrective actions.

·       Contribute to the development and implementation of the HWICB Quality Strategy.

·       Proactively address issues identified through service concerns and incidents.

·       Report progress against quality standards and metrics to maintain accurate quality dashboards.

·       Lead the Quality Team’s contribution to Clinical Quality Review meetings, including agenda setting, scrutinising provider submissions, and ensuring timely distribution of meeting materials.

·       Attend contract monitoring boards to report and escalate quality exceptions for assigned providers.

·       Represent the Quality Team in relevant meetings across HWICB, providers, and partner organisations.

·       Provide professional and clinical advice to ensure quality is central to care pathway development, service redesign, and contract creation.

·       Analyse complex information to assess risk and determine appropriate actions in risk assessments, quality assurance visits, or investigations.

·       Review sensitive medical information related to clinical investigations and ensure appropriate handling.

·       Provide expert advice on quality and patient safety matters and escalate risks in the best interests of patients, adhering to the requirements of registration for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

·       Deputise for the Head of Patient Safety as needed.

·       Lead themed visits to provider organisations to assess care quality standards, communicating sensitively with staff, patients, and families.

·       Develop accurate reports as required, ensuring the communication of findings to providers, senior managers, relevant committees, and external bodies (e.g., Care Quality Commission) in line with guidelines.

·       Manage sensitive discussions regarding provider performance and changes with staff and stakeholders at all levels.

·       Ensure the Quality Team responds effectively to new patient safety legislation, taking responsibility for individual actions and clearly communicating expectations to team members.

·       Promote the sharing of good practice across health and social care systems, including lessons learned from adverse events and evidence-based practices.

·       Collaborate with the complaints team and Quality Team colleagues to collate and analyse data, using trend analysis to drive improvements and better patient outcomes.

·       Interpret national guidance and develop local policies for the HWICB, ensuring alignment with provider contracts across Herefordshire & Worcestershire.

·       Contribute to, or lead, the development of quality-related policies.

·       Review and update local policies in response to emerging guidance or best practices.

·       Develop plans to support quality initiatives and ensure integration of feedback into the commissioning cycle.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties but to give a guide to the objectives and responsibilities of the post. For full description, please see the attached Job Description.