Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

A.   Clinical Practice

·         Organise own workload, ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently

·         Maintain own clinical knowledge and competencies required to undertake Patient Safety Investigations and maintain clinical credibility including NMC registration.

·         To complete a back to the floor shift once a quarter

·         Meet regularly with the relevant staff from the division to support in the investigation and update on investigations.

B.   Patient Safety Incidents

·         Collate statements, factual accounts or memory accounts, evidence and information and write robust investigation reports.

·         Maintain up to date electronic records of the investigation ensuring access is shared with the allocated Patient Safety Investigation Team.

·         Organise regular meetings for the investigating team throughout the investigation as required by the Patient Safety Divisional Lead Investigator, ensuring appropriate paperwork and health records are available.

·         Ensure all communication with patients, relatives, carers and staff are open, honest and that investigations are transparent, independent and of excellent standard with effective actions defined.

·         Update incidents on Datix to reflect relevant information about the incident and ongoing investigation to ensure these are reported via LFPSE (Learning from Patient Safety Events).

·         Support the development and delivery of any Trust wide quality and patient safety initiatives where required

·         Liaise with internal and external stakeholders (i.e. ICBs) to ensure they are regularly updated of investigation progress.

·         Ensure reports are submitted to regional & national reporting bodies as required.

·         Ensure a safety improvement plan is created and implemented by the division around the findings of the investigation.

·         Discuss sensitive and contentious information with staff of all grades and disciplines maintaining confidentiality and integrity at all times.

·         Manage the Being Open/Duty of Candour process for patient safety incidents.

·         Assist the Patient Safety Family Liaison Officer to support colleagues with the implementation of the statutory Duty of Candour requirements, including arranging patient/family meetings to discuss the patient’s story at the outset of the investigation.

·         To update the Patient safety specialist Nursing officer ensuring regular engagement and agreement of priorities.

C.   Learning from Patient Safety Incidents

·         Support outcomes and learning responses following patient safety incidents including monitoring implementation of divisional safety improvement plans and meeting with the divisional leadership team to ensure the closure of the plans.

·         Develop and maintain effective working processes and relationships to ensure
performance and quality standards are met.

·         Working with the Head of Complaints, Patient Safety Incident Investigation Team and PALS to provide analysis of patient safety related intelligence in support of organisational learning and improvement.

·         Monitor to conclusion the implementation of investigation safety improvement plans, escalating any concerns regarding compliance or sustainability to Patient safety Specialist Nursing Officer

·         Upload learning responses and changes made to the Patient Safety NWAFT web page.

D.   Reporting, Educational Responsibilities and Administration

·         To roll out a programme of training on patient safety incident investigations including Duty of Candour and incident outcomes and learnings to relevant Trust staff.

·         To support and engage with the Divisional Governance colleagues on the design and development of training programmes for the organisation that provides staff with the techniques, skills and knowledge to competently undertake high quality investigations.

·         Represent the Patient safety Specialist nursing officer as requested at key Trust-wide meetings and committees

• Convene and chair meetings as required

·         Provide support to external assessments such as the Care Quality Commission, Health and Safety Executive, Monitor and External Audit.

·         Undertake any other duties appropriate to this post as may become necessary.

E.   Professional Development

·         Undertake personal development, education and training in relation to patient safety to ensure you can meet the continued requirements of the job role

·         Maintain mandatory training compliance as per Trust requirements