Job summary
- Main area
- Administration
- Grade
- NHS AFC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 354-CO-21611
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Portland House, Richmond Road
- Town
- Worthing
- Salary
- £46,148 - £52,809 per annum / pro rata for part time
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 07/04/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Patient Safety Investigator
NHS AFC: Band 7
Come and join us
We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.
So what can we offer you in return?
We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.
You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.
As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.
If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.
Job overview
Is patient safety always at the forefront of your mind?
We are seeking self-motivated, experienced, innovative and enthusiastic individuals to work within the Clinical Governance team in the role of Patient Safety Investigator.
The ideal candidates must have a flexible, proactive attitude as they will work alongside clinical teams across organisational and professional boundaries to support the delivery of high-quality patient centred care.
The role will involve investigating patient safety incidents (PSI's) and supporting other responses underpinned by PSIRF methodology. You should have experience and understanding in all aspects of recognised patient safety incident frameworks and tools encompassing principles of human factors, psychology, and investigation best practice with demonstrable organisational skills. The Postholder(s) will be able to work autonomously and as part of a team with previous experience of working within a health care setting essential.
For this role we are accepting applications for both full time and part time roles. We are open to discussions around flexibility for this position, please detail your preferences within your application.
Main duties of the job
The Patient Safety Investigator will play a crucial role in supporting, responding to and learning from patient safety incidents. Collaborating with clinical professionals, ensuring safety and quality for staff, patients, and other stakeholders throughout the Trust.
The role will involve investigating patient safety incidents and supporting other responses, assisting in pinpointing areas for improvement, recommending actions to drive improvements, and implementing safety protocols.
The role requires a blend of clinical knowledge, analytical skills, and a comprehension of patient safety standards to effectively mitigate patient risks. An ability to support and facilitate sensitive engagement with patients, families, staff and others affected by incidents is expected in this role.
The Postholder(s) may be required to travel between sites to undertake visits to non-clinical and clinical areas to conduct observational / investigatory work which will occasionally require working during evenings and at weekends. There may also be a requirement to visit patients, families and carers at home.
Working for our organisation
We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.
Working in Sussex & Hampshire:
- Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns.
- Enjoy a range of beautiful rural settings and bustling city locations.
- With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure.
We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In order to be a successful Patient Safety Investigator in our team you will be:
- Registered with the NMC or HCPC via a core professional qualification – Applications are welcomed from Nurses & Allied Health Professionals.
- Training or experience in investigation methodologies, risk assessment, and legal compliance relating to patient safety which provide essential knowledge for effective practice with an understanding of the current context of the patient safety strategy.
- Experience of dealing with extremely complicated, sometimes conflicting strands of information and potentially highly distressing, sensitive information or circumstances.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise own workload.
- The ability to concentrate on complex reports and data analysis, sometimes working under pressure to tight deadlines.
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Professional Registration with a relevant body (Nursing, Social Work, Allied Health Professional)
- Additional specialist training in patient safety incident investigation, clinical risk management or relevant field (e.g. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch Level 2/3 patient safety investigation training or equivalent).
Knowledge / Experience
Essential criteria
- Training or experience in investigation methodologies, risk assessment, and legal compliance relating to patient safety which provide essential knowledge for effective practice.
- An understanding of the current context of the patient safety strategy.
- Experience of dealing with highly distressing, sensitive information or circumstances.
Communication / Relationship Skills
Essential criteria
- High understanding of the systems of assurance and patient safety.
- Excellent verbal and written skills, enabling complex technical aspects of risk or health and safety to be communicated in a style that colleagues can comprehend and implement.
- Ability to deliver work within tight deadlines.
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Essential criteria
- Proven analytical skills, with ability to interpret complex standards and assurance requirements, and identify the implications for Trust, and actions required.
Planning & Organisational Skills
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to produce high-level reports for internal and external stakeholders.
People Management / Leadership / Resources
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to give senior managers and director’s advice and support in patient safety matters.
Physical Skills
Essential criteria
- The post-holder will be expected to be able to travel to other sites across the Trust on a frequent basis and conduct regular site visits.
Mental Effort
Essential criteria
- Ability to translate complex information and concepts to all levels of staff.
Approach / Values
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role.
- Team working.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Liz Chamberlain
- Job title
- Clinical Governance Business Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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