Patient Safety Investigator

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Patient Safety Investigator to join the Patient Safety & Learning Team on a 12-month fixed-term basis.

The post holder will undertake systems-based patient safety investigations and learning responses in accordance with the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), applying recognised approaches including SEIPS and human factors principles. You will manage a caseload of investigations, review and analyse complex clinical information, engage with patients, families and staff, and support the identification of meaningful learning and improvement.

This is an opportunity for an individual with strong patient safety, investigation and analytical skills to contribute directly to organisational learning and the improvement of patient safety across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will independently manage a caseload of patient safety investigations and learning responses, applying systems-based investigation methodologies, human factors principles and professional judgement to identify contributory factors and opportunities for learning and improvement.

Key responsibilities include reviewing clinical records and other evidence, participating in incident review and triage, engaging compassionately with patients, families and staff, producing high-quality investigation reports, and presenting findings to clinical teams to support the development of effective and measurable improvement actions.

The post holder will work autonomously within PSIRF methodology and Trust policy, escalating significant patient safety risks, emerging concerns or barriers to investigation appropriately.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are seeking a Patient Safety Investigator to join the Patient Safety & Learning Team on a 12-month fixed-term basis.

The post holder will undertake systems-based patient safety investigations and learning responses in accordance with the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), applying recognised approaches including SEIPS and human factors principles. Working autonomously, you will manage a caseload of concurrent investigations, analyse complex clinical information, engage with patients, families and staff, and identify system-level learning and opportunities for improvement.

The role requires strong analytical and investigative skills, sound professional judgement and the ability to manage complex and sensitive investigations while maintaining a compassionate and systems-focused approach to patient safety

The post holder will:

• Independently manage a concurrent caseload of patient safety investigations and learning responses, ensuring these are progressed within agreed timescales.
• Apply systems-based investigation methodologies, including SEIPS and human factors principles, to identify contributory factors and opportunities for learning and improvement.
• Review clinical records and other relevant evidence and participate in the daily incident review rota, applying professional judgement to recommend proportionate responses to newly reported incidents.
• Engage compassionately with patients, families, carers and staff throughout investigations in accordance with Duty of Candour and Being Open principles.
• Produce high-quality, evidence-based investigation reports and learning responses and present findings through relevant Trust governance and sign-off processes.
• Attend feedback meetings with directorates to discuss investigation findings and support the development of SMART actions.
• Maintain accurate investigation records using the Trust’s incident and risk management systems and contribute, where appropriate, to thematic analysis, organisational learning and quality improvement activity.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.