About this role
Job summary
Are you interested in volunteering and representing the views of patients and the local community to make a positive difference in patient safety?
If you've got an interest in shaping the design of safer healthcare at all levels in the organisation, we'd love to hear from you!
This is a great opportunity to shape the patient safety strategy at Independent Health Group and Sulis Hospital Bath, by reflecting the voice and needs of people who use our services including patients, family members, carers and the public.
Main duties of the job
Patient Safety Partners play a vital role in helping to design and deliver safer healthcare services across IHG and Sulis Hospital Bath. Working collaboratively with patients, carers and staff, they help shape and influence our quality and patient safety agenda, ensuring that the patient voice is at the heart of decision-making.
As a Patient Safety Partner, you will contribute to relevant committees, meetings and improvement initiatives, offering an independent patient perspective on safety matters. You will provide constructive challenge, support learning from incidents and feedback, and help ensure that meaningful improvements are made to enhance patient care and experience.
Patient Safety Partners will be based across our clinical sites, including Westbury, Swindon, Chippenham, Gloucester and Salisbury for Independent Health Group, and Peasedown St John for Sulis Hospital Bath. Support will be provided by the local clinical teams at each location.
This role forms an integral part of the Quality and Governance function across both organisations and reports directly to the Heads of Quality and Governance.
About us
Independent Health Group (IHG) has delivered high-quality, patient-centred healthcare closer to home since 2004, earning an Outstanding CQC rating in 2022. We provide an alternative to traditional hospital care, offering personalised services with short waiting times, convenient appointments and continuity of care. Our supportive and flexible culture places patients at the heart of everything we do, creating opportunities for staff to develop their skills and make a meaningful impact.
Sulis Hospital Bath is an award-winning, consultant-led hospital providing high-quality care across more than 40 specialties. As the first private hospital in the UK wholly owned by an NHS Trust, it reinvests income from private care to enhance services and increase capacity for both NHS and private patients. As a Community Diagnostic Centre, Sulis also improves access to diagnostic services and supports efforts to reduce NHS waiting times.
Job description Job responsibilities
Patient Safety Partners are actively involved in the design of safer healthcare across Independent Health Group. This role includes working alongside staff and patients to shape and influence the safety and quality agenda representing the voice of the patient. Sulis Hospital would like to join us on this journey by recruiting patient safety partners to enhance their safety and quality agenda.
Patient Safety Partners will participate in relevant committees to lend their perspective on how safety issues should be addressed and provide appropriate challenge to ensure learning and change.
The role is suitable for all individuals with abroad interest in patient experience / safety.
General Tasks
Tasks may include some or all of the following:
Gathering the views and experiences of patients to feedback into patient safety committees (with support from the Governance Team)Representing the views of patients, families and carers in alignment with the Patient Safety Incident Response FrameworkAttending the relevant patient safety committees as required, as a full and equal participant, to ensure that the voice of patients is considered and represented during discussions and decision-making. This will require reading meeting papers, attending meetings, participating in discussions and decision-makingBe provided with opportunities to be involved in patient safety projects.Patient Safety Partners will be located on site (travel to Head Office may be infrequently required IHG only).The role may develop over time and can be shaped to meet the needs of the organisationThe responsibilities of the role may be reviewed and revised in response to the changing needs of the organisation.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience as a service user of broader healthcare services
Desirable
Experience as a service user of Independent Health Group
Abilities / Skills and Personal Attributes Essential
A broad interest in patient experience. Good communication skills and an ability to advocate for patient safety and wellbeing. An ability to ask questions, and to work collaboratively with staff and other PSPs, to help develop a safe and patient-orientated organisation. Ability to provide a patient, carer, or lay person perspective and to put forward views on behalf of the wider community groups of patients Commitment to maintaining high standards, with a commitment to being open and honest. Ability to plan time to prepare for meetings and undertake any other activities required as part of the role. Ability to undertake training as required. An understanding of the importance of confidentiality, safeguarding and equality and diversity. Sound judgement and an ability to be objective. An open and honest outlook Willingness to listen and to question with an objective viewpoint. Ability to reflect the different perspectives within the community and act as a voice for patients Be supportive and innovative in delivery change within the service.
Desirable
Ability to communicate well in writing and read comprehensive reports. Ability to understand and evaluate a range of information and evidence Confidence to communicate well verbally with senior leaders about strategic issues, as an advocate for patient safety. Experience of championing health improvements; able to be a critical friend. Interaction with multiple stakeholders at senior management level. Personal integrity and commitment to openness, inclusiveness and high standards.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Independent Health Group
Address 8 The Office Village
Bath Business Park
Peasedown St John
BA2 8SG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.ihg.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)