Band 8b - Head of Governance and Patient Safety, Governance
Job summary
We are seeking an exceptional and motivated Head of Governance and Patient Safety to join our Governance Directorate. This is a pivotal senior leadership role responsible for driving patient safety, quality governance and organisational learning across the Trust, with specific leadership responsibility for governance teams supporting the Medicine, Outpatients and Emergency Medicine Divisions.
Reporting to the Associate Director of Quality and Patient Safety, you will play a key role in delivering the NHS Patient Safety Strategy, embedding the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, openness and learning.
You will work closely with clinical and operational leaders to ensure governance systems are effective, proportionate and focused on improving patient outcomes and experiences. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced governance, quality or patient safety leader to influence strategic decision-making, support high-quality care and contribute to the Trust's vision of delivering excellent patient care, together.
Main duties of the job
As Head of Governance and Patient Safety, you will provide operational leadership for governance, patient safety and risk management across the Medicine, Outpatients and Emergency Medicine Divisions, while contributing to the delivery of the Trust-wide patient safety agenda.
You will work on embedding the NHS Patient Safety Strategy and PSIRF, ensuring robust systems are in place for incident management, investigations, organisational learning and patient safety improvement.
The role is also responsible for working in partnership with the divisional triumvirate to oversee divisional governance functions including risk management, complaints, claims, inquests, clinical audit, quality assurance and regulatory compliance Working collaboratively with senior clinical and operational leaders, you will provide expert advice on governance and patient safety matters, support quality improvement initiatives and ensure that learning from incidents, audits and patient feedback results in meaningful and sustainable improvements.
You will also lead the development of high-quality assurance reports and provide governance support to senior committees and the Trust Board.
About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.
We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contactwestherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.
We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will lead and develop a team of governance professionals and work across organisational boundaries to strengthen quality governance, patient safety and assurance arrangements. They will oversee complex investigations, support divisional and corporate risk management processes, monitor governance performance and provide expert analysis of patient safety information to support informed decision-making.
The role requires the ability to influence at senior levels, manage competing priorities and translate complex information into clear recommendations for improvement. You will work closely with clinicians, operational leaders, patients and external stakeholders to ensure that governance and patient safety arrangements support the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care.
The post is primarily based at Watford General Hospital, with some travel across Trust sites required. Core working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm (37.5 hours per week). Flexible working requests will be considered in accordance with service requirements and Trust policy. Participation in the Trust's on-call arrangements may be required for Band 8b roles.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience of working at a senior level Evidence of relevant ongoing professional development Patient safety education
Desirable
Registered healthcare professional Postgraduate education in clinical governance subjects Completed Levels 1 - 4 of the National Patient safety syllabus Quality Improvement education Leadership/management education/training Risk Management education Postgraduate education in clinical governance subjects Completed Levels 1 - 4 of the National Patient safety syllabus Quality Improvement education Leadership/management education/training Risk Management education
Knowledge · Essential
Knowledge of developments in quality improvement science Knowledge of the NHS patient safety strategy, including the Patient Safety Incidents Response Framework and how it can be implemented Knowledge of systems thinking, human factors understanding and just culture principles Knowledge of medicine and emergency medicine services. Extensive knowledge of Quality Governance and Risk systems and processes at service, divisional and corporate levels Knowledge and understanding of the factors that contribute to healthcare inequalities and access to services Knowledge of safeguarding Knowledge of safeguarding and the legal duties expected of NHS organisations
Desirable
Knowledge of risk management, and risk management practices in the NHS
Experience · Essential
Experience of working in a patient safety-related role with an understanding of the principles that underpin approaches to improving patient safety in health systems Experience and knowledge of the components of clinical governance, incidents response, risk management and assurance function; current NHS national policies, standards, requirements and directions that relate to measuring and improving the quality and safety of patient care Experience of working in and leading Quality Governance and Risk systems and processes at service, divisional and/or corporate levels Experience of working collaboratively with patients/service/ stakeholders to improve quality of service by co-design
Desirable
Experience of implementing national guidelines and policies with the ability to interpret national advice, guidance and requirements and advise their organisation on how these should be implemented Experience in providing advice on complex professional and other people issues Experience of developing & delivering training programmes
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) . From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
