Patient Safety Partner (PSP)

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion. We deliver high-quality care, clinical excellence, research, and innovation regionally, nationally, and internationally, ranking in the top five providers of specialised health services in the UK. Our services support patients with rare and complex medical, surgical, neurological conditions, cancers, and genetic disorders.

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, valuing the diversity of our employees and aiming to recruit a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are also a leader in sustainability, with commitments to be Net Zero by 2030 for our direct carbon footprint and by 2040 for our broader footprint.

About the Role

As a Patient Safety Partner, you will work collaboratively with Trust staff and leaders to support the development of a positive patient safety culture and contribute to ongoing safety improvement initiatives. This role provides an opportunity to use your lived experience as a patient, carer, family member, or member of the public to influence and improve patient safety governance, leadership, and culture.

Responsibilities

• Attend patient safety and quality committees and meetings
• Review and discuss patient safety information and data
• Contribute to safety improvement projects and working groups
• Provide a patient and public perspective on safety matters
• Work with Trust teams to identify opportunities to improve patient safety and patient experience
• Support the development and strengthening of patient safety systems and processes across the Trust

This is a developing role, offering the opportunity to help shape how Patient Safety Partners contribute within the organisation.

Requirements

We welcome applications from people who:

• Have lived experience as a patient, carer, family member, or member of the public
• Have an interest in patient safety, quality improvement, or healthcare services
• Are confident sharing ideas and experiences in a constructive way
• Can work collaboratively with a range of people
• Are able to review information and contribute to discussions
• Are committed to improving care for patients and their families

No previous NHS experience is required. Training, induction, and support will be provided.

Key Information

• The appointment will initially be for 12 months
• Patient Safety Partners are not employees of the Trust
• You will receive remuneration for your time and reimbursement of reasonable expenses
• A full Trust and local induction programme will be provided
• Meetings may be held virtually or face-to-face; applicants should be able to attend in either format where required
• The role is open to members of the public; however, employees of the Trust, Trust Board members, and Trust Governors are not eligible to apply

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Successful candidates who require a DBS certificate will have the cost deducted from their first month’s pay.