Policy and Investigations Officer – Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland
Location: Edinburgh Office – Bridgeside House, 99 McDonald Road. Hybrid working available with some required attendance at the office.
Employment: Fixed Term (2 years). Full time (35 hours per week). Working hours: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.
Base Pay Range: £46,272 – £62,710 per annum (Band 4). Starting salaries are normally placed at the starting point of the scale.
Benefits include 40.5 days of annual leave (including public holidays), flexible working arrangements, and the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
About the Role
The Office of the Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland plays a vital role in strengthening the safety and quality of healthcare across the nation. Independent of government and the NHS, the Office amplifies the voices of patients and families, identifying systemic risks and driving evidence-based improvements that make healthcare safer for all.
Working with the Commissioner and the Executive Director of Patient Safety, the Policy and Investigations Officer will provide specialist research, investigative and policy support. The postholder will lead and contribute to inquiries, reviews and site-based investigations across NHS and independent healthcare providers, ensuring that the voices of patients, families, advocacy groups and frontline staff are heard, and that findings inform recommendations and reports to Parliament and Ministers.
Responsibilities
* Conduct site-based investigations or inspections in healthcare or regulation settings.
* Lead and contribute to inquiries, reviews and investigations across healthcare providers.
* Analyse and integrate complex information from multiple sources to support policy and procedural recommendations.
* Ensure findings inform recommendations and reports to Parliament and Ministers.
* Handle sensitive information with data protection, confidentiality and ethical frameworks.
Qualifications
* Experience in health, policy, regulation, patient safety, investigations or a related area.
* Proven experience of conducting site-based investigations or inspections in healthcare, regulation or similar settings.
* Knowledge of healthcare operations, including procedures, waiting list management, medication systems and medical device use.
* Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret and integrate complex information.
* Knowledge of data protection, confidentiality and ethical frameworks for handling sensitive information.
Recruitment
Recruitment for the Patient Safety Commissioner is managed by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman’s office. If you are interested, please visit Patient Safety Commissioner - Policy and Investigations Officer for the full job outline and application pack.
Closing date: 10:00 on 12 November 2025. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of applications by 21 November 2025. Interview and assessment: during the week of 1 to 5 December 2025.
Equal Opportunities Statement
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and in the service provided to complainants. No applicant, staff member or person receiving a service from us will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, gender, marital status, racial or disability etc. We are totally opposed to discrimination and are committed to conducting the business in a way that is fair to all sections of the community.
Seniority Level
Entry level
Employment Type
Contract
Job Function
Other, Information Technology, and Management
Industries
Staffing and Recruiting
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