Senior Patient Safety and Assurance Officer
Our Hywel Dda values reflect who we are and how we behave. We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Throughout our recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you would demonstrate these values in the way that you work with us.
If you are registered Health Care professional considering relocating to the Hywel Dda area in West Wales please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment campaigns team directly via [email protected]
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Hywel Dda University Health Board reserve the right to close vacancies after 24 hours if a large number of suitable applications are received. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration for a post.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, innovative and highly motivated individual to join the Quality Assurance and Safety Team as a Senior Patient Safety and Assurance Officer, to support the Health Board in focusing on incident management and assurance activities. The key purpose of the role is to support clinical services with incident investigation and management, as well as investigating a caseload of incidents, in an independent professional manner.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work with the Assistant Patient Safety and Assurance Manager to support, via a business partner model, specific clinical services incident investigation processes and inspection and quality assurance activities. To achieve this, the post holder will lead on delivering against a range of objectives, which will include but are not limited to:
-day-to-day oversight of incidents raised in the Health Board
-identification of incidents requiring escalation / scrutiny
-managing a caseload of investigations efficiently and effectively for learning
-provision of advice and support to colleagues on areas within their remit
-line management of a small team of Patient Safety Officers
-delivery of Investigation Training to Health Board staff
The ideal post holder will be experienced in the use of Datix systems. A detailed knowledge of Putting Things Right processes would be an advantage.
They will ideally have been involved in NHS quality & safety work, with an in depth understanding of areas such as concerns reporting and investigation management.
Working for our organisation
Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.
We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.
We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.
Our services are provided in:
* Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
* Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
* Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
* 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
* Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held 12/08/25
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Educated to diploma/degree level or equivalent experience
* Clinical background or healthcare management qualification or equivalent experience to postgraduate diploma level
* Evidence of continuing Professional development
* Knowledge of the NHS Putting Things Right Guidance / Duty of Quality and Duty of Candour
* Health Board Risk Management Procedures, Legal procedures, Complaints procedures
* Good knowledge of medical terminology and concepts
* Knowledge of change management principles
* Knowledge of the patient information system
* Working knowledge of the risk management system DATIX
Desirable criteria
* ECDL qualification
* Training qualification
* Silver IQT
* Knowledge of Root Cause Analysis Tools and Proportionate Investigations for investigation of concerns
* Knowledge and experience of the AMAT system
Experience
Essential criteria
* Significant experience of working in the NHS in a relevant environment
* Experience of undertaking investigations and / or researching / providing information / advice to patients and / or the public in a healthcare environment
* Experience of analysing problems and providing solutions
* Experience of using a database and making judgements about the data entered
* Experience of involvement in developing a service or process
* Experience of working with senior clinicians/service providers and challenging them where appropriate
Desirable criteria
* Experience of dealing with distressed angry/unhappy service users
* Experience of analytical skills
Language Skills
Desirable criteria
* welsh speaker (Level 1)
Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked. To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.
By submitting your application to NHS Jobs/Trac, you are giving your consent for elements of your application data to be transferred to the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other secure, internal NHS Workforce systems in order to support and manage your recruitment and employment within your employing organisation; to be used by Recruitment for purposes of checking your Professional Registration online (where applicable).
These processes are in line with Fair and Lawful processing in line with current Data Protection Legislation especially those in relation to your personal or sensitive personal data (sensitive personal data is defined as any declared physical or mental health conditions, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, trade union membership, political opinion, religious beliefs). As an organisation, we ensure that the legislation defining confidentiality is observed such as use of data for specific, defined purposes, and use of data that is relevant and not excessive whilst practicing data accuracy and security of all held personal identifiable information (PII)
If you are successfully appointed, by completing the application form you authorise the UHB to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR).
To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK. If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.
The salary scale above has been agreed as part of the NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2025/2026 and will be implemented in August 2025 with arrears backdated to 1st April 2025 where applicable.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Welsh language skills are desirable
Documents to download
* Job Description and Person Specification ( PDF, 208.8 KB )
* Functional Requirements Form ( PDF, 640.5 KB )
* Privacy Notice ( PDF, 696.3 KB )
* Guidance notes for Applicants ( PDF, 278.7 KB )
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