Job overview
We are seeking an experienced, values‑driven leader to join our Trust as Deputy Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness.
This is a senior, organisation‑wide role that will work closely with clinical and non‑clinical colleagues across the Trust to strengthen patient safety, clinical effectiveness and learning. The postholder will support the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness in providing strategic leadership across both portfolios, while also delivering strong operational oversight.
The role includes leading the Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness teams, deputising for the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness when required, and playing a key role in the delivery of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), clinical audit and effectiveness programmes, NICE implementation, learning response assurance and regulatory compliance.
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated leader who is passionate about improving safety, quality and outcomes for patients, and who is committed to fostering a positive, restorative and learning culture.
Main duties of the job
The Deputy Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness will:
* Support the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness to provide strategic leadership across the Trust’s Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness agenda.
* Provide operational and strategic leadership across both patient safety and clinical effectiveness portfolios, including deputising for the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness as required.
* Lead the Patient Safety team in planning and implementing service developments that improve patient safety outcomes.
* Lead the Clinical Effectiveness team in planning and implementing service developments that strengthen clinical effectiveness, audit and NICE implementation.
* Provide leadership for the delivery of PSIRF, ensuring learning responses are effective, timely and focused on improvement.
* Ensure robust programme and performance management, including oversight of national and local clinical audit programmes and effective assurance from ward to board.
* Translate data, intelligence and learning into measurable improvement in safety and quality.
* Work in close collaboration with Clinical, Governance and Network Triumvirates, building strong relationships across the organisation.
* Lead and contribute to the development and review of patient safety and clinical effectiveness policies, ensuring alignment with national guidance and best practice.
Working for our organisation
We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.
If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:
* Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
* Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
* Access to Continued Professional Development
* Involvement in improvement and research activities
* Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
* Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Organisation wide post, the post holder will work very closely with all clinical and non clinical staff across the organisation in order to:
• Support the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness to strategically lead the Trust’s Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness departments.
• Lead the Patient Safety team in planning and implementing a range of effective service developments and working in close collaboration with Network Directors, nurses and clinicians to improve patient safety.
• Lead the Clinical Effectiveness team in planning and implementing a range of effective service developments and working in close collaboration with Network Directors, nurses and clinicians to improve clinical effectiveness.
• The postholder will deputise for the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness and provide operational and strategic leadership across both patient safety and clinical effectiveness portfolios. This includes leadership of PSIRF delivery, clinical audit and effectiveness programmes, NICE implementation, learning response assurance, and regulatory compliance
• Ensure robust programme management, effective oversight of national and local clinical audit and consistent assurance from ward to board, translating data and learning into measurable improvement.
• Work in close collaboration with the Clinical, Governance and Network Triumvirates.
• To develop and devise any patient safety and clinical effectiveness associated policies across the organisation by co-ordinating programmes which recognises, reports, analyses, evaluates and minimises patient safety risk throughout the organisation
• Acting on own experience and knowledge, the post holder will achieve best practice and results, being guided by Trust policies and principles
Main Duties & Responsibilities
• Responsible for co-ordination of key Organisation wide PSIRF and Quality Priorities
• Responsible for triangulation and analysis of a wide variety of patient safety and clinical effectiveness data
• Deputise for the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness in decision making forums relevant to patient safety and clinical effectiveness.
• Responsible for line management of the Patient Safety Investigator and Clinical Effectiveness and Audit Manager and support their development.
• Provide patient safety and clinical effectiveness advice and support for Network level learning response leads
• Oversee the progression of the Patient Safety Incident Response Plan and Policy
• Oversee the progression of the Trust wide Annual Audit programme
• Oversee the progression of LFPSE into Ulysses and the Patient Safety Improvement Programme
• Responsibility to acknowledge and escalate any risks identified from patient safety and clinical effectiveness oversight
• Responsibility to support the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness to ensure that there is local and organisational learning following all types of incidents, complaints, audit and claims, actively disseminating lessons learned through the Trust.
• Responsible for triangulation and analysis of a wide variety of patient safety and clinical effectiveness data
• Hold signatory responsibility for bank shifts, expenses and any additional hours of the team
• Provide patient safety and clinical effectiveness advice and support for Network level learning response leads
• Oversee the progression of the Patient Safety Incident Response Plan and Policy
• Oversee the progression of LFPSE into Ulysses and the Patient Safety Improvement Programme
• Responsibility to acknowledge and escalate any risks identified from patient safety and clinical effectiveness oversight
• Responsibility to support the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness to ensure that there is local and organisational learning following all types of incidents, complaints, audit and claims, actively disseminating lessons learned through the Trust.
• Under the guidance of the Head of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness, be responsible for fostering a positive, restorative and learning culture across the Trust
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
* Educated to Degree level/or equivalent
* Post graduate Management/ Leadership/ Improvement qualification.
* Experience in a leadership or management level post or equivalent
* Managing or supervising others
* Experience of managing multiple projects, deadlines and fluctuating workloads. Use of governance management systems / databases
* Professional and specialist knowledge in Patient Safety, Safety culture and PSIRF gained through Clinical or senior operational management background
* Clinical Effectiveness theory, methodologies and tools
Desirable criteria
* Governance/ Patient Safety/ Clinical Effectiveness related qualification.
* Experience within a governance related area (e.g. clinical risk management, incidents, complaints, clinical effectiveness, quality and safety)
* Use of Ulysses Risk/ Incident Management Systems
* Use of Ulysses Risk/ Incident Management Systems
* Clinical audit/research methodology.
📝 Application support - We recommend tailoring your application to each role you apply for, particularly your supporting information. This gives you the best chance of success. Your supporting information should clearly explain, with examples, how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role.
We understand that some candidates may use AI tools to help prepare their application. This is not restricted, however, any AI support should only be used to enhance your own writing and must reflect your genuine skills and experience. You will be asked to talk about your application at interview. Applications that contain false or misleading information may be removed from the recruitment process.
We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.
🌍 Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the
📬 After You Apply - Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.
✅ If You're Offered the Role - If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email
🔍 Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with. These include:
* Identity verification
* Right to work check
* Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
* Professional registration and/or qualification check
* Occupational health assessment
* Employment history and reference validation
All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references.
If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.
🚀 Once Checks Are Complete -
The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.
📣 Additional Information -
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.
If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.
Please note:
* We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.
* We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and need extra time or adjustments to complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible. We will ensure you are not disadvantaged where a reasonable adjustment is appropriate.