Patient Safety and Quality Officer

Job Overview

Are you passionate about patient safety and driven to make a meaningful difference? We are looking for someone who brings curiosity, compassion and strong analytical skills to join us as our Patient Safety and Quality Officer (Band 7).

In this role, you will play a key part in embedding the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) across the Division. You will lead and coordinate Patient Safety Incident Investigations (PSIIs) and learning responses, support staff and families through sensitive and complex situations, and help turn insights into practical improvements that enhance care.

You will work closely with the Patient Safety Lead, divisional governance teams and colleagues across theatres, wards and specialist services, building a positive safety culture and strengthening how we learn from experience.

We are looking for someone with experience in patient safety, systems thinking, human factors or quality improvement—someone confident in influencing, skilled in listening, and committed to delivering high‑quality, compassionate care.

In return, you will join a division that values openness, learning and continuous improvement. You will be supported to develop specialist expertise, shape how PSIRF is implemented, and make a tangible impact across a diverse surgical portfolio.

If you’re looking for a rewarding role where your work truly improves patient care, we would be delig

hted to receive your application.

Main duties of the job

As the Patient Safety and Quality Officer (Band 7), you will support the Surgical Division to deliver safe, high‑quality care by leading patient safety, quality and governance activity. Working with the Quality and Patient Safety Lead Nurse, you will coordinate Patient Safety Incident Investigations and learning responses, using systems thinking and human factors principles to analyse events and develop meaningful improvement.

You will ensure compassionate engagement with staff, patients and families, support Duty of Candour, identify themes and risks, and help translate learning into sustainable action. You will contribute to divisional governance by maintaining accurate risk information, triangulating insights from incidents, complaints and patient experience, and supporting quality assurance and regulatory preparedness.

Alongside this, you will promote quality improvement, encourage innovation, and help teams use data to enhance care. You will support oversight of complaints, ensuring that investigations are timely and lead to improvements in patient experience.

This role also provides visible leadership across the division. You will build effective relationships with clinical and operational teams, offer expert advice, coach colleagues and line manage members of the patient safety and quality team. You will produce clear, high‑quality reports, support monitoring of the safety agend

a and contribute to digital developments that strengthen patient safety.

Working for our organisation

At the RUH we put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone’s contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on.

We are proud to be in the top 20 best hospitals to work for in the country.

We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks – celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger.

A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential.

We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We’ve even got a pool!

We are committed to supporting you and hope you want to join our team. In the meantime, find out more about living and working the beautiful historic city of Bath, learn about our extensive package of staff benefits, and read about how we’re providing healthcare fit for the future with the landmark Dyson Cancer Centre and our passion for research.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The Patient Safety and Quality Officer (Band 7) plays a vital role in supporting the Surgical Division to deliver safe, high‑quality care. Working alongside the Quality and Patient Safety Lead Nurse, you will provide specialist patient safety, quality and governance support across a large and diverse portfolio including theatres, anaesthetics, critical care, trauma and orthopaedics, ENT, ophthalmology and surgical wards.

You will lead and coordinate Patient Safety Incident Investigations (PSIIs) and learning responses in line with the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), using systems thinking, human factors principles and recognised investigation tools. You will analyse events, identify contributory factors, produce high‑quality reports and support teams to develop meaningful, sustainable safety actions. Compassionate engagement with staff, patients and families is central to the role, including supporting Duty of Candour and ensuring an open, fair and supportive safety culture.

The role contributes to divisional governance through expert advice on risk assessment and mitigation, maintaining accurate risk registers, triangulating insights from incidents, complaints and patient experience, and supporting regulatory and assurance processes. You will also assist with clinical effectiveness activity, audit coordination and data quality.

Quality improvement is a core part of the role. You will help embed improvement approaches across specialtie

s, working with clinical teams and QI colleagues to spread good practice, interpret data and drive measurable improvements. You will also support complaint reviews, ensuring investigations are high‑quality and lead to service improvements.

As a visible leader, you will build strong relationships with clinical and operational teams, provide coaching and expertise, and line manage staff within the patient safety and quality function. You will represent the division in governance meetings, produce clear and insightful reports, and help strengthen digital systems that support patient safety.

This role requires curiosity, compassion and confidence, alongside strong analytical skills and the ability to influence across professional groups. It offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on safety, culture and patient experience within a high‑performing Surgical Division.

Person specification

Qualifications And Training

Essential criteria

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent working experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development in patient safety and quality & improvement
• Professional registration with the NMC or HCPC
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Teaching or training qualification
• Recognised qualification in patient safety and quality improvement (e.g. QSIR)
  
  

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of the NHS patient safety strategy and how it can be implemented.
• Knowledge of systems thinking, human factors understanding and just culture principles
• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical, academic and all levels of staff
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Detailed understanding of Improvement Science and knowledge and experience of developments in the field.
• Experience of involvement in front line delivery of multiple quality improvement programmes and initiatives.
  
  

Please note - Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered unless an alternative right to work solution can be provided. Candidates requiring sponsorship (or will need sponsorship at the end of a current visa e.g. those with graduate visa's) should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying: Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if we receive a high number of applications. We strongly encourage you to complete and submit your application in good time to ensure it can be considered.

Documents to download

• Job description (PDF, 432.4KB)
• Join the RUH (PDF, 1.1MB)
  
  

Further details / informal visits contact

Name Alaina Blachford Job title Quality and Patient Safety Lead Nurse for Surgery Email address ablachford@nhs.net