Head of Patient Safety

Job summary
Make a Difference Where Safety Matters Most

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced leader to join our Quality and Patient Safety Team as our new Head of Patient Safety.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated healthcare professional to lead the strategic development and operational delivery of patient safety across our organisation. Reporting to the Associate Director of Quality, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that patient safety is at the heart of everything we do, driving continuous improvement, learning from incidents, and embedding a culture of openness, transparency and excellence.

As Head of Patient Safety, you will lead the Trust's patient safety agenda, supporting the implementation of the NHS Patient Safety Strategy and Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), whilst working collaboratively with clinical and operational leaders to improve outcomes for patients, families and staff.

Proposed Interview Date: 2nd September 2026

Main duties of the job
Main duties include leading the Trust's patient safety team and the patient safety agenda by overseeing incident management and investigation, embedding PSIRF, promoting a learning culture, delivering patient safety training and driving continuous quality improvement to improve outcomes for patients and families.

About us
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provides hospital and community services across Croydon through a range of clinics and specialist centres. Formed in August 2010 from the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, we employ around 4,100 staff serving a diverse population of over 360,000 people.

Our main site, Croydon University Hospital, is one of the busiest in London. We are also leading the way in delivering more healthcare in community settings and people's homes. Our district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons care for people of all ages across the borough.

Like the wider NHS, we are working hard to meet increasing demand. With the right people on board, we continue to innovate and transform our services to provide the highest quality care for local residents. We place strong emphasis on education, training and career development for all staff.

If you want to make a real difference, challenge yourself and be part of a Trust that's shaping local healthcare, Croydon Health Services could be the place for you.

At Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

Job responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for; Acting as a designated Patient Safety Specialist. Promoting a proactive, positive, evidenced-based and Trust wide approach to gathering and acting upon patient safety and quality of care information. Ensuring that staff, people who use our services, their families, carers and others receive a response to incidents, which is efficient, effective and insightful of the impact across all aspects of trust business.

Ensuring progress against the Patient Safety Strategy and embedding the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.

Facilitating a culture that improves quality through leading and managing all aspects of the Trusts Patient Safety procedures, including CAS Alerts, Quality Alerts, and the reporting and management of incidents, including never events and Patient Safety Investigations in line with current Government Legislation, Regulations, Policy Guidance and good practice.

Ensuring the timely and effective investigation of incidents and complex complaints, ensuring that regulatory duties toward duty of candour are completed, family concerns are included with terms of reference and supporting the review of the report via an internal expert panel Informing and advising the Chief Executive, Trust Board, Governors and partners on all aspects relating to patient safety, including timeliness and responsiveness of incident reporting and management and recommended action for practice development.

Job responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for; Acting as a designated Patient Safety Specialist. Promoting a proactive, positive, evidenced-based and Trust wide approach to gathering and acting upon patient safety and quality of care information. Ensuring that staff, people who use our services, their families, carers and others receive a response to incidents, which is efficient, effective and insightful of the impact across all aspects of trust business.

Ensuring progress against the Patient Safety Strategy and embedding the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.

Facilitating a culture that improves quality through leading and managing all aspects of the Trusts Patient Safety procedures, including CAS Alerts, Quality Alerts, and the reporting and management of incidents, including never events and Patient Safety Investigations in line with current Government Legislation, Regulations, Policy Guidance and good practice.

Ensuring the timely and effective investigation of incidents and complex complaints, ensuring that regulatory duties toward duty of candour are completed, family concerns are included with terms of reference and supporting the review of the report via an internal expert panel Informing and advising the Chief Executive, Trust Board, Governors and partners on all aspects relating to patient safety, including timeliness and responsiveness of incident reporting and management and recommended action for practice development.

Person Specification
recent experience in patient safety
Essential

• Recent experience in patient safety and or quality assurance

Desirable

• clinical background or registration

Leadership
Essential

• Significant experience at a senior level within health sector in a quality related role

Desirable

• patient safety specialist

Education
Essential

• degree level or equivalent

Desirable

• Masters degree

Person Specification
recent experience in patient safety
Essential

• Recent experience in patient safety and or quality assurance

Desirable

• clinical background or registration

Leadership
Essential

• Significant experience at a senior level within health sector in a quality related role

Desirable

• patient safety specialist

Education
Essential

• degree level or equivalent

Desirable

• Masters degree

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details
Employer name: Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
Address: Croydon University hospital, London road, London, CR7 7YE, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Director of Quality, Jeni Mwebaze, jeni.mwebaze@nhs.net, 02084013000