Job summary NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (HWICB) are looking for a Registered Nurse or Allied Health Professional as a full time Patient Safety Lead, with a focus on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) who will oversee the development and implementation of the quality strategy, patient safety, clinical effectiveness, and patient experience. The role requires specialist knowledge of IPC and national safety frameworks - NHS Patient Safety Strategy, the NHS Patient Safety Strategy, the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), and Learning from Patient Safety Events (LFPSE) - to foster a culture of patient safety and ensure safety systems align with national standards. The postholder will lead IPC processes, drive system-wide quality improvements, and collaborate with senior colleagues to influence strategic change across the ICB. A qualification and experience in IPC is essential for this role. Main duties of the job This role will require you to collaboratively implement and continually improve the Quality Assurance Framework, ensuring providers meet NHSE quality standards. The role includes leading quality review visits to assess clinical care in contracted services, coordinating pre-visit intelligence with colleagues, and liaising with stakeholders. With a strong focus on IPC, the postholder will handle sensitive performance information, discussing changes with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring compliance with new legislation and guidance. You will address service concerns and incidents, report on progress against quality metrics, and attend meetings, providing expert advice on care pathways and service transformation. You will collaborate with system partners to coordinate themed visits to provider organisations, evaluating care quality standards while communicating sensitively with staff, patients, and families. The role ensures the accurate development of reports and effectively communicating findings to provider organisations, senior management, committees, and external bodies (e.g., CQC, UKHSA) in line with national and local guidelines. The role will require you to support IPC commissioning for infection prevention and surveillance, lead the IPC strategy, and contribute to the Antimicrobial Stewardship agenda. The role also includes escalating risks and deputising for the Head of Patient Safety as required. About us HWICB and its partners work collaboratively to commission, plan, monitor, deliver and improve health and care services for over 806,000 people across two counties and surrounding boundaries. With a workforce of over 300 employees and a budget of £1.19 billion to commission hospital, community and mental health services, it is a dynamic, forward-looking and vibrant place to work, set within the backdrop of some of the country's most beautiful countryside. We provide a supportive and collaborative environment, offering opportunities for our staff to reach their full potential and develop a rewarding career. We enable our employees to achieve a positive work-life balance through a blend of collaborative workplace attendance combined with regular home working. Joining our inclusive and innovative team comes with a range of attractive benefits including: Employee Assistance Programmes and access to a wealth of on-line health and wellbeing support Competitive NHS Pension Scheme Comprehensive opportunities to learn new skills and to develop your career within a caring and inclusive environment. Generous holiday entitlement, which increases in line with service, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave. Flexible working patterns to support work-life balance. Date posted 04 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year pa Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number 106-ICB-7051765 Job locations NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive Worcester WR3 7NS Job description Job responsibilities Collaborate with the Head of Patient Safety to apply and continuously improve the Quality Assurance Framework for monitoring provider quality standards. Lead and manage a programme of announced and unannounced quality review visits to assess clinical care delivery in contracted services, coordinating pre-visit intelligence and communicating arrangements with stakeholders. Support providers in developing and reviewing Patient Safety Incident response plans. Ensure providers develop and implement effective service improvement plans based on recommendations from quality reviews and assurance visits. Monitor and review provider progress on quality and patient safety improvement action plans, ensuring successful implementation of change. Critically appraise and report on information related to quality and patient safety standards in commissioned services. Contribute to the development and implementation of the Quality Strategy for HWICB, with a focus on IPC. Address issues identified through service concerns and incidents, seeking solutions to improve care. Report on progress and achievements against quality standards and metrics, supporting the maintenance of accurate quality and IPC dashboards. Represent the Quality Team at relevant meetings within HWICB and with external stakeholders. Provide professional and clinical advice to ensure quality is central to the development of care pathways, service redesign, and transformation. Participate in service reviews and the development of contracts and service specifications as required. Make informed decisions based on complex information when conducting risk assessments, quality assurance visits, or incident investigations. Review sensitive medical information relating to clinical investigations, providing expert advice on quality matters, particularly IPC. Support IPC commissioning for infection prevention, investigation, and surveillance in ICB services. Provide strategic leadership in infection prevention and control (IPC) and support the ICBs Antimicrobial Stewardship agenda. Escalate risks promptly, acting in the best interest of patients and adhering to Nursing and Midwifery Council requirements. Deputise for the Head of Patient Safety as needed. Collaborate with system partners to lead and coordinate themed visits to provider organisations, evaluating care quality standards and communicating sensitively with staff, patients, and families. Ensure the accurate development of reports and, where necessary, communicate findings to providers, senior managers, committees, and external bodies (e.g., CQC, UKHSA), in line with national and local guidelines. Handle and discuss sensitive performance information with staff and stakeholders at all levels. Ensure the Quality Team responds to new legislation and guidance on patient safety and IPC, taking responsibility for actions and clearly communicating expectations to team members. Maximise opportunities for sharing good practice across the health and social care system, promoting lessons learned from adverse events and evidence-based practices. Collaborate with the complaints team and Quality colleagues to collect and analyse data, using trend analysis to inform improved practice and better patient outcomes. Interpret national guidance and develop local policies for HWICB, ensuring alignment with provider contracts across Herefordshire & Worcestershire. Contribute to, or lead, the development of policies related to quality aspects. Lead or support the review of local policies based on emerging guidance or best practice. Develop plans to support quality initiatives, ensuring feedback is integrated into the commissioning cycle. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties but to give a guide to the objectives and responsibilities of the post. For full description, please see the attached Job Description. Job description Job responsibilities Collaborate with the Head of Patient Safety to apply and continuously improve the Quality Assurance Framework for monitoring provider quality standards. Lead and manage a programme of announced and unannounced quality review visits to assess clinical care delivery in contracted services, coordinating pre-visit intelligence and communicating arrangements with stakeholders. Support providers in developing and reviewing Patient Safety Incident response plans. Ensure providers develop and implement effective service improvement plans based on recommendations from quality reviews and assurance visits. Monitor and review provider progress on quality and patient safety improvement action plans, ensuring successful implementation of change. Critically appraise and report on information related to quality and patient safety standards in commissioned services. Contribute to the development and implementation of the Quality Strategy for HWICB, with a focus on IPC. Address issues identified through service concerns and incidents, seeking solutions to improve care. Report on progress and achievements against quality standards and metrics, supporting the maintenance of accurate quality and IPC dashboards. Represent the Quality Team at relevant meetings within HWICB and with external stakeholders. Provide professional and clinical advice to ensure quality is central to the development of care pathways, service redesign, and transformation. Participate in service reviews and the development of contracts and service specifications as required. Make informed decisions based on complex information when conducting risk assessments, quality assurance visits, or incident investigations. Review sensitive medical information relating to clinical investigations, providing expert advice on quality matters, particularly IPC. Support IPC commissioning for infection prevention, investigation, and surveillance in ICB services. Provide strategic leadership in infection prevention and control (IPC) and support the ICBs Antimicrobial Stewardship agenda. Escalate risks promptly, acting in the best interest of patients and adhering to Nursing and Midwifery Council requirements. Deputise for the Head of Patient Safety as needed. Collaborate with system partners to lead and coordinate themed visits to provider organisations, evaluating care quality standards and communicating sensitively with staff, patients, and families. Ensure the accurate development of reports and, where necessary, communicate findings to providers, senior managers, committees, and external bodies (e.g., CQC, UKHSA), in line with national and local guidelines. Handle and discuss sensitive performance information with staff and stakeholders at all levels. Ensure the Quality Team responds to new legislation and guidance on patient safety and IPC, taking responsibility for actions and clearly communicating expectations to team members. Maximise opportunities for sharing good practice across the health and social care system, promoting lessons learned from adverse events and evidence-based practices. Collaborate with the complaints team and Quality colleagues to collect and analyse data, using trend analysis to inform improved practice and better patient outcomes. Interpret national guidance and develop local policies for HWICB, ensuring alignment with provider contracts across Herefordshire & Worcestershire. Contribute to, or lead, the development of policies related to quality aspects. Lead or support the review of local policies based on emerging guidance or best practice. Develop plans to support quality initiatives, ensuring feedback is integrated into the commissioning cycle. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties but to give a guide to the objectives and responsibilities of the post. For full description, please see the attached Job Description. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registration with relevant professional body Further training in specialist area (IPC) or significant experience to post graduate level. Experience Essential Management at a senior level in a healthcare setting Knowledge and experience of patient safety policy Leading clinical reviews and investigations Experience of working in Infection prevention and control band 6 or above Skills Essential Significant knowledge of NHS Patient Safety Strategy/PSIRF/LFPSE Analytical and problem-solving skills Knowledge of UK Health Security Agency's data capture system & Health and Social Care Act.2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections Desirable Knowledge and experience of using a range of service improvement techniques and tools Personal qualities Essential Personal and professional credibility with clinical and managerial colleagues, with a strong sense of integrity Able to deal with difficult situations and conflict, remaining calm, assertive, fair and diplomatic. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registration with relevant professional body Further training in specialist area (IPC) or significant experience to post graduate level. Experience Essential Management at a senior level in a healthcare setting Knowledge and experience of patient safety policy Leading clinical reviews and investigations Experience of working in Infection prevention and control band 6 or above Skills Essential Significant knowledge of NHS Patient Safety Strategy/PSIRF/LFPSE Analytical and problem-solving skills Knowledge of UK Health Security Agency's data capture system & Health and Social Care Act.2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections Desirable Knowledge and experience of using a range of service improvement techniques and tools Personal qualities Essential Personal and professional credibility with clinical and managerial colleagues, with a strong sense of integrity Able to deal with difficult situations and conflict, remaining calm, assertive, fair and diplomatic. 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board Address NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive Worcester WR3 7NS Employer's website https://herefordshireandworcestershire.icb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)