Become a Patient Safety Partner

Could you volunteer as a Patient Safety Partner?

We are seeking highly motivated individuals who are interested in influencing and improving patient safety across the hospital and community services provided by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The patient safety partner role is a new voluntary role, which has been developed by NHS England as part of the NHS Patient Safety Strategy for involving patients in patient safety.

We are looking to recruit four patient safety partners to support our commitment to ensure that public and patient voices are heard and help challenge and shape decisions relating to service development and patient safety improvement and experience.

What work would you be involved in?

The following are examples of work that you would be involved with:

• membership of quality and safety committees
• review and analysis of patient safety related information as part of strengthening the triangulation of intelligence to support the patient safety agenda
• involvement in patient safety improvement programmes
• participation in patient safety incident investigation oversight groups
• support values-based recruitment by being involved in the recruitment of key posts relating to patient safety.

Time commitment

The time commitment for individual patient safety partners may vary depending on the areas of work they are involved in. We aim to be as flexible as possible considering the needs of individuals. However, we would ask for a commitment of a minimum of 10 hours a month.

Expenses and remuneration

Patient safety partners will be paid in line with the national involvement payments developed by NHS England. This includes involvement payments of £75 per half day and £150 per day when supporting certain areas such as strategic level committees and key decision-making groups.

For other working groups or patient safety improvement activity reasonable out of pocket expenses are covered.

Involvement payments are seen by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Job Centre, and insurance companies as income. This may have implications and patient safety partners may have to pay tax or declare an income that can affect their benefit or insurance pay-outs.

People who receive state benefits may require prior permission from the Benefits Agency before they agree to regular involvement activity and before accepting any involvement payments. It is the responsibility of the patient safety partner to establish what affect any involvement payments, will have on the payment of their benefits and to declare these payments to HMRC. Involvement payments can be declined by the patient safety partner. This can be discussed with individuals as necessary.

More Info

For more information, contact Kerry Crowther, Patient Safety Specialist, on 07920 757 327 or email kerry.crowther@nhs.net