INTERNAL/EXTERNAL COMPETITION Ref No: 2025/17 Grade VIII Head of Quality and Patient Safety Permanent Full-Time ROLE SUMMARY: This is a senior management post with key responsibility to lead the Quality and Patient Safety Department. The Head of Quality and Patient Safety will lead in advancing a patient quality assured safety programme that promotes a culture of quality and safety and the elimination of avoidable harm.The Department has responsibility to promote and support the development of quality and patient safety initiatives with continual focus on data driven strategies for patient care including improving the patient experience, clinical outcomes, operational workflows, safety plan development and safety measures. REPORTING TO:Secretary / General Manager Executive Management Team KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES: 1.Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive quality and safety programme for the hospital with associated structures, policies and processes, which are the vehicle for improving quality and safety. 2.Support the Executive Management Team (EMT) to foster a culture of quality and safe practice to reduce errors and improve patient outcomes by driving the implementation of improvements and safeguards in all areas of patient care. 3.Provide strategic and operational leadership and direction on all aspects of quality and patient safety for staff and management teams within the hospital in the provision of effective, efficient and quality assured services. 4.Provide leadership and direction in the implementation of the hospitals accountability and governance structure for quality and patient safety. 5.Support EMT to establish and develop an organization wide patient quality and safety programme and activities relevant to local needs. 6.Lead in performance improvements, annual quality initiative programme and patient safety plans. 7.Manage the Hospitals complaints process by co-ordinating the timely review and response to complaints and ensuring compliance with the statutory requirements and the collation of reports for internal and external use. 8.Promote patient advocacy and foster a culture of openness and partnership that encourages service users to raise concerns and provide feedback in order to resolve issues in a timely manner and bring about positive change throughout our services. Ensure other forms of customer feedback including comments and suggestions are collated and included in reports to relevant Committees. 9.Support Leads and Heads of Departments in progressing and developing quality initiatives to implementation. 10.Provide direction to EMT and support completion of self-assessments against the national standards and with implementation of recommendations and quality improvement plans from reviews/reports produced by HIQA, HSE and other agencies. Have a working knowledge of the HIQA Standards as they apply to the hospital, for example, the Standards of Safer Better Healthcare, Maternity Care, Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections etc. 11.Support the implementation of the national open disclosure policy; this includes the provision of education, training and support to staff. 12.Fulfill the duties of the role as the Rotundas Access Officer to ensure compliance with Section 26 (2) of the Disability Act 2005. 13.Co-ordinate the participation of the hospital in national patient experience surveys and undertake local surveys to assess patients experiences of the care and service they receive and assist with the development and completion of quality improvement initiatives based on the feedback provided. 14.Working collaboratively with the Clinical Audit and Clinical Risk Teams, identify topics for audit, resultant actions and areas for improvement with a view to improving patient care and outcomes. 15.Manage own department risks and where other areas of risk are identified through the work of the department ensure they are brought to the attention of the Executive Risk Group for consideration. 16.Ensure all new patient information leaflets are reviewed for plain English prior to approval for printing. 17.Provide reports as required by the Executive Management Team, Board of Governors, the IHA/RHA and other agencies. 18.Support and Lead Board Quality Walk Rounds. This will include reporting to Board Quality, Safety and Risk Committee with tracking and follow up of any actions or recommendations. 19.Lead the management and development of staff within the Department. ?PERSON SPECIFICATION Knowledge: 1.Understanding of the Irish healthcare system. 2.Have a relevant third level qualification. Skills: 1.Excellent leadership and communication / interpersonal skills. 2.Possess an ability to develop and maintain business relationships both internally and externally with key stakeholders. Experience: 1.Have proven experience at Senior Management Level of at least 5 years. 2.High degree of integrity and initiative. 3.Ability to perform well under pressure with the energy, initiative and resilience necessary to deliver results. Hours of Work:35 hours per week, working schedule to be decided locally by Line Manager. Annual Leave Entitlement:30 working days per year (January to December). Salary Scale:Grade VIII, in accordance with Department of Health Consolidated Pay Scales. Applications should be made via this platform and should include a current Curriculum Vitae and cover letter. Closing Date: 5pm on Monday 3rd March 202 Skills: Grade VIII Head of Quality and Patient