An exciting secondment/ fixed term opportunity to backfill our Deputy Director of Patient Safety (digital) has arisen within the National Patient Safety Team until 1 October 2026 initially.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with exceptional leadership skills to to take on the role of Deputy Director of Patient Safety (Digital), to lead and work as part of the Digital Clinical Safety function within the National Patient Safety Team in delivering an effective service supporting managers and staff across the wider team and system.
The vision of the Digital Clinical Safety team is to improve patient safety though a digitally enabled NHS. The team endeavours to support this vision by:
using digital technology and intelligence
engaging and enabling people
setting governance standards, and
promoting safety innovation and systems
To achieve these aims we are improving how digital safety intelligence is shared when things go wrong and giving professionals the training and tools needed to deploy safer digital health technologies. We are also refreshing the standards that govern digital safety and building an evidence base for how digital technologies are contributing to safer care.

Lead the Digital Clinical Safety workstream within the National Patient Safety Team including line management and team oversight
Oversee the continuous product development and service delivery of the Learn from Patient Safety Events system (LFPSE)
Ensure the Digital Clinical Safety Strategy is understood by all stakeholders and is delivered utilising all available resources efficiently and effectively
Ensure the development and management of relevant strategic plans within the Sector
Ensure appropriate system and processes are in place to enable the implementation of the strategy plans in the new organisations
Proactively manage the key risks and issues associated with ensuring appropriate actions are taken to mitigate or respond
Monitoring and establishing accountability on the overall progress of the strategy to ensure completion within agreed timescales
Manage the whole budgetary implications of activity
Avoid the destabilisation of business as usual
Manage and actively promote the relationships with key stakeholders
This role will lead programmes of work to drive forward all aspects of digital safety, collaborating with partners throughout the NHS. You will have:
Extensive knowledge of patient safety and digital technology in the health and care landscape
Experience of running major programmes of work, ideally combining NHS patient safety/quality improvement or regulation
Excellent strategic skills as well as organisational ability
Considerable line manager experience with a coaching style
Superb level of written and verbal communication skills including confidence presenting to large audiences
Experience of stakeholder engagement with a diverse group of audiences, ideally including experience working with NHS and social care staff, digital health innovators and larger tech companies, officials, ministers and patient/lay representatives
Strong interest in improving safety and NHSE’s digital mission
The role’s base is flexible however there is a requirement for travel to London for occasional meetings. Where relevant, there may be travel across England with the need for overnight stays, some of which maybe consecutive.
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application