Patient Safety 7 Foundation
This course is designed to introduce professionals and enthusiastic students alike to the idea of patient safety. This course is the lowest level we provide; however this is the perfect way to start your journey if you are new to patient safety. Furthermore, every student that applies receives twelve months on our learning platform with access to the tutors and resources we provide. The course will be completed through written assignments and multiple-choice questions.
Objective of the qualification
Most people in the UK receive safe and successful treatment throughout their episode of care. However, the complex nature of healthcare means that there are many areas of risk that can and do lead to adverse events occurring. Most of these events are minor, but some can result in extreme harm to the patient, or in the worst scenarios, death.
To counter this, we have created a course of study that prepares healthcare professionals to manage risk effectively; this is largely done by actively seeking out and analysing potential risk, reducing the likelihood of it occurring, reporting errors, evaluating past adverse events and near misses, sharing information with other professionals, and working to prevent errors from occurring in the future.
We also emphasise the importance of teamwork. Breaking down existing hierarchical structures is crucial in promoting the benefit and importance of patient safety. Currently, many healthcare professionals feel unable to speak up even when they feel something is amiss for fear of admonishment. Patient Safety 7® aims to empower every worker within the healthcare sector – cleaners, nurses, GPs, and everyone in between – to have the authority to speak up when they notice risks to patient safety.
Having a strong patient safety strategy saves time, money, resources and lives. Every patient has the right to feel that they are respected, that their condition will be treated to the highest standard and that they are safe under the care of the health professionals working with them.
What’s involved?
This foundation training course aims to assess the learner’s knowledge and understanding around the principles of patient safety. Furthermore, the student will gain further knowledge about the impact of patient safety within different environments and situations, developing their skills during application of risk assessments. Another aim of this qualification is to evaluate the learner’s understanding around the importance of involvement within patient safety as well as their knowledge on keeping the work area safe and secure. The knowledge should be based around the inclusion of the patient and teamwork within healthcare organisations. Finally, the course looks to assess the student’s understanding around the importance of risk assessment within patient safety as well as their knowledge around the multiple ways of improving their own working environment.
Why 7? We base our programme of education on seven principles of patient safety compiled by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). These outline the basic steps that must be taken to ensure a higher standard of patient safety.
The 7 principles of patient safety:
- Build a safety culture.
- Lead and support your staff.
- Integrate your risk management activity.
- Promote reporting.
- Involve and communicate with patients and the public.
- Learn and share safety lessons.
- Implement solutions to prevent harm.
Each of these steps play a crucial role in the promotion of a patient safety culture. Patient Safety 7® uses these to form the basis of the course programme. Each one is expanded upon and explored to encourage more engagement with patient safety in healthcare professionals. This qualification will raise the standards that organisations are held to, leading to a better, brighter and safer future for the healthcare industry.
Assessment and delivery
Online end-point multiple choice assessment.
Learning outcomes
UNIT 1: UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES AND IMPORTANCE OF PATIENT SAFETY.
UNIT 2: UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF PATIENT SAFETY AND HOW TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL RISKS.
UNIT 3: UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF INVOLVING BOTH PATIENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS IN THEIR OWN SAFETY.
UNIT 4: DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY AND MANAGE RISKS.
Entry requirements
- Candidates must be qualified at Level 2 (or equivalent) in Maths and English.
- Learners must have an interest in improving patient safety standards and improving their own standards of working practice in healthcare environments.