Join the AYCI Academy Now Enrol Now
Register for the Webinar
Now open for a limited time. Enrol today!
Interview Preparation

Podcast: How PSIRF Improves Patient Safety: What You Need to Know for Consultant Interviews

Reviewed and Modified by Tessa Davis

Patient safety questions are increasingly common in consultant interviews, and one topic that panels are now actively testing is PSIRF (the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework). Because PSIRF is relatively new, many candidates, particularly those still in training, may not feel confident explaining what it is or how it improves patient safety.

In this discussion, Becky and Tessa break down what PSIRF is, why it was introduced, and how it represents a shift away from blame and risk grading towards learning-focused, system-based improvement. This is exactly the level of understanding interview panels are looking for when they ask questions about modern patient safety frameworks.

Check Out the Full Episode:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RNq51qY2ZLfecKnlFKWvA?si=dpiRGm13QNuKiTRs-YYIIA

Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-hidden-truth-about-why-presentations-trip-up/id1833792151?i=1000724335496

YouTube – https://youtu.be/SHNuPQVOgXA?si=fxYVryOuw3t_YuND

Expert Discussion: Understanding PSIRF and Patient Safety

Becky:
So, today we are looking at how PSIRF improves patient safety? This is quite topical. PSIRF is a new thing, and interview panels are testing out whether people actually know what it means.

Tessa:
Yes. The thing you really want to avoid is saying, “Sorry, what is PSIRF?” Now that you have listened to this, you need to make sure you know about it. There are people still in training who will not know about PSIRF because they have not had experience of it, but you have to know about this for your consultant interview.

This is another example of a question where, if you have no idea what PSIRF is, you are going to feel embarrassed, look unprepared, and make the interview more stressful than it needs to be.

PSIRF, the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework, is a new way of looking at how we deal with incidents compared to the previous system, where incidents were risk graded as severe, moderate, or minor, and the level of investigation depended on that grading.

With PSIRF, we are trying to take a more common-sense approach. There are some severe incidents where we already know what the learning is and have systems in place to address them. At the same time, there may be incidents graded as minor where there is actually significant learning.

Under the old system, minor incidents often did not trigger investigation because nothing serious happened, but opportunities for learning were being missed. PSIRF allows each incident to be looked at individually and for decisions to be made about whether and how it should be investigated. That is the premise of PSIRF.

Becky:
Specifically, PSIRF focuses on maintaining patient safety through learning. It removes the focus on blame that existed in the previous system. When you frame an answer about PSIRF, it is important to emphasise learning and maintaining safe, effective systems for patients.

How would you approach answering this question in an interview?

Tessa:
I would look at why PSIRF was introduced in the first place. That common-sense approach is key, recognising that minor incidents can still generate important learning.

Another issue with the previous system was timing. Investigations often happened months later, by which point staff had moved on and the learning felt distant. PSIRF allows for shorter, more focused investigations, making the process more responsive and timely, which ultimately improves patient safety.

It also embeds a no-blame culture. The focus is on systems and processes rather than individuals, and on how to improve care going forward.

Becky:
If you were answering a PSIRF question, you could link it to a duty of candour example. For example, you might describe an incident where breast milk was given to the wrong baby and explain how the team investigated the systems around storage and delivery to prevent recurrence.

The focus is not on who made the mistake, but on how the system can be improved to make care safer in the future.

Tessa:
Yes, absolutely. The bottom line is that you need to know about PSIRF. It comes up commonly and it is an easy question to be caught out by if you have not read about it. Make sure you are familiar with it.

Key Takeaways

  • PSIRF stands for Patient Safety Incident Response Framework and replaces the old risk-grading approach to incident investigation.
  • It introduces a learning-focused, system-based approach rather than one centred on blame.
  • Both minor and serious incidents can generate valuable learning under PSIRF.
  • Investigations are more timely and proportionate, improving the usefulness of learning.
  • In interviews, link PSIRF to real examples, such as duty of candour cases.
  • Emphasise systems improvement, patient safety, and organisational learning in your answers.