Human Factors & PSIRF Education
Build safer healthcare systems with our training in human factors, safety investigations, and governance - including the full suite of NHS-approved PSIRF courses.
Book via NHS procurement or speak to our team.
A Systems Approach to Learning from Patient Safety Incidents - An Online Interactive Course
We're thrilled to be launching a course that will transform how you approach patient safety investigations! Developed and delivered by experienced NHS practitioners who've led real-world PSIRF implementations across acute, mental health, community, and independent settings, this training bridges the gap between policy and practice - giving you immediately applicable skills to conduct meaningful investigations that drive genuine change. Check out the purchasing options, discover the full curriculum and see how this course can make a real difference in your role here.
.png)
_e.png)
Our courses are developed from years of frontline experience and national leadership in patient safety. Whether you need comprehensive investigator training, board-level oversight, or targeted support for operational teams, we'll help you find the right fit.
Not sure which course suits your needs? Contact us to discuss your organisation's requirements and we'll recommend the best approach.
PSIRF Patient Safety Incident Investigation Masterclass
A full-day workshop on leading patient safety incident investigations. Includes a worked example using an incident from your organisation, building on developing meaningful terms of reference, how to include those affected, options for data collection and writing meaningful actions. Best delivered face-to-face for maximum interaction, with online options available
PSIRF 3 Day Training
Our comprehensive 3-day course meets NHS England requirements 4a, 4b, and 4c -condensed from the standard 4-day format for efficiency. Day 1: Systems Approach to Learning from Patient Safety Incidents A systems approach is central to modern safety investigations, helping uncover contributing factors to incidents in healthcare. As chartered professionals, we are well-positioned to build capacity in applying these methods. Content: Beyond core curriculum, we include interactive exercises such as MDT systems-based discussions using real incidents relevant to participants’ organisations. This provides hands-on, simulated learning of systems methodology. Day 2: Engaging with Patients, Families, and Staff After Incidents Compassionate engagement is essential to reduce harm and enrich investigations. Excluding patients and staff can worsen trauma and hinder learning. Our decade of experience in this field equips us to deliver effective, credible training. Content: In addition to required topics, we share real-life examples to deepen understanding. We focus on systems that support inclusive, compassionate engagement and use personas to ensure diversity is embedded in discussions. Day 3: Oversight Training for Systems-Based Learning This session builds confidence in applying the Oversight Roles and Responsibilities document, which we co-authored with NHS England. It explores national context and prepares leaders to oversee PSIRF implementation. Content: Through interactive examples, we examine why oversight needed reform and what it means for provider systems. Participants assess how their current processes align with PSIRF and consider implications for meetings, assurance structures, and cross-organisational oversight. Suggested attendees: Subject matter experts within the organisation
Compassionate Engagement Training for Family Liaison Officers
The FLO role sits at the heart of PSIRF and to be done well, you need practical, hands on guidance to support the role. You are expected to maintain regular, compassionate contact with families at the hardest moments, navigate Duty of Candour requirements, manage expectations during an active investigation, and absorb considerable emotional weight, sometimes alongside existing clinical responsibilities. This training is built for people in exactly that position. Developed and delivered by experienced NHS practitioners, it gives you a grounded, practical understanding of how to engage families in ways that reduce harm rather than compound it, for them, and for you. Content includes: what compassionate engagement looks like in practice; how to involve families meaningfully in the investigation process; communicating with families when information is still incomplete; supporting yourself and colleagues in a high-exposure role; and how systems thinking can reframe difficult conversations. Best delivered face-to-face for maximum interaction, with online options available. Suggested attendees: Family Liaison Officers, patient experience leads, PSIRF engagement leads, and those supporting families following patient safety incidents.
PSIRF Fundamentals Training
All the essentials of PSIRF in one day. Designed for operational teams who need to understand PSIRF's implications for their work without committing to 3-day training.
Turning Learning into Action
Strong investigations need strong actions. We guide teams through developing safety actions using the NHS England Safety Action Development Guide and hierarchy of controls - moving beyond quick fixes to identify interventions that genuinely reduce risk.
Half Day Oversight of PSIRF for Board Members
Focused training for executives and board members responsible for PSIRF oversight. As co-authors of the NHS England Oversight Roles and Responsibilities document, we bring unparalleled insight into its background, intentions, and practical application.
PSII External Investigation Support
This training provides an overview of how external investigation support works, why it matters, and what you can expect from the process, from initial scoping through to governance and reporting. External investigators bring independence, objectivity, and specialist expertise, helping patients, families, and staff to engage openly while reducing conflicts of interest. Our approach is PSIRF-aligned, time-limited, and designed to build on your organisation's own capability.
PSIRF Governance Coaching
Monthly coaching sessions tailored to your team's PSIRF and governance challenges. We work to your schedule, bringing fresh perspectives to your current investigations - from compassionate engagement strategies to navigating complex findings.
Delivering a Compassionate Complaint Response
Complaints handled well can rebuild trust, drive learning, and prevent harm from happening again, but only when done with the right skills and mindset. This training day equips your team with a clear understanding of the NHS complaints framework, the PHSO's role, and a PSIRF-aligned approach that puts listening, openness and compassion at the centre of every investigation.
Thematic Analysis Workshop
This workshop will cover the principles of thematic analysis, and its role in summarising and analysing work completed against the PSIRF priorities. If you've ever stared at a pile of incident reports and complaints wondering how to make sense of them all, this session is for you. We'll walk through practical, hands-on techniques for spotting themes, drawing them together into meaningful insight, and presenting that insight in a way that supports your organisation's PSIRF priorities and genuinely drives learning.
NHS E Approved PSIRF Courses
PSIRF is mandatory for all NHS provider organisations delivering services under the NHS Standard Contract, including acute, ambulance, mental health, community, and maternity services. Independent providers delivering NHS-funded care are also required to adopt PSIRF for all NHS-contracted services.
Core Training Requirements:
NHS England has identified three essential PSIRF training courses through the NHS Training and Development Framework:
-
Systems approach to learning from patient safety incidents
-
Involving those affected by patient safety incidents in the learning response process
-
Oversight of learning from patient safety incidents
Role-Specific Requirements:
-
Learning Response Leads must complete a minimum of 12 hours training in a systems approach to learning from patient safety incidents
-
Engagement Leads require one day of training in patient involvement
-
Oversight Roles (including board PSIRF leads, ICB leads, and CQC relationship managers) must receive specific training in effective oversight principles and practical application of PSIRF standards
We are pleased to offer all of the courses as described above.
1
Systems approach to learning from patient safety incidents
For all learning response leads.
Training to support the development of core understanding and application of systems-based patient safety incident response throughout the healthcare system - in line with NHS guidance, based upon national and internationally recognised good practice.
Engaging with patients, families, and staff following a patient safety incident
For all engagement leads. Training to support the development of expertise in engaging and involving patients, families, carers, and staff affected by patient safety incidents, in line with NHS guidance, based upon national and internationally recognised good practice.
2
Governance Diagnostics
Strong governance underpins successful PSIRF implementation. Our independent governance reviews help organisations assess the effectiveness of their PSIRF systems, identify areas for improvement, and strengthen their approach to learning from patient safety incidents.
We offer a comprehensive set of diagnostics that evaluate your organisation's PSIRF implementation, or opportunity for implementation, across all key domains. Working with you, we identify strengths and development areas, and produce a prioritised action plan tailored to your context.
1
PSIRF Maturity Diagnostic
Implementing PSIRF successfully goes beyond policy compliance — it requires strong governance, cultural readiness, and meaningful patient involvement. Our PSIRF Maturity Diagnostic helps organisations assess where they are now and build a practical, prioritised roadmap for sustainable implementation.
Compassionate Engagement & Involvement Diagnostic (patients and families)
PSIRF places compassionate engagement and involvement at its heart, but many organisations struggle to know if they're doing it well. Our focused diagnostic helps you understand your current practice and demonstrates the business case for getting engagement right first time.
2
3
Staff Support Following Incidents Diagnostic
PSIRF requires organisations to embed Being Fair principles and build just culture, as part of the compassionate engagement and involvement work. Our focused diagnostic helps you understand your current culture and demonstrates the business case for getting staff support right.