Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

This course explains how NHS organisations in England now respond to patient safety incidents under the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework, and what your role is when you are involved in, or affected by, an incident. It covers the four aims of PSIRF, the main learning response methods, how to contribute well to a learning response, and how to reflect on an incident in a way that shows insight.

What you will learn

• Explain why PSIRF replaced the Serious Incident Framework and describe its four aims.
• Describe the main learning response methods, including after action review, swarm huddle, multidisciplinary team review, thematic review and patient safety incident investigation.
• Apply a systems approach, such as the SEIPS model, to identify the work system factors that contributed to an incident.
• Take the correct immediate actions after a patient safety incident, including making the patient safe, reporting, documenting and being open.
• Contribute to a learning response as a member of staff in a way that is honest, factual and supportive of learning.
• Write a reflection on an incident that shows insight and links personal learning to system improvement.

Course content

1. Why PSIRF matters and what it replaced (3 min)
2. The four aims and the key documents (3 min)
3. Learning response methods (4 min)
4. Why incidents happen: systems thinking and just culture (3 min)
5. Your role: immediate actions and taking part in a learning response (4 min)
6. Case study: a weak and a strong reflection (3 min)
7. Regulator expectations and your learning plan (3 min)
8. Knowledge check (10 questions, 10 min)
9. Guided reflection (15 min)

Standards and guidance covered

• NHS England: Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (2022) and its supporting guidance, including Engaging and involving patients, families and staff following a patient safety incident
• NHS England: The NHS Patient Safety Strategy (2019)
• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Regulation 20: the statutory duty of candour for organisations
• GMC and NMC: Openness and honesty when things go wrong: the professional duty of candour
• GMC: Good Medical Practice (2024)
• NMC: The Code (2015, updated 2018)
• HCPC: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2024)
• GPhC: Standards for pharmacy professionals (2017)

Certificate

Courses are free to study. When you pass the knowledge check (80%) and complete your reflection, you can buy a verified certificate showing your CPD time, with a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check on our verification page.

Related guides

Patient safety

PSIRF Explained: What the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework Means for Staff

PSIRF explained for NHS staff: what the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework is, its four aims, learning responses, and what to do if you are involved.

12 min read

Practitioner Insight is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the GMC, MPTS, NMC, HCPC, GPhC or any NHS organisation, and this information is not legal advice. If you have been referred to a regulator, speak to your defence organisation, trade union or legal representative.