Job Introduction

Enhanced Patient Observation (SME)

Location: Mobile (UK-wide)
Sector: Support Services – Compass One

Salary: competitive 

Are you passionate about improving patient safety, dignity and experience?
Do you have deep expertise in patient observation, healthcare safety or mental health?
Join us as our Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Enhanced Patient Observation and help shape the future of safe, compassionate care across our services.

About the Role

We’re looking for a highly skilled specialist to act as Compass Groups organisational expert on enhanced patient observation. You’ll use your knowledge and leadership to support operational teams, clinical partners and clients, ensuring that all observation activity is safe, risk‑based, compliant and centred around exceptional patient experience.

In this influential role, you’ll lead improvements in practice, strengthen communication pathways, and help reduce avoidable harm by embedding consistent, high‑quality observation standards. You’ll also play a key part in ensuring safe, effective transfer of care through robust handover processes aligned with CQC expectations.

What You’ll Be Doing

Strategic Leadership

• Act as the go‑to expert for all matters relating to patient observation.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, observation frameworks and best‑practice guidance.
• Lead incident reviews, trend analysis and lessons-learned processes.
• Support complex or high-risk cases, attending MDT and case review meetings.

Innovation & Service Development

• Shape staffing models, deployment plans and rota designs based on acuity and risk.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and enhanced service capability.

Quality, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure full compliance with statutory requirements, national guidance and internal policies.
• Conduct audits, spot checks and service reviews.
• Produce client reporting and KPI insights demonstrating performance and added value.

ESG & Sustainability

• Embed sustainability and ESG principles into observation practices and operations.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work collaboratively with clinical teams to agree observation plans and handover processes.
• Support business growth, frameworks and long-term client relationships.

People & Workforce Development

• Support the design and delivery of training and competency frameworks for observation teams.
• Assist with mobilisation of new services and induction of staff into best practice.

About You

You will bring:

• Significant experience in healthcare security, enhanced patient observation, mental health, or similar safety‑critical environments.
• Strong knowledge of risk assessment, least restrictive practice, safeguarding and dignity in care.
• Proven experience developing procedures, training or assurance frameworks.
• Confident communication skills, able to influence senior stakeholders and clinical partners.
• A calm, analytical approach to reviewing incidents and data.
• Experience coaching and supporting frontline staff in challenging environments.
• A customer-focused outlook with the ability to build trusted relationships.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel.

Qualifications (Desirable)

• Relevant health, security or social care qualification (e.g., LSMS, mental health, risk management).
• Training/assessor qualification (e.g., Train the Trainer, Level 3 AET).

Who You’ll Work With

You’ll collaborate closely with:

• Compass colleagues across Support Services
• Clinical Leads, Ward/Department Managers and Security Management
• Sales & Retention teams
• Sector SMEs, Contract Managers, ODs and MDs
• Suppliers and external partners

If you’re ready to use your expertise to make a meaningful impact on patient safety and experience — we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape safer care for thousands of patients.