Patient Safety Incident Response Framework

Understanding the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

At Home-Start Blackburn with Darwen, we are dedicated to creating a safe, caring, and supportive environment for the families and children we work with. While we always aim to deliver the highest standards of care and support, we recognise that sometimes unexpected events or near misses can occur.

That’s why we are committed to a culture of openness and learning. We actively encourage the reporting of incidents—not to assign blame, but to help us grow, improve, and ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone who uses or works with our service.

What is PSIRF?

The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) is a new national approach adopted by many health and care organisations, including charities like ours. It replaces the previous Serious Incident Framework and reflects a shift in how we respond to safety events—with a focus on learning, compassion, and systemic improvement.

Rather than just asking “what went wrong,” PSIRF encourages us to explore why something happened, so we can make meaningful changes that enhance safety and care.

Why PSIRF Matters?

PSIRF helps us to:

• Support and involve those affected by incidents, treating them with dignity and care
• Reflect and learn through thoughtful, system-based analysis
• Respond appropriately, matching our actions to the seriousness of the event
• Improve our safety culture, using insights to build stronger, more responsive systems

The Four Key Principles of PSIRF:

1. Compassionate Engagement – Listening to and supporting those impacted by any safety concerns
2. System-Based Learning – Looking beyond individuals to understand broader causes
3. Proportionate Response – Ensuring every incident is handled with appropriate attention
4. Supportive Oversight – Strengthening our overall approach to safety and continuous improvement

Our PSIRF Policy and Response Plan

To guide our work under this framework, we’ve created a clear PSIRF Policy and Plan. These documents explain how we intend to embed PSIRF into our organisation and ensure a caring, thoughtful response to any incident.

Home Start Blackburn With Darwen PSIRF Plan

Home Start Blackburn With Darwen PSIRF Policy

Want to know more about PSIRF?

More information about PSIRF can be found on NHS England’s website.

Click to watch this short video by NHS England to explain more.