When a paediatric and neonatal serious adverse patient safety event (SAPSE) occurs at a Victorian public health service, the service is recommended to have a coordinated process that routinely links the impacted consumer, family, carer and/or loved ones with a Dedicated Family Support Partner (DFSP).
The DFSP should be a staff member of the health service who is familiar with the SAPSE review process and has specialised, culturally informed consumer engagement skills to provide support throughout the process.
Having a DFSP allows those impacted to have one consistent person to communicate with who can support them through this difficult time.
Updated policies and resources
Victorian sentinel events guide | Safer Care Victoria
Policy and guideline for Adverse patient safety events | Safer Care Victoria
Involving impacted consumers – Adverse events | Safer Care Victoria
Statutory and policy requirement considerations for health services
Statutory Duty of Candour (SDC) | Safer Care Victoria
Patient Safety Review Standards | Victorian Sentinel Event Review policy | Safer Care Victoria
Compassionate engagement with patients, families and carers | Safer Care Victoria
Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) compassionate engagement principles | PSIRF
Recommended training and support
Training modules on SDC and Open Disclosure requirements | Safer Care Victoria
Trauma-informed engagement | health.vic.gov.au
Managing distress and conflict - Statutory Duty of Candour learning module | Safer Care Victoria
Simulation-based training for high-stakes conversations (Consider relevant university offerings)
Access to peer support, debriefing, and psychological support (Second Victim support for staff). Consider health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or private clinician