Aderonke Opawande

Patient Safety Specialist · Founder, SoughtOut SafeSystems Ltd

I help healthcare organisations identify why patient safety incidents repeat and address the system factors behind them.

My work focuses on structured incident analysis: identifying patterns across data, distinguishing system-level risks from individual events, and translating findings into practical learning that reaches frontline practice and governance. The methodology at the centre of this work is CASCADE, a practitioner-level framework developed from direct NHS application and grounded in systems thinking and human factors evidence.

I am a registered nurse with clinical and patient safety experience across acute hospitals, mental health services, community care, and social care settings. I have also worked in healthcare contexts in Nigeria and the USA, which gives me a comparative perspective on how different systems organise safety, accountability, and learning , and where the structural gaps tend to appear regardless of context.

"The most dangerous gap in patient safety is not the absence of data. It is the absence of a system to learn from it."

I founded SoughtOut SafeSystems Ltd to apply this methodology at scale, working with NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Systems, and healthcare organisations who need more than a report. I am also the author of Patient Safety 101: A Practical Guide to Patient Safety for Nurses, written for nurses worldwide with particular focus on those navigating new healthcare systems and regulatory frameworks.

Where I Work

Patient Safety & Clinical Risk

  • Patient Safety Systems Design
  • PSIRF Implementation
  • Clinical Governance
  • Human Factors & Systems Thinking
  • Just Culture & Psychological Safety
  • Clinical Safety Officer (DCB0129/0160)

Quality & Improvement

  • Performance Improvement
  • Operational Efficiency
  • Process Improvement
  • Project & Programme Management
  • Safety Data Intelligence
  • Thematic Analysis

Research & Evidence

  • Applied Patient Safety Research
  • Peer-Reviewed Publication
  • FOI & Regulatory Data Analysis
  • Framework Development
  • Academic Partnerships

Sector Experience

  • Acute Hospitals
  • Mental Health Services
  • Community Care
  • Local Authority
  • Public Health
  • Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Workforce

Services

CASCADE Safety Review

Structured analysis of your incident data to identify recurring themes, surface system-level risks, and embed learning across teams and governance structures. The scope is agreed at the start of engagement.

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Practitioner Training

For patient safety leads, frontline clinical teams, and governance staff. Builds the skills to apply structured incident analysis and embed learning in practice. Contributes to CPD portfolios for NMC, GMC, and HCPC revalidation.

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Advisory & Speaking

Ongoing expert guidance for organisations embedding safety learning systems, and keynote input for NHS conferences, national panels, and board-level discussions on PSIRF, incident learning, and workforce safety.

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Let's Work Together

Whether you are exploring CASCADE for your organisation, interested in training, or looking for a speaker, get in touch.

Contact Me → Connect on LinkedIn