Head of Clinical Quality and Patient Safety (Operational)
New Today
Are you passionate about clinical quality and patient safety? We're looking for a Head of Clinical Quality & Patient Safety (Operational) to join our team at Newmedica.
In this role, you'll provide strategic input to our leadership team, ensuring that clinical quality considerations are embedded into our overarching strategy and objectives.
You'll be responsible for providing strong and visible leadership to your team and by extension to the wider organisation, enabling the delivery of safe, high-quality, and patient-focused care in line with all regulatory standards.
Main duties of the job
Reporting into the Clinical Quality & Governance Director, you'll take the lead on specific work programmes, including supporting the development of ophthalmology clinical pathways, developing Newmedicas Patient Safety Strategy, safeguarding adults and children, infection prevention and control (IPC), consent, mental capacity and Professional Practice for nurses, pharmacists and ODPs. You'll develop and implement these programmes to enhance quality improvement and patient safety across Newmedica.
You will act as the organisations Patient Safety Specialist, working closely with service directors and the Head of Clinical Quality & Patient Safety (Governance), you'll develop and implement processes that meet current NHS requirements for investigating and reporting patient safety events.
Youll lead on key regulatory reporting and quality assurance, including producing safeguarding and IPC reports, and ensuring timely submissions to bodies such as the CQC and Commissioners. Youll also support the development and delivery of nurse and ODP training that promotes a strong culture of patient safety and continuous improvement across the organisation.
You'll also lead a team that provides direct support and expertise to our Ophthalmology Joint Venture (OJV) Partnerships, advising on and coordinating activities to cultivate a system-wide approach to patient safety and continuous learning.
About Us
Newmedica are one of the leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services in England, providing outpatients appointments, diagnostic testing and eye surgery. We aim to change lives through better sight and eye health.
We care for thousands of NHS and private patients a year in our specialist eye clinics across the country. We are thrilled to say that following an independently conducted survey of Newmedica colleagues, we have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the second-year running. This is a global benchmark that recognises employers who create an outstanding employee experience.
Details
Date posted
15 August 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
Depending on experience Circa £90,000 DOE. Negotiable for the right candidate
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Home or remote working
Reference number
E0325-25-0031
Job locations
Cirrus East
NG2 Business Park, Enterprise Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP
Job Description
Job responsibilities
ROLE SUMMARY
- The post holder will provide strategic input to Newmedicas leadership team, ensuring clinical quality considerations are embedded into the businesses overarching strategy and objectives.
- The post holder will be responsible for providing strong and visible leadership to their team and the wider organisation enabling the delivery of safe, high-quality, and patient-focused care in line with all regulatory standards.
- The post holder will take the lead role for specific work programmes including the Patient Safety Strategy, professional practice, safeguarding adults, safeguarding children, and IPC, Consent, Professional Practice (Nurses, Pharmacists, ODP). They will lead on the development, and implementation of these work programmes that will develop and further enhance quality improvement and patient safety across NMSL.
- The postholder will lead a team that provides support and expertise to the OJVs and advise on and coordinate activities which cultivate a system wide approach to the management of patient safety and continuous learning.
- The post holder will be accountable for the timeliness of investigations/inquiry/complaint responses (Stage 1), working collaboratively with service directors.
- The post will lead patient safety investigations, working closely with the Head of Clinical Quality & Patient Safety (Governance).
- The post holder will be the organisational statutory lead for consent and Mental Capacity
- The post holder will deputise for the Clinical Quality & Governance Director at Executive Committee and other key committees and meetings, both internally and externally.
PATIENT SAFETY
- Statutory Lead for safeguarding adults, children and mental capacity.
- Lead on the implementation of Newmedicas systems and processes, including training for consent.
- Develop and lead effective work programmes around patient safety (inc Patient Safety Strategy) that delivers the best possible healthcare to patients across all our services.
- Act as the organisations Patient Safety Specialist, embedding all aspects of patient safety across the organisation and delivering PSIRF training.
- Lead the patient safety incident processes in collaboration with services, including full implementation and embedding of PSIRF. Ensuring there are robust investigations, and that learning is disseminated across all OJVs.
- Lead the Nurses, ODPs Forum, developing and empowering nurses and ODPs in Newmedica.
- Support the development of new innovative ophthalmic pathways, enhancing the role nurses & ODPs play in delivering safe, cost effective ophthalmology care.
- Lead on a program of development of nurses and ODPs to ensure compliance with professional and regulatory standards.
- Hold the key contractual roles of Safeguarding Lead.
- Inform the Learning and Development agenda to ensure that both key individuals and all colleagues have the required knowledge, skills and training for the clinical quality & patient safety agenda.
- Work closely with the L&D teams to support the development of the mandatory training matrix ensuring mandatory and statutory training needs are sufficiently met but are appropriate across different staff groups.
- Supporting services with CQC relationship meetings and during CQC inspections.
- Work with Registered Managers to ensure all information requests are complied with, providing support if required.
- Coordinate the operational elements of contact with ICB Quality Leads.
- Lead on streamlining quality elements of contracts within the team.
- Advise our commissioning team on quality elements of contracts.
- Work supportively with Registered Managers to ensure compliance with the CQC Quality Standards, NHS Contractual Standards and Best Practice.
- Lead a clinical audit programme that highlights provision of care in line with best practice and identifies areas for improvement.
- Create a robust methodology for the local assurance of quality and compliance to support Registered Managers. Feedback findings to Registered Managers and monitor ongoing delivery of action plans.
- Ensure compliance with safety and quality audit standards, KPIs and preparation of applicable national quality performance reports.
- To be visible in services supporting Registered Managers
- Analyse, interpret and present data from a variety of sources to aid decision making regarding quality and safety delivery.
- Lead and line manage a team of governance experts and clinical experts.
- Determine skills and experience required within the team for the current and future function
- Provide credible, visible and effective leadership, using influencing skills to drive the safety agenda.
- Lead on defined projects as required.
- Devise and deliver appropriate patient safety training for colleagues within services to support the Registered Managers in their role.
- Devise and deliver appropriate patient safety training to raise awareness amongst support office teams.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the development of the team by supporting career progression.
- Ensure the organisation is compliant with any new NHS requirements relating to investigation and reporting of patient safety events, developing and implementing as required.
- Work collaboratively with the Head of Clinical Quality & Safety (Governance) regarding patient safety incidents as required.
- Ensure action plans are followed by Registered Managers.
- Lead in the execution of all necessary reporting to regulators as required, ie, CQC, Commissioners (via the Contracting Team), HSBIB.
- Produce monthly and quarterly reports for internal governance committees, clients and third parties as required.
- Preparation of subsequent of action plans and progress reports.
- Devise and develop appropriate training, as required.
- Production of the organisational annual Safeguarding Report.
- Production of the annual IPC report.
- Member of the Clinical Governance Committee
- Member of the Learning & Improvement Sub-Committee
Job responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
PATIENT SAFETY
- Statutory Lead for safeguarding adults, children and mental capacity.
- Lead on the implementation of Newmedicas systems and processes, including training for consent.
- Develop and lead effective work programmes around patient safety (inc Patient Safety Strategy) that delivers the best possible healthcare to patients across all our services.
- Act as the organisations Patient Safety Specialist, embedding all aspects of patient safety across the organisation and delivering PSIRF training.
- Lead the patient safety incident processes in collaboration with services, including full implementation and embedding of PSIRF. Ensuring there are robust investigations, and that learning is disseminated across all OJVs.
- Lead the Nurses, ODPs Forum, developing and empowering nurses and ODPs in Newmedica.
- Support the development of new innovative ophthalmic pathways, enhancing the role nurses & ODPs play in delivering safe, cost effective ophthalmology care.
- Lead on a program of development of nurses and ODPs to ensure compliance with professional and regulatory standards.
- Hold the key contractual roles of Safeguarding Lead.
- Inform the Learning and Development agenda to ensure that both key individuals and all colleagues have the required knowledge, skills and training for the clinical quality & patient safety agenda.
- Work closely with the L&D teams to support the development of the mandatory training matrix ensuring mandatory and statutory training needs are sufficiently met but are appropriate across different staff groups.
- Supporting services with CQC relationship meetings and during CQC inspections.
- Work with Registered Managers to ensure all information requests are complied with, providing support if required.
- Coordinate the operational elements of contact with ICB Quality Leads.
- Lead on streamlining quality elements of contracts within the team.
- Advise our commissioning team on quality elements of contracts.
- Work supportively with Registered Managers to ensure compliance with the CQC Quality Standards, NHS Contractual Standards and Best Practice.
- Lead a clinical audit programme that highlights provision of care in line with best practice and identifies areas for improvement.
- Create a robust methodology for the local assurance of quality and compliance to support Registered Managers. Feedback findings to Registered Managers and monitor ongoing delivery of action plans.
- Ensure compliance with safety and quality audit standards, KPIs and preparation of applicable national quality performance reports.
- To be visible in services supporting Registered Managers
- Analyse, interpret and present data from a variety of sources to aid decision making regarding quality and safety delivery.
- Lead and line manage a team of governance experts and clinical experts.
- Determine skills and experience required within the team for the current and future function
- Provide credible, visible and effective leadership, using influencing skills to drive the safety agenda.
- Lead on defined projects as required.
- Devise and deliver appropriate patient safety training for colleagues within services to support the Registered Managers in their role.
- Devise and deliver appropriate patient safety training to raise awareness amongst support office teams.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the development of the team by supporting career progression.
- Ensure the organisation is compliant with any new NHS requirements relating to investigation and reporting of patient safety events, developing and implementing as required.
- Work collaboratively with the Head of Clinical Quality & Safety (Governance) regarding patient safety incidents as required.
- Ensure action plans are followed by Registered Managers.
- Lead in the execution of all necessary reporting to regulators as required, ie, CQC, Commissioners (via the Contracting Team), HSBIB.
- Produce monthly and quarterly reports for internal governance committees, clients and third parties as required.
- Preparation of subsequent of action plans and progress reports.
- Devise and develop appropriate training, as required.
- Production of the organisational annual Safeguarding Report.
- Production of the annual IPC report.
- Member of the Clinical Governance Committee
- Member of the Learning & Improvement Sub-Committee
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered professional with NMC registration
- Masters qualification or equivalent
- Ophthalmology certification or equivalent recent experience
Essential
- Evidence of personal achievement transforming healthcare services and improving patient experience
- Evidence of ensuring the provision of clinically and regulatory safe services
- Knowledge and understanding of the key national and policy initiatives and drivers relating to clinical and medical governance standards
- Knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues, including national and local governance, patient experience policy drivers
- The ability to cope with complex organisational issues and manage competing agendas
- Knowledge and understanding of clinical performance systems
- In depth knowledge of national regulatory frameworks
- The ability to inspire staff with authentic and credible leadership qualities
- The ability to lead and motivate others, strong influencing, and negotiation skills
- Able to make and implement complex decisions in a time of competing priorities and needs
- Well developed project management skills and the ability to deliver results
- The ability to see "bigger picture", wider issues and challenges when leading key pieces of work and developing strategy
- Strong influencing, negotiating, motivational and facilitation skills
- Strong analytical and interpretation skills
- The ability to work in partnership
- Ability to travel across sites nationally on a weekly basis
Essential
- Experience of senior leadership roles in healthcare, patient safety and quality with demonstrable experience of operating at a senior level and reporting/presenting into the Board/Executive Committee
- Extensive knowledge and experience of patient safety, healthcare regulation, quality improvement, patient safety and audit along with significant knowledge of clinical effectiveness and its application
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries and developing productive partnership relationships
- Demonstrable experience contributing to organisational strategy at a senior level
Essential
- Experience of senior leadership roles in healthcare, patient safety and quality with demonstrable experience of operating at a senior level and reporting/presenting into the Board/Executive Committee
- Extensive knowledge and experience of patient safety, healthcare regulation, quality improvement, patient safety and audit along with significant knowledge of clinical effectiveness and its application
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries and developing productive partnership relationships
- Demonstrable experience contributing to organisational strategy at a senior level
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
New Medical Systems Ltd
Address
Cirrus East
NG2 Business Park, Enterprise Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP
Employer's website
https://www.newmedica.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
New Medical Systems Ltd
Address
Cirrus East
NG2 Business Park, Enterprise Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP
Employer's website
https://www.newmedica.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
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- Location:
- Nottingham, England, United Kingdom
- Salary:
- £100,000 - £125,000
- Job Type:
- FullTime
- Category:
- Management & Operations, Engineering