About this role
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Patient Safety team at Health Innovation East and to lead on the delivery of quality improvement (QI) programmes in line with NHS England's National Patient Safety Strategy. The post holder will be leading on making a measurable difference to patient outcomes while contributing to the wider improvement of health and care services.
Please note that applications submitted through this platform will not be considered. To apply please submit your CV and a covering letter, by 31 July 2026, to [email protected] specifying your motivation for applying and how you meet our person specification. For an informal discussion, please contact [email protected].
Please note that CVs without a covering letter will not be considered.
Main duties of the job
The Patient Safety team leads on the delivery of quality improvement (QI) programmes in line with NHS Englands National Patient Safety Strategy. This includes working primarily with local NHS organisations to support teams in undertaking QI projects to improve outcomes for patients, families, and carers. The team is currently working on four national patient safety improvement programmes including maternity and neonatal safety, systems safety (Patient Safety Incident Response Framework), Marthas Rule and managing deterioration and medicines safety.
As Head of Patient Safety, you will be responsible for overseeing delivery of and providing quality improvement expertise across all patient safety programmes, as and when required. The post holder will lead a high performing team including programme managers and clinicians, all of whom are skilled in programme delivery.
The post holder will be the Patient Safety Lead, working with peers and colleagues across the 15 Health Innovation Networks. They will also take on key strategic roles on behalf of the Director of Programmes and Quality Improvement (QI) and lead annual business planning and contract specification delivery.
The post may change over time and the post holder will be required to commit to being flexible and responsive to accommodate the changes. They will be required to work closely with other Heads of employed by the business.
About us About Health Innovation East:Great ideas only make a difference for our health when they are put into practice. Whether were working with global companies, pioneering start-ups, universities or health providers we help the best innovations in health and care reach the people, places and problems where they deliver most benefit. As the regions experts in health innovation implementation our team includes healthcare professionals, specialist technologists and commercial advisors; our collective skill set is at the forefront of the advances being made across health and care.
The East of England is home to some of the worlds greatest science and healthcare practitioners, yet it is also characterised by significant health inequalities. We are proud to part of a national network that strives to bring the most promising innovations to those who need them.
Job description Job responsibilities Key responsibilities:
As Head of Patient Safety, the post holder will support the Director of Programmes & QI to ensure all projects are managed effectively and be accountable on their successful delivery through:
Providing leadership and programme oversight to the respective programme portfolio ensuring successful outcomes and delivery of projects Ensuring (and modelling) robust project management processes are in place for all projects including effective project governance, development and maintenance of project scopes and briefs; project initiation documents; milestones and key deliverables; risks and issues log etc Responsible for effective management and delivery of programme portfolio to the agreed budgets, ensuring compliance with organisational policies and procedures relating to financial management Providing support to the Director of Programmes & QI to establish effective resource utilisation processes across the organisations project delivery function Leading on communications and engagement activity relevant to the programmes, including liaison with national, regional and local stakeholders and system partners to raise awareness of and support delivery of projects Line management of assigned senior improvement leads, and clinical staff as agreed with the Director of Programmes & QI. Key relationships and working with others Internal all Health Innovation Easts employees will be expected to form key relationships within the organisation relevant to the role.
External in addition, the successful appointee will need to develop and build relationships with external colleagues as relevant to the role. These may include, but are not limited to, relationships with:
Clinical and operational colleagues within partner organisations, may include but not exclusively:
NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts in the East of England Integrated Care Systems and Boards in the East of England NHS England (national and regional) Other Health Innovation Networks Care Quality Commission Local Government Third Sector Organisations Patient Advisory Groups/Services Corporate duties: Support the organisation in creating an environment that values risk management and promotes the highest standards of health and safety for Health Innovation Easts employees, supported by policies and procedures as appropriate Comply with current data protection laws and company data protection policy and procedures Support the organisation in developing a collaborative working environment and a culture of innovation and positive leadership, participating in the appraisal process, as required Promote Equal Opportunities and affirm that staff, colleagues, patients and others who encounter Health Innovation East are afforded equality of treatment and opportunities. Observe Health Innovation Easts Equality and Diversity policy in every aspect of your work, avoiding any behaviour which discriminates against colleagues, potential employees, patients or clients on any grounds Work with others appropriately to achieve organisational goals Comply with the Health Innovation East values and behaviours
Person Specification
Skills Essential
Excellent written communication skills; able to write clearly and concisely, including pro-ducing reports Ability to explain improvement approaches, and methodologies, particularly the differ-ence between performance and improve-ment data Excellent oral communication, presentation and negotiating skills. Is confident present-ing to large groups and can handle challenge from senior specialist professionals Ability to prioritise, work to, and set deadlines and function effectively under pressure with competing demands Strong track record of successful project and programme delivery Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team Advanced skills in Word, PowerPoint, Project, and Excel. High levels of emotional intelligence to in-form working with a wide range of internal and external partners
Desirable
Advanced data skills, particularly around measurement for improvement methodology and interpretation
Experience Essential
Experience of line managing staff Evidence of having led programmes and projects at scale.
Qualifications Essential
Degree in relevant discipline or equivalent experience Qualification in quality improvement methodologies or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level. Evidence of continuous personal development including project and programme management
Knowledge Essential
Extensive knowledge of application of quali-ty improvement technologies within healthcare settings. Highly developed knowledge and under-standing of the NHS (politically, regionally and local) Awareness of strategic challenges facing the NHS and the wider health and care system (with a working knowledge of the Eastern region preferred).
Disposition/Aptitude Essential
Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary. Ability to work both autonomously and within a small team. Adaptability and flexibility to cope with uncertainty and change. Ability to travel within region, with occasional travel to national meetings (eg London, Birmingham, Manchester).
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.
Employer details Employer name Health Innovation East
Address Unit C, Magog Court
Shelford Bottom
Cambridgeshire
CB22 3AD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://healthinnovationeast.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)