About this role
Job summary
Were looking for a National Clinical Quality Lead to join our Quality and Patient Safety team. This is a remote role with regular national travel (2 days per week) visiting our Ophthalmology Joint Ventures (OJVs). Due to the location of our clinics, you will ideally be based in the Midlands area.
Main duties of the job
Reporting to the Head of Clinical Quality & Patient Safety (Operational), you'll provide leadership across clinical governance, quality improvement and professional governance. You'll help ensure our services deliver safe, effective and high-quality care, while supporting continuous improvement and maintaining the highest clinical standards.
You'll work closely with Operational Directors, Clinical Partners and service teams, using clinical insight, data and evidence-based practice to identify opportunities for improvement, strengthen governance and drive positive outcomes for patients. You'll also provide professional leadership for Nursing and ODP practice, helping to build capability and support the ongoing development of our clinical workforce.
You'll provide expert advice and support on clinical governance, quality and patient safety, helping services embed best practice and maintain robust governance arrangements. You'll lead quality improvement initiatives, review performance and outcome data, support investigations and ensure learning is shared across the organisation.
Alongside this, you'll provide professional leadership for Nursing and ODP teams, supporting workforce development, professional standards, supervision, CPD and revalidation. You'll build strong relationships across the business, influencing and supporting colleagues to deliver the best possible care for our patients.
About us
Newmedica, part of the Specsavers group, is one of the leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services in England, delivering outpatient appointments, diagnostic testing and eye surgery to change lives through better sight and eye health.
Were proud to have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the third year running and listed among the UKs top 30 Best Workplaces for 2026 recognition that reflects how colleagues feel about working here.
Our Purpose is to change lives through better sight and eye health, and our Vision is to end avoidable sight loss in every community we serve; we live our values every day Commercial, Courageous, Compassionate, Collaborative and Curious.
Job description Job responsibilities
ROLE SUMMARY
The National Clinical Quality Lead is a senior clinical leadership role within the Quality and Patient Safety team, responsible for setting and driving national approaches to clinical governance, professional practice (Nurses & ODPs) and quality improvement across Newmedicas growing network of services.
The postholder provides strategic and operational leadership across clinical pathways, including surgical and outpatient services, ensuring that robust governance frameworks, assurance systems and clinical standards are consistently applied. The role is central to strengthening organisational oversight of quality and safety, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and supporting services to deliver safe, effective and high-quality care.
A key component of the role is leading the development and implementation of national clinical governance systems, including audit frameworks. Through the use of data, research evidence and clinical insight, the postholder will identify variation, emerging risks and opportunities for improvement, translating these into clear actions that drive measurable improvements in patient outcomes, experience and service performance.
The role also provides national professional leadership for Nursing and Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) practice, establishing and embedding a consistent Professional Practice Framework that supports workforce capability, professional standards, and ongoing development. This includes oversight of supervision, CPD, revalidation and providing expert advice to the People team on workforce planning (nurses & ODPs), as well as supporting the development of extended and advanced roles aligned to service needs and future growth.
Working in close partnership with Operational Directors, Clinical Partners and their teams, the postholder will act as a trusted advisor, influencing decision-making and supporting the delivery of organisational priorities. The role requires a balance of strategic oversight and practical engagement, providing responsive support to services locally while driving consistency and alignment at a national level.
The postholder will contribute to service development and business growth by ensuring that new and evolving clinical models are underpinned by robust governance, safe workforce models and effective clinical processes. They will work collaboratively with support functions, including business development, contracting, procurement and learning and development, to ensure that clinical considerations are fully integrated into organisational planning and delivery.
This is a highly influential role requiring strong clinical credibility, advanced analytical capability and the ability to lead through complexity. The postholder will operate with a high degree of autonomy, using professional judgement to manage risk, support services and provide assurance to senior leadership, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, transparency and learning across the organisation.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
National Clinical Leadership
Provide visible clinical leadership across Newmedica, acting as a trusted advisor to Operational Directors, Clinical Partners and service teams. Lead the development and implementation of national clinical standards, pathways and models of care, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities, best practice and national guidance. Support service development, mobilisation and growth by ensuring governance, workforce, clinical and infrastructure requirements are embedded from the outset. Develop clinical leadership capability through coaching, mentorship and professional support. Provide expert clinical input into areas including theatre practice, workforce planning, infection prevention and control, equipment standardisation and service design. Support services to ensure optimal efficiency within theatre departments, analysing pathways and giving recommended improvements with national insights, sharing good practice. Promote a culture of excellence, innovation, professionalism and continuous improvement, supporting the sharing of learning and best practice across the organisation.
Clinical Governance & Assurance
Lead the development, implementation and oversight of national clinical governance frameworks, ensuring safe, effective and consistent clinical practice across all services. Ensure robust systems are in place to support compliance with regulatory, statutory and organisational requirements, including CQC standards and Regulation 17. Use audit, incident reporting, complaints, clinical outcomes and performance data to provide assurance regarding quality and patient safety. Lead complex clinical reviews, investigations and deep dives into areas of risk, variation or adverse trends, ensuring learning is identified, shared and embedded. Support services to strengthen local governance arrangements, including audit programmes, incident management, risk management and assurance reporting. Provide expert clinical advice in complex situations, ensuring appropriate escalation, risk mitigation and organisational oversight. Contribute to governance committees, senior leadership forums and board reporting, providing clear insight on quality, safety and clinical performance.
Quality Improvement & Data-Driven Practice
Lead the development and delivery of national quality improvement programmes focused on patient safety, clinical outcomes, patient experience and operational effectiveness. Analyse and interpret clinical, quality and performance data to identify opportunities for improvement, reduce unwarranted variation and inform decision-making. Support services to design, implement and evaluate improvement initiatives using recognised quality improvement methodologies. Lead complex cross-functional and cross-site improvement projects, ensuring effective governance, stakeholder engagement and delivery against agreed objectives. Develop and promote meaningful quality indicators and performance measures that support continuous improvement and organisational learning. Foster a culture of curiosity, openness and continuous improvement, ensuring learning is shared and improvements are sustained across the network.
Partnership & System Working
Build and maintain effective relationships across operational, clinical and support office teams to support integrated approaches to quality, safety and service development. Work collaboratively with Operational Directors, Clinical Partners and organisational leaders to align priorities and drive improvement. Provide clinical expertise to strategic projects, including service development, contracting, procurement, business development and service redesign. Support the development of new services, partnerships and clinical models, ensuring they are safe, effective, deliverable and appropriately governed. Act as a key clinical interface with external organisations, suppliers and professional stakeholders, promoting collaboration, innovation and shared learning. Support organisational readiness for inspections, accreditation programmes and external review processes.
Professional Governance & Development
Provide national professional leadership for Nursing and ODP practice, promoting high standards of care, professionalism, accountability and patient-centred practice. Lead the development and implementation of a Professional Practice Framework that supports professional standards, workforce capability and career development. Oversee systems for supervision, CPD, revalidation and professional support, ensuring consistency and compliance with regulatory requirements. Lead workforce development initiatives, including skill mix optimisation, succession planning and the development of extended and advanced practice roles. Support workforce planning, recruitment and retention strategies through partnership with operational and people teams. Lead the development, review and implementation of clinical policies, procedures, standards and audit programmes relating to professional practice. Provide expert professional advice and support in relation to clinical concerns, capability issues, professional standards and investigations. Working with Learning and Development, design and deliver education, leadership development, coaching and mentoring programmes that strengthen workforce capability and future clinical leadership.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
NMC Registered Nurse
Desirable
Postgraduate qualification (MSc or equivalent) in a relevant subject Experience within ophthalmology or within a surgical speciality
Experience Essential
Significant experience in clinical governance, quality improvement and professional practice Experience developing and implementing policies, frameworks and audit systems Proven experience delivering complex projects and system-wide improvement initiatives Experience engaging and influencing a wide range of stakeholders
Knowledge and skills Essential
Strong understanding of national standards, regulatory requirements and evidence-based practice Strong data analysis capability to inform decision making and improvement Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and approaches Strong strategic thinking and systems leadership capability Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills Ability to influence at all levels Advanced analytical and problem solving skills Ability to manage complexity, competing priorities and deliver outcomes Strong facilitation and negotiation skills
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 Newmedica
Cirrus East
NG2 Business Park, Enterprise Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.newmedica.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)