About this role
Job summary
The Clinical Governance Advisor plays a key role in supporting and promoting patient safety, clinical governance, and risk management across the Surgical Services Division. Working autonomously and in collaboration with clinical and managerial teams, the post holder will provide expert advice, guidance, and operational support to ensure high standards of safe, effective, and patient-centred care.
The role involves supporting incident management and investigation, risk assessment and mitigation, audit activity, and compliance with national and local patient safety requirements. The Clinical Governance Advisor will analyse patient safety data, identify trends, and help implement improvements in practice, while fostering a positive culture of learning, openness, and continuous improvement.
The post holder will also support staff involved in incidents, complaints, and Coroner's processes, contribute to training and education, and represent the Division at relevant governance forums. This position requires strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills, alongside the ability to manage a varied workload and engage effectively with staff at all levels.
Main duties of the job
As a Clinical Governance Advisor, you will:
Promote and support patient safety and clinical governance activity across the Division. Lead and support the management of incidents, investigations, and action plans. Support the development, maintenance, and review of risk registers and risk assessments. Analyse incident and safety data, identifying trends and areas for improvement. Provide expert advice and support to staff at all levels on governance, risk, and patient safety. Contribute to audits, quality improvement initiatives, and divisional governance meetings. Support staff involved in incidents, complaints, and Coroner's inquests. Deliver and support training in risk management and patient safety. Deputise for the Clinical Governance Facilitator as required. Support business units with all patient safety management activities. Monitor incidents and risks. Implement and evaluate changes in practice to improve patient safety and patient and staff experience. Production of high quality, formal written reports with a high level of detail and accuracy. Facilitation of meetings and ability to influence people at all levels within the Trust Receipt and communication of sensitive and complex information following an incident and investigation that may involve patients/relatives and or staff and may prove detrimental to them. Networking. Representation of division at Trust wide meetings. Provide training for staff with regard to risk management and patient safety
About us
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
In return we will offer:
Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond. Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes Key Facts:
We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day. We are the 4thbusiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week. An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country. Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily. Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres. We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres. We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day. UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.
Job description Job responsibilities
This is a varied and rewarding role requiring autonomy, strong communication skills, and the ability to influence and support positive change. The role involves exposure to sensitive and occasionally distressing situations and requires a high level of professionalism, empathy, and resilience.
Although based at the Royal Derby Hospital you will be expected to work across all Trust sites as required.
Flexible working options may be available depending on service needs.
Closing date: 02 June 2026
Interview date:15 June 2026
Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.
UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AIgenerated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers
Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).
Person Specification
Qualification Essential
NMC registration or clinical professional qualification Teaching and assessing qualification
Desirable
Degree or management qualification Risk management qualification
Experience Essential
Knowledge and application of risk assessment Incident investigation Report writing
Desirable
Specialist experience in governance and risk PSIRF experience
Skills Essential
Presentation skills Facilitation skills Clinical Leadership skills
Desirable
Quality improvement 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 University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 3NE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)