Associate Director for Quality

Job overview

Interview Date:  18th August 2026

Can be based in any of our main sites in West Sussex

University Hospitals Sussex is the subject of an important Independent Maternity Review (IMR), commissioned by the Department of Health on behalf of the Secretary of State. This is due to commence in October 2026 and is expected to last at least 3 years. The review will examine approximately 1,000 cases of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths, neonatal harm due to severe brain injury and severe maternal harm dating back to at least 2018 to understand what happened, reach conclusions on the care provided, provide answers for families and identify learning for the organisation and wider NHS. The review is, by its’ very nature, extremely sensitive. The impact is expected to be significant for the families at the heart of the review, current and past staff and the wider organisation.

Main duties of the job

The Quality Director holds day to day responsibility for running the team and the processes necessary to respond to the IMR team, families, Sussex Police and other external bodies. The tasks within the portfolio are diverse and require a breadth of experience in senior NHS roles. The Quality Director will be expected to manage tasks related to quality and corporate governance, information management, information governance, analytics, communications, wellbeing, inclusion and professional standards.  They will set up and manage the team running the Trust Contact Centre, establish from scratch the administrative, information management and governance systems needed to comply with review and investigation requirements and provide assurance to the Board and NHSE-DHSC. They will coordinate clinical and corporate subject matter experts working across different Trust functions to ensure responses are compassionate to families, clinically robust, compliant with legal requirements and cognisant of the sensitivity of the subject matter locally and nationally.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Our Quality Director will be the ultimate safe pair of hands. They must be passionate about good patient care and meeting the needs of all our Sussex communities. They will have a deep understanding of NHS quality systems and standards – patient safety investigations, complaints, clinical effectiveness, medico-legal processes, quality governance and regulatory requirements. Experience of working with women and children’s services or on a major external quality and safety review are both beneficial.

Personal attributes are as important as skills and experience. You must be able to work under pressure and with high levels of scrutiny calmly and professionally. An ability to build professional networks and productive relationships is essential – with our staff, external partners and the families at the heart of the review. Well-developed political instincts and commitment to the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism and discretion are essential.