Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Job overview

We are looking for an exceptional person to be a Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Trust. Supporting the delivery of the Executive Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) portfolio, the post can be offered up to full-time (5-7.5PAs and appropriate clinical PAs ) however if you are offering part-time working in relation to this role we would love to hear from you too, as this role could be undertaken by two post holders each responsible for a separate portfolio. This role can be additional to the clinical responsibility of the appointee. External candidates can discuss the exact format of any clinical role.

You will join the CMO’s team bringing your experience, inspirational leadership and influence to engage and support our people to be the best they can, delivering exceptional care to out patients. You will support the Trust's new 5-year strategy “Improving Care Together” and contribute to the Derbyshire system and wider ICB. You will support the CMO in providing senior executive clinical leadership, driving patient safety, and shaping healthcare strategy within our organisation.

In a workplace in which you can proudly be yourself, supporting you, your development and health and well-being are as important as utilising the experience, talent and potential you will bring to the role.

Interviews are to be held on the 18th September 2026.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a strategic operator able to influence and enthuse all our people from ward to board room and system-wide partners. Embedded in the Medical Leadership Structure, you will assume responsibility for, or contribute to, the delivery of corporate objectives within the CMO’s portfolio including:

• Accountability to Board for quality, safety and effectiveness of medical practice across the Trust.
• In partnership with the Chief Nurse and Divisional Clinical Directors, ensure there are effective systems and processes in place to monitor and improve the quality of care in regard to outcomes, safety, clinical effectiveness and patient experience, enabling the Trust to provide safe and effective clinical services.
• Identification and implementation of improvements in care which reflect best clinical practice and performance against national and local indicators.

The role includes leading on mortality and learning from deaths, supporting the Trust’s GIRFT programme and undertaking MHPS investigations. You will cover executive, board and system-level meetings and manage urgent clinical matters during CMO absences.

The role encompasses clinical quality improvement, working with the Divisional Clinical Directors to disseminate and implement NICE guidance and effecting change following local clinical audit, acting as the clinical voice and conscience of the patient to ensure all changes take place smoothly and not at detriment to our patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be embedded in the Medical Leadership Structure and will be directly answerable to the Executive Chief Medical Officer (CMO). In agreement with the CMO, the post holder will assume responsibility for, or contribute to the delivery of, specific corporate objectives that are within the CMO’s portfolio of responsibilities.

The post holder will lead on mortality, leading and implementing change as part of the Trust’s GIRFT programme, leading investigations and Maintaining High Professional Standards concerns as well as, when required, deputising for the CMO at executive, board, and system-level meetings.

In addition, the post will encompass clinical quality improvement, working alongside the Divisional Clinical Directors to improve patient experience and outcomes, by taking a leading role in disseminating and implementing NICE guidance and effecting change following local clinical audit. The post holder will also act as the clinical voice and the conscience of the patients to ensure that all changes are happening smoothly and are not to the patient's detriment. This post is vital to foster medical engagement for such change, by meeting the clinical teams and identifying champions.

The future direction of this role would be to be more heavily involved in the integration of primary, secondary and community care as well as delivery of transformational plans for clinical services. Effective working with the other members of the CMO’s team and corporate teams will be important and, in all aspects of leadership and care for patients, the post holder will personally demonstrate and seek the delivery of the Trust’s Proud to Care values.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.