Deputy Head of Perinatal Governance and Quality Improvement


Location
Huntingdon, England
Salary
£66582.00 to £77368.00
Profession
Head of service
Grade
Band 8
Deadline
27 Oct 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
13 Oct 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Essential

42 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • Experience

    Significant experience in maternity risk management and governance

  • Experience

    Experience of collaboration with system partners

  • Experience

    Experience of working with a wide range of staff to deliver effective risk management strategies and quality improvement.

  • Experience

    Experience of working in, developing and implementing systems to monitor and measure quality or risk and provide required assurances

  • Experience

    Experience of presenting and articulating governance, quality risk systems, processes and information to meetings or committees

  • Experience

    Analysis of complex issues and evidence of dealing with these in a planned manner.

  • Experience

    In-depth and highly developed knowledge and expertise in relation to national and local governance requirements in perinatal services

  • Experience

    Experience of writing thematic reviews

  • Experience

    Experience of compiling the requirements for NHSR

  • Communication

    Excellent communication skills and ability to be responsive to highly emotive conversations

  • Communication

    Recognising when staff may require further debriefing following events

  • Personal development

    Appetite to develop new skills including completing appropriate training as required

  • Personal development

    Experience managing and coordinating services to maintain safety and escalate as appropriate

  • Skills and Abilities

    Innovative approach to midwifery service

  • Skills and Abilities

    Excellent presentation and training skills

  • Skills and Abilities

    Excellent clinical skills

  • Skills and Abilities

    Ability to motivate and influence

  • Skills and Abilities

    Ability to recognise and identify themes negatively impacting on care provision

  • Skills and Abilities

    Demonstrate effective time management skills

  • Skills and Abilities

    Analytical and evaluation skills

  • Skills and Abilities

    Computer literate

  • Skills and Abilities

    Excellent verbal and written skills

  • Skills and Abilities

    Collaborative approach to working and able to communicate effectively with all stakeholders including MDT, System Partners, ICB, MNVP, Service Users & Families

  • Skills and Abilities

    Interest and appetite to support professional development of others

  • Skills and Abilities

    Ability to work on own initiative and engage with external system partners

  • Skills and Abilities

    Self-motivated, confident, assertive and diplomatic

  • Skills and Abilities

    Resilient and ability to work under pressure with set deadlines

  • Skills and Abilities

    Adaptable and flexible

  • Skills and Abilities

    Act as a role model for staff and leads with integrity

  • Specific requirements

    Proficient with Microsoft office programmes and IT systems required for role

  • Specific requirements

    Current UK driving licence and access to transport

  • Specific requirements

    Able to join and fulfil the requirements of the maternity manager on call rota

  • Specific requirements

    Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations

  • Specific requirements

    Able to work flexibly, including working pattern and hours as the priorities require

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Registered Midwife

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Degree in Midwifery

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Mentorship qualification

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Post registration management/leadership qualification

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Evidence of continued professional development

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Completion Quality Improvement Methodology Training/ or working towards/willing to undertake

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Project management qualification/ or working towards/willing to undertake

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Masters degree, working towards or relevant experience

Desirable

4 listed

Additional qualities the employer would prefer.

  • Experience

    Experience of supporting maternity services during a CQC inspection

  • Experience

    Experience of analysing the service performance against nationally required improvements

  • Experience

    Experience of risk management in other specialties/ other sectors

  • Education/Knowledge and Qualifications

    Human Factors Training

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated leader to join the maternity senior leadership team as Deputy Head of Perinatal Governance and Quality Improvement. This key role will support the delivery of the maternity governance, patient safety and quality improvement agenda, ensuring national maternity standards, regulatory requirements and organisational priorities are met.

Working closely with the Head of Perinatal Governance and Quality Improvement, the postholder will provide senior leadership for patient safety, risk management, PSIRF, quality improvement, complaints, audit, mortality review and regulatory assurance activities. The role also includes operational leadership of a number of specialist governance and education teams, supporting the continued development of a positive safety culture and the delivery of safe, high-quality care for women, babies and families

Main duties of the job

The Deputy Head of Perinatal Governance and Quality Improvement is a senior leadership role responsible for supporting the strategic and operational delivery of governance, patient safety and quality improvement across perinatal services. The postholder will provide expert leadership in risk management, PSIRF, incident investigation, complaints, audit, mortality review, patient experience and continuous improvement.

The role supports compliance with national and regulatory requirements including CQC standards, NHS Resolution maternity incentive scheme, national care bundles, PMRT, MBRRACE and other national maternity safety programmes. Working alongside clinical teams and system partners, the postholder will ensure learning from incidents, audits, reviews and investigations is embedded into practice and leads to measurable and sustainable improvement.

The role includes leadership and management responsibility for a range of specialist teams, including governance, clinical education, pre-registration midwifery education, risk management, professional midwifery advocacy, fetal surveillance, bereavement services, equity and experience and governance administration. The postholder will provide visible leadership, promote a positive safety culture, support workforce development and wellbeing, and ensure effective governance arrangements are in place to support the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate maternity care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description which gives full details of the role. Alternatively call to arrange an informal visit to meet the team.

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.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Deputy Head of Perinatal Governance and Quality Improvement with North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust in Huntingdon, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Head of service role. The advertised salary is £66582.00 to £77368.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 27 Oct 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (13 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

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