Director of governance, assurance & quality

Job overview

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional leader to strengthen ward‑to‑board quality governance, risk and assurance across our multi‑site organisation. You will lead the Trust Risk Strategy and the Corporate and Divisional Risk Registers, supporting the Board Assurance Framework and clear escalation of risk.

You’ll oversee the annual Quality Account, clinical audit and effectiveness, and help deliver PSIRF and the national patient safety training syllabus. Working with executive colleagues, you’ll embed consistent incident investigation and learning, improve reporting by triangulating patient safety intelligence, and lead governance, risk and assurance training. You will line‑manage and hold budget responsibility for Patient Safety, Risk Management, the Medical Examiner’s Office, and Clinical Audit & Effectiveness.

We’re looking for a values‑led senior NHS leader (Master’s level or equivalent) with expert knowledge of quality governance, risk and assurance and a strong track record of leading change.

Based across Frimley Park, Wexham Park and Heatherwood, you’ll join a Trust that supports growth and wellbeing, including NHS pension, generous annual leave and development opportunities. Join us to deliver compassionate, effective and modern care—guided by our values: committed to excellence, working together, and facing the future. Apply via TRAC.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will be responsible for developing and maintaining a clear ward to board line of sight for all Divisional quality governance, assurance and risk structures, ensuring standardisation of systems and processes across a multi-site organisation.
• Champion and promote a culture of openness, transparency, psychological safety, and continuous improvement to drive excellence in clinical care.
• The post holder will oversee production of the annual Quality Account and ensure alignment with the development of the Trust’s Quality Strategy and adherence with national priorities.
• Responsible for the clinical audit and effectiveness assurance framework and ensure compliance with national audit programmes, and deliver the Trust clinical effectiveness and audit programme, and associated quality improvement projects, in line with NHS best practice.
• Lead on the delivery of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), including the development of approaches for identifying and sharing learning.
• Lead on the delivery of the National Patient Safety training syllabus across the Trust.
• Coordinate and deliver a robust and consistent approach to investigations and learning from serious incidents/adverse events. Liaise with external bodies regarding incidents as appropriate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• The post holder will be responsible for developing and maintaining a clear ward to board line of sight for all Divisional quality governance, assurance and risk structures, ensuring standardisation of systems and processes across a multi-site organisation.
• Champion and promote a culture of openness, transparency, psychological safety, and continuous improvement to drive excellence in clinical care.
• The post holder will oversee production of the annual Quality Account and ensure alignment with the development of the Trust’s Quality Strategy and adherence with national priorities.
• Responsible for the clinical audit and effectiveness assurance framework and ensure compliance with national audit programmes, and deliver the Trust clinical effectiveness and audit programme, and associated quality improvement projects, in line with NHS best practice.
• Lead on the delivery of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), including the development of approaches for identifying and sharing learning.
• Lead on the delivery of the National Patient Safety training syllabus across the Trust.
• Coordinate and deliver a robust and consistent approach to investigations and learning from serious incidents/adverse events. Liaise with external bodies regarding incidents as appropriate.
• Develop integrated reporting to ensure understanding of the patient safety profile through analysis and triangulation of data, including but not limited to: clinical informatics; incident reporting; complaints and PALS; mortality; excellence reporting; Freedom to Speak Up; whistleblowing; external reviews; inspections; and other sources working with relevant Trust leads.
• In collaboration with the Chief of Nursing and Midwifery and Chief Medical Director, lead the planning and servicing of the Trust’s Quality Assurance Committee, a subcommittee of the Trust Board.
• Provide written reports and attend relevant ‘Ward to Board’ meetings as required.
• Lead the development of training programmes in quality governance, risk and assurance, ensuring all staff are equipped to meet good governance standards.
• Ensure quality governance, risk and assurance structures support effective decision-making, accountability, and optimal use of resources to respond to national directives and patient needs.
• Work in collaboration with the Chief of Nursing and Midwifery and Chief Medical Officer to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes for our local communities.