Head of Quality and Governance

Mountain Healthcare is the UK’s leading provider of specialist healthcare services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse. We deliver expert, trauma informed care across the country and are trusted by police forces, NHS partners, and local authorities to provide safe, responsive, and compassionate services. We are looking for a Head of Quality and Governance to lead our national strategy on patient safety, regulatory compliance, and clinical excellence. In this senior leadership role, you will drive continuous improvement, oversee CQC readiness, and ensure alignment with key accreditation frameworks including ISO standards. If you are an experienced healthcare leader with a strong track record in quality, governance, and service improvement, this is your chance to make a real impact at scale in an organisation with purpose. Why Join Us? This opportunity represents a chance to play a pivotal role in shaping safe, high quality care across the UK. You will join a mission driven organisation where your expertise and leadership will directly improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in society. About the RoleAs Head of Quality and Governance, you will lead our national strategy for quality assurance, clinical governance, patient safety and regulatory compliance. This is a high-impact role, shaping how we monitor, improve and maintain standards across all Mountain Healthcare services. You will oversee regulatory inspections, support accreditation processes, and embed a culture of continuous learning. You’ll manage a skilled team, work closely with senior leaders and stakeholders, and play a vital role in ensuring our services meet the highest standards of care. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership Develop and deliver the organisational strategy for quality, patient safety, and governance Provide expert advice and leadership to the senior team on clinical risk, compliance, and assurance Use data, audit findings, and regulatory feedback to drive improvement and inform decision making Governance and Compliance Lead preparations for and responses to CQC inspections and other regulatory assessments Ensure organisational readiness for UKAS accreditation and ISO standards Coordinate internal and external audits, acting on findings to implement improvements Maintain and develop quality policies, systems, and processes in line with best practice Patient Safety and Quality Assurance Oversee incident reporting and investigation, ensuring timely closure and learning Analyse trends in patient safety incidents and use this insight to inform service development Support the implementation of the National Patient Safety Strategy across the organisation Maintain oversight of risk registers and contribute to board-level assurance reporting Information Governance and Data Protection Act as the organisation’s Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) Ensure compliance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 Lead on managing data breaches, subject access requests, and oversight of the external DPO Oversee staff training and policy compliance in information governanceHealth and Safety Oversight Manage health and safety procedures and reporting, ensuring compliance with HSE requirements Lead organisational responses to safety-related notifications and ensure best practice is followed Team Leadership and Development Manage and develop the Quality and Governance Team, promoting accountability, performance and professional development Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning and high standards Support delivery of quality training and education across the wider workforce Systems and Process Innovation Provide expert support in the use of governance platforms such as RADAR Continuously improve reporting systems, audit frameworks and assurance mechanisms Requirements Requirements We are looking for a senior leader with a strong background in healthcare governance, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. You’ll bring credibility, clarity and drive to this high impact role. Essential Criteria Significant leadership experience in healthcare quality, patient safety, or governance at a senior level In depth knowledge of CQC regulations, inspection processes and compliance frameworks Experience with accreditation standards, including ISO and UKAS, and managing associated audits and assessments Strong understanding of risk management, clinical governance and incident investigation Experience leading and embedding organisational learning from incidents and audits Proven ability to analyse safety and quality data to inform strategic decisions Working knowledge of information governance, GDPR, and data protection requirements Experience acting as or supporting a Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) Exceptional communication skills, with experience engaging stakeholders at board level Track record of successfully leading, developing and motivating teams Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel nationally Desirable Criteria Registered healthcare professional (e.g. Nurse, Midwife, Paramedic) with valid NMC/HCPC registration Degree or equivalent qualification in healthcare, quality, or a related field Postgraduate qualification in healthcare management, quality improvement or leadership Experience with quality or governance platforms such as RADAR Familiarity with the National Patient Safety Strategy