Head of Quality in Harrow

At St Lukes Hospice we are seeking an exceptional Head of Quality to lead our governance, quality, patient safety, and continuous improvement agenda across the organisation. This pivotal leadership role will shape and strengthen a culture of excellence, compassion, learning and innovation, ensuring our services remain safe, effective, evidence‑based and truly patient‑centred.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across clinical governance, quality assurance, patient safety, risk management and CQC compliance.
• Develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive Quality Framework aligned to the CQC Single Assessment Framework.
• Lead and support CQC preparation and help the hospice achieve and sustain an Outstanding rating.
• Oversee incident management, investigations, risk registers and quality assurance programmes.
• Champion a culture of learning, psychological safety and a Just Culture.
• Lead patient experience strategy, manage complaints and feedback and drive measurable improvements.
• Support innovation, research activity and evidence‑based practice.
• Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of the annual quality improvement & audit programme.
• Provide expert leadership on patient safety, governance compliance, and quality improvement methodologies.

Qualifications

• Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Educated to degree level; a Masters degree or equivalent experience with evidence of continued professional development.
• Extensive knowledge of clinical governance processes and risk management.
• Knowledge of CQC Key lines of enquiry, patient‑safety initiatives, and benchmarking.

Desirable Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior quality management role within a healthcare setting.
• Proven track record of leading quality improvement initiatives and achieving measurable outcomes.
• Experience managing compliance with healthcare regulations and standards, particularly CQC.
• Experience in staff management and development.
• Understanding of specialist palliative care issues and IOSH training.

Experience

• Understanding and experience of CQC inspections and user engagement strategies.
• Policy development, analysis and presentation of data.
• Leading and conducting investigations and delivering QIP projects using quality improvement methodologies.
• In‑depth knowledge of quality assurance methodologies, clinical governance and regulatory requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and drive decision‑making.

Essential Skills / Personal Attributes

• Commitment to the mission and values of St Lukes Hospice.
• Compassionate approach to patient care.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to thrive in a dynamic and challenging environment.
• Proactive and innovative, with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Ability to manage interruptions and priorities.
• Experience of leading and influencing change.

Desirable Skills

• Proficiency in the use of quality management software and tools.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a disclosure check will be required. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration.