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Medway Community Healthcare

Patient safety and quality improvement lead

The closing date is 19 January 2026

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Job summary

Are you interested in utilising or expanding your knowledge of patient safety and quality improvement, if yes, then Medway Community Healthcare has an exciting opportunity for you?

There is a Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Lead role within the Quality team, it is a one-year fixed term contract. It is a chance to work closely with other subject experts and operational services to deliver on MCH's commitment to lead the way in excellent healthcare and to continually improve the care provided to patients and their families and carers.

Main duties of the job

As part of the Quality Team this role provides compassionate, collaborative and innovative senior leadership, visibility and subject expert support to the patient safety and quality improvement agenda within the organisation. The post holder will be expected to play a key role in the continued development and delivery of MCH's Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) and Quality Improvement (Qi) Framework in order to support delivery of safe, effective high-quality care.

About us

So what else?

  • This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
  • We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
  • We'll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
  • You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

  • Informal visits can be arranged on request.
  • We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
  • MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

813-260-0126-LB

Job locations

MCH House / Home

21 Bailey Drive

Gillingham

ME8 0PZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

This role will support the Chief Nurse, Interim Deputy Chief Nurse and wider quality team to ensure that MCH is fully compliant with all regulatory requirements to deliver strong quality governance and prepared for any regulatory activity such as a CQC inspection.

The post holder should be passionate about patient safety and quality improvement so they can partner with service managers, clinical leads and operational staff to deliver best practice and demonstrable improvements.

The post holder needs to have a working knowledge of patient safety learning and quality improvement methodology in order to support continuous learning and improvement, identification of themes and trends and positive change across MCH.

This role will involve the development and implementation of a range of quality and safety training for MCH staff and teams.

The post holder is expected to be a Patient Safety Specialist (PSS). As a PSS this will mean leading and supporting patient safety reporting and improvement activity, ensuring that systems thinking, human factors understanding and just culture principles are embedded in all patientsafety processes. They will be required to undertake, co-ordinate and report on patient safety incident investigations, structured judgement reviews, after action reviews and other learning response activities.

The post holder is expected to be a Quality Improvement Practitioner this will mean leading and supporting a structured approach to improving outcomes and work processes. They will be required to engage staff in and support staff through Qi projects ensuring the impact of theiractivity is captured and evidenced.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role will support the Chief Nurse, Interim Deputy Chief Nurse and wider quality team to ensure that MCH is fully compliant with all regulatory requirements to deliver strong quality governance and prepared for any regulatory activity such as a CQC inspection.

The post holder should be passionate about patient safety and quality improvement so they can partner with service managers, clinical leads and operational staff to deliver best practice and demonstrable improvements.

The post holder needs to have a working knowledge of patient safety learning and quality improvement methodology in order to support continuous learning and improvement, identification of themes and trends and positive change across MCH.

This role will involve the development and implementation of a range of quality and safety training for MCH staff and teams.

The post holder is expected to be a Patient Safety Specialist (PSS). As a PSS this will mean leading and supporting patient safety reporting and improvement activity, ensuring that systems thinking, human factors understanding and just culture principles are embedded in all patientsafety processes. They will be required to undertake, co-ordinate and report on patient safety incident investigations, structured judgement reviews, after action reviews and other learning response activities.

The post holder is expected to be a Quality Improvement Practitioner this will mean leading and supporting a structured approach to improving outcomes and work processes. They will be required to engage staff in and support staff through Qi projects ensuring the impact of theiractivity is captured and evidenced.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level
  • Registered health care professional
  • Professional knowledge acquired through extensive experience in service and / or working towards formal training equivalent to master's level

Desirable

  • Coaching qualification
  • Management qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Worked at a clinical senior leadership level in a complex environment (preferably community care)
  • Worked collaboratively in a multi professional environment and with other organisations

Desirable

  • Experience in project / change management in a healthcare environment
  • Experience of utilising outcome measurements including clinical audit
  • Experience of policy and strategy writing

Knowledge

Essential

  • Continuing professional development and professional development with emphasis on patient safety and quality improvement
  • Patient Safety Specialist and Qi qualification or willingness to undertake both at the earliest opportunity
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of national policy drivers and quality standards relating to patient safety and Qi
  • Working knowledge of clinical governance
  • Knowledge of safeguarding and the legal duties expected of a healthcare organisation
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level
  • Registered health care professional
  • Professional knowledge acquired through extensive experience in service and / or working towards formal training equivalent to master's level

Desirable

  • Coaching qualification
  • Management qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Worked at a clinical senior leadership level in a complex environment (preferably community care)
  • Worked collaboratively in a multi professional environment and with other organisations

Desirable

  • Experience in project / change management in a healthcare environment
  • Experience of utilising outcome measurements including clinical audit
  • Experience of policy and strategy writing

Knowledge

Essential

  • Continuing professional development and professional development with emphasis on patient safety and quality improvement
  • Patient Safety Specialist and Qi qualification or willingness to undertake both at the earliest opportunity
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of national policy drivers and quality standards relating to patient safety and Qi
  • Working knowledge of clinical governance
  • Knowledge of safeguarding and the legal duties expected of a healthcare organisation

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Medway Community Healthcare

Address

MCH House / Home

21 Bailey Drive

Gillingham

ME8 0PZ


Employer's website

https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Medway Community Healthcare

Address

MCH House / Home

21 Bailey Drive

Gillingham

ME8 0PZ


Employer's website

https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Interim Deputy Chief Nurse

Sarah Charles

sarah.charles2@nhs.net

07768045418

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

813-260-0126-LB

Job locations

MCH House / Home

21 Bailey Drive

Gillingham

ME8 0PZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Medway Community Healthcare's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)