Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Quality Improvement

The closing date is 06 January 2026

Job summary

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP) is seeking an exceptional improvement leader to shape and drive our Trust-wide improvement agenda. This is a senior, strategic role for someone who can bring clarity, ambition and energy to building a culture and system of continuous improvement across all our services.

We are on an organisational journey to become a genuinely learning-focused organisation, one where improvement is how we lead, how we decide, and how we deliver safe, effective care every day. The Head of Improvement will be central to that ambition.

Main duties of the job

As Head of Improvement, you will provide visible, values-led leadership and bring a strong strategic lens to SABP's portfolio of improvement work. You will:

Re-energise the Improvement function and strengthen its profile across the Trust
Create a shared language, framework and ambition for improvement
Lead the development and delivery of the Trust's Improvement Strategy
Build improvement capability at scale across clinical and corporate teams
Partner with operational, clinical and system colleagues to address unwarranted variation, improve safety and experience, and deliver sustained outcomes
Ensure programmes are evidence-based, outcomes-focused and aligned with national policy

Reporting to the Associate Director in the Strategy, Innovation, Transformation & Improvement (SITI) team, you will act as the senior improvement leader and method custodian for SABP; shaping how improvement is practised, governed and measured across the organisation. This is an opportunity to work across divisions, with partners, and at system level to build a coherent improvement ecosystem that supports better lives for the people we serve.

About us

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.

We are one of the top 10 mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust to work for nationwide. Our Trust is an inclusive and supportive employer that offers a wide range of staff networks, flexible working, free parking and excellent health and wellbeing support. We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the role.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Date posted

19 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£79,163 to £90,880 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

325-7476513-CORP-A

Job locations

Trust Headquarters

18 Mole Business Park, Randalls Road

Leatherhead

KT22 7AD

Job description

Job responsibilities

We are looking for an inclusive, strategically minded leader with:

Deep mastery of improvement science (IHI, Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma)
A track record of reframing or establishing improvement systems at organisation or system level
Experience leading complex, multi-site improvement and operational excellence programmes
The ability to think beyond projects and to build portfolios, frameworks, culture and capability
Strong skills in coaching, teaching, facilitation and measurement for improvement
Confidence operating with senior leaders and Executives, with the humility and curiosity to work closely with teams on the ground
A passion for helping organisations become learning systems
A commitment to co-production, equity and embedding psychological safety

If you are motivated by the intersection of improvement, strategy, leadership, culture change and system working, this role offers the scopeand the mandateto make a meaningful, lasting impact.

What We Offer

A senior leadership role with influence across the entire organisation
Supportive executive sponsorship and a committed team
The space to shape and embed a Trust-wide Improvement Strategy
Opportunities to work with ICS partners, academic networks, KSS AHSN and national bodies
A strong culture of values-led leadership: Treat People Well; Create Respectful Places; Involve not Ignore; Be Open, Inclusive and Accountable

Job description

Job responsibilities

We are looking for an inclusive, strategically minded leader with:

Deep mastery of improvement science (IHI, Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma)
A track record of reframing or establishing improvement systems at organisation or system level
Experience leading complex, multi-site improvement and operational excellence programmes
The ability to think beyond projects and to build portfolios, frameworks, culture and capability
Strong skills in coaching, teaching, facilitation and measurement for improvement
Confidence operating with senior leaders and Executives, with the humility and curiosity to work closely with teams on the ground
A passion for helping organisations become learning systems
A commitment to co-production, equity and embedding psychological safety

If you are motivated by the intersection of improvement, strategy, leadership, culture change and system working, this role offers the scopeand the mandateto make a meaningful, lasting impact.

What We Offer

A senior leadership role with influence across the entire organisation
Supportive executive sponsorship and a committed team
The space to shape and embed a Trust-wide Improvement Strategy
Opportunities to work with ICS partners, academic networks, KSS AHSN and national bodies
A strong culture of values-led leadership: Treat People Well; Create Respectful Places; Involve not Ignore; Be Open, Inclusive and Accountable

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Post-graduate qualification (healthcare management or improvement) or equivalent experience
Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma and/or IHI Improvement qualifications (Black Belt or equivalent)

Desirable

Programme/ Project management qualification (MSP, PMP, Agile, Prince2 or equivalent)

Experience

Essential

Demonstrable experience operating as a senior improvement leader within an NHS provider organisation
Demonstrable experience of leading and managing complex improvement and operational excellence programmes
Experience of developing and delivering improvement training and education packages
Experience leading complex improvement programmes and building capability through training and coaching
Experience of line management, recruitment, supervision, performance management, and managing budgets
Experience of strategy development and implementation
Senior leadership experience within an NHS provider organisation

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Post-graduate qualification (healthcare management or improvement) or equivalent experience
Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma and/or IHI Improvement qualifications (Black Belt or equivalent)

Desirable

Programme/ Project management qualification (MSP, PMP, Agile, Prince2 or equivalent)

Experience

Essential

Demonstrable experience operating as a senior improvement leader within an NHS provider organisation
Demonstrable experience of leading and managing complex improvement and operational excellence programmes
Experience of developing and delivering improvement training and education packages
Experience leading complex improvement programmes and building capability through training and coaching
Experience of line management, recruitment, supervision, performance management, and managing budgets
Experience of strategy development and implementation
Senior leadership experience within an NHS provider 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.