Job summary
Join us as Head of Safety & Compliance
Are you a passionate leader with a deep understanding of Clinical Governance, Health & Safety and Compliance in healthcare? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your expertise can drive real change? If so, we want to hear from you.
About the role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a transformational and experienced leader to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust as the Head of Safety, Effectiveness & Compliance. This pivotal role sits at the heart of our Clinical Governance function, shaping the culture of safety, learning, and continuous improvement across the organisation.
Working closely with the Associate Director of Clinical Governance & Quality, you will provide both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the Trust meets statutory, regulatory, and national standards. This includes the implementation of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), delivery of the clinical audit and effectiveness programme, and alignment with Health & Safety legislation.
Main duties of the job
Responsibilities
As Head of Safety, Effectiveness & Compliance, you will:
- Lead and manage the following teams: o Patient Safety & Datix o Clinical Effectiveness & Compliance o Health & Safety o Moving & Handling o Medical Devices
- Ensure Trust-wide compliance with CQC and HSE requirements.
- Deliver systems and tools to embed safe practice, improve learning, and strengthen assurance.
- Oversee the development and governance of incident reporting, audit systems, and digital learning platforms.
- Triangulate insights from incidents, audits, complaints, risks, and reviews to identify improvement opportunities.
- Provide expert advice to Executive teams and author high-quality assurance reports for the Board.
About You
To succeed in this role, you will bring:
- Substantial senior leadership experience in a complex healthcare setting.
- Expertise in clinical governance, healthcare regulation, and statutory compliance.
- In-depth knowledge of NHS England's patient safety programmes and digital reporting systems (e.g. Datix, LfPSE).
- Demonstrable track record of leading change, shaping strategy, and delivering system-wide improvements.
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to inspire and engage multidisciplinary teams.
About us
A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.
In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.
There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.
Statement on the Use of AI
We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.
Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.
We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Health and Safety degree level qualification
- Chartered Member of IOSH or IIRSM
- Supplementary specialist training to postgraduate Degree/Master level, including relevant health and safety experience and qualification
Desirable
- BS OHSAS 18001:2007/ 45001 internal auditor
- Quality Improvement training/qualification
- Project management qualification
- Masters qualification in a related field or willingness to work towards
- Fellow of the IIRSM/ IOSH
Experience
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience in Health and Safety and compliance with national regulations and standards.
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of incident investigation and contributory factors analysis methodologies in line with PSIRF.
- Experience of regulatory assurance management delivered through teams
- Identification of themes and interpretation of national health, safety and compliance strategies
- Experience of leading and managing an improvement focussed multi-disciplinary teams
- Responsible for policy implementation and development relevant to role.
- Experience of developing and implementing sustainable systems strategies and policies for the management of non-clinical risk
- Relevant leadership/ management experience within Healthcare to be able to manage a team or department including recruitment, development and performance management
- Extensive experience of development of annual workplans linked to organisational objectives and regulatory priorities.
- Experience of leading responses to requests and inspection from regulators and specifically the HSE and CQC.
Desirable
- Knowledge of either Estates based issues; radiological protection issues, science/ pharmaceutical or chemical background
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Health and Safety degree level qualification
- Chartered Member of IOSH or IIRSM
- Supplementary specialist training to postgraduate Degree/Master level, including relevant health and safety experience and qualification
Desirable
- BS OHSAS 18001:2007/ 45001 internal auditor
- Quality Improvement training/qualification
- Project management qualification
- Masters qualification in a related field or willingness to work towards
- Fellow of the IIRSM/ IOSH
Experience
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience in Health and Safety and compliance with national regulations and standards.
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of incident investigation and contributory factors analysis methodologies in line with PSIRF.
- Experience of regulatory assurance management delivered through teams
- Identification of themes and interpretation of national health, safety and compliance strategies
- Experience of leading and managing an improvement focussed multi-disciplinary teams
- Responsible for policy implementation and development relevant to role.
- Experience of developing and implementing sustainable systems strategies and policies for the management of non-clinical risk
- Relevant leadership/ management experience within Healthcare to be able to manage a team or department including recruitment, development and performance management
- Extensive experience of development of annual workplans linked to organisational objectives and regulatory priorities.
- Experience of leading responses to requests and inspection from regulators and specifically the HSE and CQC.
Desirable
- Knowledge of either Estates based issues; radiological protection issues, science/ pharmaceutical or chemical background
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.
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).
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.
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).
