Head of Clinical Governance, Quality and Mortality
The closing date is 13 April 2026
Job summary
The Head of Clinical Governance, Quality and Mortality will provide strategic leadership and expert oversight for a comprehensive programme of work aimed at maintaining and enhancing patient safety, clinical quality, risk management, audit, and mortality governance across the Trust and its wider healthcare community. The post-holder will lead and shape a progressive quality agenda aligned with regulatory requirements, national priorities, commissioners' expectations, independent audit standards, and the Trust's overarching mission and values. This will include ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory frameworks, including those set by the Care Quality Commission and relevant national bodies. Working as part of a dynamic senior leadership team, the post-holder will deliver an effective and responsive governance service, supporting managers and clinical teams across the Trust. They will take a proactive approach to identifying, analysing, and managing key patient safety risks, ensuring robust systems are in place and that timely, proportionate actions are implemented to mitigate or respond to identified concerns.
The role requires visible and credible leadership to promote a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement, ensuring that governance processes translate into meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and experience.
Main duties of the job
Expert for the Trust in all aspects of patient safety and risk management, accountable to the Associate Director of Clinical Governance, Quality and Safety and reporting internally on patient safety & risk management issues to the Trust Board of Directors and externally to:
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- Integrated Care Board (ICB)
- NHS England
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Other external agencies
- Provide expert advice on the CQC Fundamental Standards as they relate to patient safety and advising Executive Leads as appropriate
- Responsible for advising the Chief Nurse and Medical Director on quality and safety concerns of the highest sensitivity which (may) have political/ reputational/ financial ramifications for the organisation both locally and nationally
- Responsible for overseeing and leading the risk, governance, national guidance and audit teams
- Responsible for ensuring completion of national and external audits including Specialised Service Quality Dashboards
- Provide expert advice, guidance and training to support the development of clinical practice and healthcare systems
- Accountable for the development and delivery of a range of training programmes to staff from Board to ward level in relation to clinical governance. This will include (but is not limited to) the following: incident and risk management and Duty of Candour.
- To deputise for the Associate Director of Clinical Governance, Quality and Safety in their absence
About us
Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.
We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.
Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.
Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo
Details
Date posted
01 April 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8c
Salary
£79,163 to £90,880 a year Pro rata per annum inc HCAS
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
384-CH-EMF20199
Job locations
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
Guildford
GU2 7XX
Employer details
Employer name
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
Guildford
GU2 7XX
Employer's website
https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)






Employer contact details
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Supporting documents
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