Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Quality & Legal **Internal HDFT Applicants Only**

The closing date is 27 April 2026

Job summary

**Internal HDFT Applicants Only**

The Head of Quality and Safety has a unique and varied role responsible for managing key elements of the Patient Safety and Quality agenda within HDFT. The post would be part of a busy but dynamic team that encompasses all elements of quality and safety including PSIRF, Complaints, Claims, Coroners, Risk Manager, Compliance, Patient Experience and Clinical Standards and Best Practice.

Main duties of the job

Deliver Quality, Safety and Assurance standards and will lead on aspects of HDFT's Quality Commitment.

Work in an effective matrix style as part of a dynamic team in delivering effective quality and safety initiatives and assurance systems in the Trust.

Support the delivery of the quality objectives in the Trust's Strategy

The post holder will deputise for the Associate Director of Quality on Quality and Safety matters, supporting the delivery of key objectives and strategic goals driving quality assurance and improvement.

The post holder will also be one of the formal named lead Patient Safety Specialists in the organisation leading on or directly supporting patient safety improvement activity, ensuring that systems thinking, human factors understanding and just culture principles are embedded in all patient safety processes across HDFT.

About us

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) cares for the population in Harrogate and the local area, as well as across North Yorkshire, Leeds and parts of the North East.

At HDFT we provide outstanding care to both our patients and our staff and we value Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork and Equality. If you're looking for an interesting and rewarding career in the NHS, where you can make a real difference to patients' lives, HDFT could be the place for you!

We offer colleagues:

  • A supportive culture so colleagues can bring their whole selves to work.
  • Staff Recognition - as well as regular appraisals, we recognise achievements with our Making a Difference & Team of the Month Awards, along with annual Colleague Recognition Awards.
  • Employee Support and wellbeing - we offer a wide range of staff benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, counselling service and a fast-track Physiotherapy service.

Please note:

  • Due to high levels of interest, posts may close early if we reach a sufficient number of applications
  • Visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for a visa before submitting your application.
  • Please also be aware that the Trust does not offer relocation packages for Agenda for Change roles.
  • All job offers are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.

Details

Date posted

13 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

421-CORP-3779R

Job locations

Harrogate District Hospital

Harrogate

HG2 7SX


Job description

Job responsibilities

Key work streams include:

Patient Safety Strategy

Risk Management systems

the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

Learning processes

Duty of Candour

CQC assurance, compliance and interfaces to meet regulatory requirements.

Patient Experience and Engagement

Clinical Standards and Best Practice

Claims and Coroners

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key work streams include:

Patient Safety Strategy

Risk Management systems

the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

Learning processes

Duty of Candour

CQC assurance, compliance and interfaces to meet regulatory requirements.

Patient Experience and Engagement

Clinical Standards and Best Practice

Claims and Coroners

Person Specification

Shortlist

Essential

  • Educated to Masters level or demonstrable equivalent experience in a relevant role.
  • Evidence of ongoing professional development
  • Experience and knowledge of the components of the Quality Governance Framework: incident response, risk management and assurance function; current NHS national policies, standards, requirements and directions that relate to measuring and improving the quality and safety of patient care
  • Relevant experience in assurance/service improvement and change management
  • Experience of working in a quality / patient safety-related role with an understanding of the principles that underpin approaches to improving patient safety in health systems
  • Successful Senior management experience in complex organisation

Desirable

  • Qualification in Leadership and management in health and Social Care or equivalent experience
  • Professional Registration (e.g. Registered Nurse, Allied Health Professional)
  • Post-graduate patient safety qualification, investigation qualification or previous experience
  • Evidence of managing projects in the NHS environment.
Person Specification

Shortlist

Essential

  • Educated to Masters level or demonstrable equivalent experience in a relevant role.
  • Evidence of ongoing professional development
  • Experience and knowledge of the components of the Quality Governance Framework: incident response, risk management and assurance function; current NHS national policies, standards, requirements and directions that relate to measuring and improving the quality and safety of patient care
  • Relevant experience in assurance/service improvement and change management
  • Experience of working in a quality / patient safety-related role with an understanding of the principles that underpin approaches to improving patient safety in health systems
  • Successful Senior management experience in complex organisation

Desirable

  • Qualification in Leadership and management in health and Social Care or equivalent experience
  • Professional Registration (e.g. Registered Nurse, Allied Health Professional)
  • Post-graduate patient safety qualification, investigation qualification or previous experience
  • Evidence of managing projects in the NHS environment.

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).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Harrogate District Hospital

Harrogate

HG2 7SX


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Harrogate District Hospital

Harrogate

HG2 7SX


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Director of Corp, Quality Governance, Improvement

Kate Southgate

k.southgate@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

13 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

421-CORP-3779R

Job locations

Harrogate District Hospital

Harrogate

HG2 7SX


Supporting documents

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