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Mountain Healthcare Ltd

Head of Quality and Governance

The closing date is 03 October 2025

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Job summary

We are looking for a Head of Quality and Governance to lead our national strategy on patient safety, regulatory compliance, and clinical excellence. In this senior leadership role, you will drive continuous improvement, oversee CQC readiness, and ensure alignment with key accreditation frameworks including ISO standards.

Main duties of the job

As Head of Quality and Governance, you will lead our national strategy for quality assurance, clinical governance, patient safety and regulatory compliance. This is a high-impact role, shaping how we monitor, improve and maintain standards across all Mountain Healthcare services. You will oversee regulatory inspections, support accreditation processes, and embed a culture of continuous learning. You'll manage a skilled team, work closely with senior leaders and stakeholders, and play a vital role in ensuring our services meet the highest standards of care.

About us

Founded by passionate clinicians on a mission to provide expert patient-centred services, Mountain Healthcare leads the clinical forensic healthcare provisions sector in the UK. A premier partner of NHS England and the police, our unique provisions include Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), Police Custodial Healthcare, Secure Estate Healthcare and clinical telephone advice. Driven by our values Be Kind and Do the Right Thing, Mountain Healthcare provides holistic and trauma-informed care that improves the immediate and long-term health outcomes of patients across the criminal justice system. Through innovative technologies and strategic partnerships, our expert clinicians ensure equal, effective and efficient services to all our patients and always put their health, safety and rights first. Join the Best Provider, Make the Greatest Difference Clinical forensic healthcare is a rapidly growing career path as demand for specialist critical services has greatly increased in recent years. At Mountain Healthcare, we understand that to provide the highest quality services for our patients and customers, our people must be the best in the field. We are proud to offer unrivalled staff training and development opportunities such as our unique Forensic Practitioner Gateway, our wide range of accredited and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, and access to events across the health and justice sector.

Details

Date posted

04 September 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

oc-1756993021-LLPG3

Job locations

Stevenage

Stevenage

SG1 2AD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Mountain Healthcare is the UK's leading provider of specialist healthcare services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse. We deliver expert, trauma informed care across the country and are trusted by police forces, NHS partners, and local authorities to provide safe, responsive, and compassionate services. If you are an experienced healthcare leader with a strong track record in quality, governance, and service improvement, this is your chance to make a real impact at scale in an organisation with purpose. Why Join Us? This opportunity represents a chance to play a pivotal role in shaping safe, high quality care across the UK. You will join a mission driven organisation where your expertise and leadership will directly improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in society. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership

  • Develop and deliver the organisational strategy for quality, patient safety, and governance
  • Provide expert advice and leadership to the senior team on clinical risk, compliance, and assurance
  • Use data, audit findings, and regulatory feedback to drive improvement and inform decision making
    • Governance and Compliance
  • Lead preparations for and responses to CQC inspections and other regulatory assessments
  • Ensure organisational readiness for UKAS accreditation and ISO standards
  • Coordinate internal and external audits, acting on findings to implement improvements
  • Maintain and develop quality policies, systems, and processes in line with best practice
    • Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  • Oversee incident reporting and investigation, ensuring timely closure and learning
  • Analyse trends in patient safety incidents and use this insight to inform service development
  • Support the implementation of the National Patient Safety Strategy across the organisation
  • Maintain oversight of risk registers and contribute to board-level assurance reporting
    • Information Governance and Data Protection
  • Act as the organisation's Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO)
  • Ensure compliance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018
  • Lead on managing data breaches, subject access requests, and oversight of the external DPO
  • Oversee staff training and policy compliance in information governance
    • Health and Safety Oversight
  • Manage health and safety procedures and reporting, ensuring compliance with HSE requirements
  • Lead organisational responses to safety-related notifications and ensure best practice is followed
    • Team Leadership and Development
  • Manage and develop the Quality and Governance Team, promoting accountability, performance and professional development
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning and high standards
  • Support delivery of quality training and education across the wider workforce
    • Systems and Process Innovation
  • Provide expert support in the use of governance platforms such as RADAR
  • Continuously improve reporting systems, audit frameworks and assurance mechanisms
    • We are looking for a senior leader with a strong background in healthcare governance, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. You'll bring credibility, clarity and drive to this high impact role. DE&I Mountain Healthcare aims to create and encourage an environment that is committed to promoting equality, diversity, working inclusively, and valuing the differences that individuals can bring to the workplace. We uphold these principles in our organisational values and behaviours towards each other and our patients. We welcome applications irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexuality, or other personal circumstances.

    Job description

    Job responsibilities

    Mountain Healthcare is the UK's leading provider of specialist healthcare services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse. We deliver expert, trauma informed care across the country and are trusted by police forces, NHS partners, and local authorities to provide safe, responsive, and compassionate services. If you are an experienced healthcare leader with a strong track record in quality, governance, and service improvement, this is your chance to make a real impact at scale in an organisation with purpose. Why Join Us? This opportunity represents a chance to play a pivotal role in shaping safe, high quality care across the UK. You will join a mission driven organisation where your expertise and leadership will directly improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in society. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership

  • Develop and deliver the organisational strategy for quality, patient safety, and governance
  • Provide expert advice and leadership to the senior team on clinical risk, compliance, and assurance
  • Use data, audit findings, and regulatory feedback to drive improvement and inform decision making
    • Governance and Compliance
  • Lead preparations for and responses to CQC inspections and other regulatory assessments
  • Ensure organisational readiness for UKAS accreditation and ISO standards
  • Coordinate internal and external audits, acting on findings to implement improvements
  • Maintain and develop quality policies, systems, and processes in line with best practice
    • Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
  • Oversee incident reporting and investigation, ensuring timely closure and learning
  • Analyse trends in patient safety incidents and use this insight to inform service development
  • Support the implementation of the National Patient Safety Strategy across the organisation
  • Maintain oversight of risk registers and contribute to board-level assurance reporting
    • Information Governance and Data Protection
  • Act as the organisation's Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO)
  • Ensure compliance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018
  • Lead on managing data breaches, subject access requests, and oversight of the external DPO
  • Oversee staff training and policy compliance in information governance
    • Health and Safety Oversight
  • Manage health and safety procedures and reporting, ensuring compliance with HSE requirements
  • Lead organisational responses to safety-related notifications and ensure best practice is followed
    • Team Leadership and Development
  • Manage and develop the Quality and Governance Team, promoting accountability, performance and professional development
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning and high standards
  • Support delivery of quality training and education across the wider workforce
    • Systems and Process Innovation
  • Provide expert support in the use of governance platforms such as RADAR
  • Continuously improve reporting systems, audit frameworks and assurance mechanisms
    • We are looking for a senior leader with a strong background in healthcare governance, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. You'll bring credibility, clarity and drive to this high impact role. DE&I Mountain Healthcare aims to create and encourage an environment that is committed to promoting equality, diversity, working inclusively, and valuing the differences that individuals can bring to the workplace. We uphold these principles in our organisational values and behaviours towards each other and our patients. We welcome applications irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexuality, or other personal circumstances.

    Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

    • Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel nationally

    Desirable

    • Registered healthcare professional (e.g. Nurse, Midwife, Paramedic) with valid NMC/HCPC registration
    • Degree or equivalent qualification in healthcare, quality, or a related field
    • Postgraduate qualification in healthcare management, quality improvement or leadership

    Experience

    Essential

    • Significant leadership experience in healthcare quality, patient safety, or governance at a senior level
    • In depth knowledge of CQC regulations, inspection processes and compliance frameworks
    • Experience with accreditation standards, including ISO and UKAS, and managing associated audits and assessments
    • Strong understanding of risk management, clinical governance and incident investigation
    • Experience leading and embedding organisational learning from incidents and audits
    • Proven ability to analyse safety and quality data to inform strategic decisions
    • Working knowledge of information governance, GDPR, and data protection requirements
    • Experience acting as or supporting a Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO)
    • Exceptional communication skills, with experience engaging stakeholders at board level
    • Track record of successfully leading, developing and motivating teams

    Desirable

    • Experience with quality or governance platforms such as RADAR
    • Familiarity with the National Patient Safety Strategy
    Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

    • Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel nationally

    Desirable

    • Registered healthcare professional (e.g. Nurse, Midwife, Paramedic) with valid NMC/HCPC registration
    • Degree or equivalent qualification in healthcare, quality, or a related field
    • Postgraduate qualification in healthcare management, quality improvement or leadership

    Experience

    Essential

    • Significant leadership experience in healthcare quality, patient safety, or governance at a senior level
    • In depth knowledge of CQC regulations, inspection processes and compliance frameworks
    • Experience with accreditation standards, including ISO and UKAS, and managing associated audits and assessments
    • Strong understanding of risk management, clinical governance and incident investigation
    • Experience leading and embedding organisational learning from incidents and audits
    • Proven ability to analyse safety and quality data to inform strategic decisions
    • Working knowledge of information governance, GDPR, and data protection requirements
    • Experience acting as or supporting a Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO)
    • Exceptional communication skills, with experience engaging stakeholders at board level
    • Track record of successfully leading, developing and motivating teams

    Desirable

    • Experience with quality or governance platforms such as RADAR
    • Familiarity with the National Patient Safety Strategy

    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.

    Employer details

    Employer name

    Mountain Healthcare Ltd

    Address

    Stevenage

    Stevenage

    SG1 2AD


    Employer's website

    https://www.mountainhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

    Employer details

    Employer name

    Mountain Healthcare Ltd

    Address

    Stevenage

    Stevenage

    SG1 2AD


    Employer's website

    https://www.mountainhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

    Employer contact details

    For questions about the job, contact:

    Head of Talent

    George Runham

    george.runham@mountainhealthcare.co.uk

    Details

    Date posted

    04 September 2025

    Pay scheme

    Other

    Salary

    Depending on experience

    Contract

    Permanent

    Working pattern

    Full-time

    Reference number

    oc-1756993021-LLPG3

    Job locations

    Stevenage

    Stevenage

    SG1 2AD


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