Job summary
Clinical Governance, Patient Safety & Professional Practice.
This is a senior, strategic role at the heart of our organisation, providing expert leadership to ensure the highest standards of clinical quality, safety and professional practice across a diverse and evolving portfolio of services.
Working as part of the Executive Team, you will lead our approach to clinical governance, patient safety, safeguarding, and workforce competency, ensuring robust systems are in place that support safe, effective and compassionate care. You will play a key role in strengthening our culture of learning, continuous improvement and openness.
This role is open to experienced clinicians from all professional backgrounds who bring credibility, leadership and a passion for improving patient care. You will work closely with the Medical Director and senior leaders, influencing practice at both organisational and system level.
If you are an experienced, values-driven leader looking to shape high-quality, integrated primary care services and make a meaningful impact on patient safety, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
You will provide senior clinical leadership for governance, patient safety and professional practice across the Federation, ensuring systems are robust, effective and continuously improving.
The role focuses on setting and embedding high standards of care, supporting clinical teams to deliver safe and effective services, and ensuring that learning from incidents, feedback and audit leads to meaningful change. You will oversee safeguarding, clinical supervision, and workforce competency frameworks, ensuring staff are supported, developed and working within safe scopes of practice.
Working closely with the Medical Director and senior leaders, you will provide expert advice on clinical risk and quality, contribute to strategic decision-making, and support service development. You will also play a key role in regulatory assurance, including CQC readiness, and represent the organisation within wider system and partnership forums.
This is a highly collaborative role requiring strong leadership, influencing skills and the ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries to improve patient outcomes.
About us
North West Surrey Integrated Care Services (NICS) is a GP Federation bringing together 37 member practices to deliver high-quality, patient-centred primary care services at scale across North West Surrey. Together, we serve a population of approximately 370,000 patients, working collaboratively to meet growing demand and improve access to care.
NICS plays a key role in supporting general practice and the wider health and care system. We design and deliver innovative, GP-led services that complement traditional primary care, including enhanced access, urgent treatment services, home visiting and multidisciplinary community-based care.
Our purpose is to provide high-quality, responsive and compassionate healthcare while supporting our member practices to remain sustainable in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. By working at scale, we are able to improve integration between services, enhance patient experience, and ensure consistent standards of care across our network.
NICS contribute to system-wide priorities including improving population health, reducing inequalities and delivering more joined-up, out-of-hospital care.
We are committed to a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and clinical excellence. Our values centre on working together for patients, delivering high-quality care, and ensuring that every individual patients and staff a like is respected and supported.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Director of Clinical Governance, Patient Safety & Professional Practice
Accountable to
Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports
- Head of Quality, Governance & Patient Safety
Location
NICS Federation-wide
ROLE PURPOSE
The Director of Clinical Governance, Patient Safety & Professional Practice will provide senior clinical leadership across the Federation, ensuring the highest standards of clinical practice, professional accountability, and patient safety.
This post will work in partnership with the Medical Director, with clear delineation between medical leadership and professional governance oversight.
The role will act as the Federations senior clinical authority for clinical governance, education, training, competency assurance and supervision frameworks, working closely with HR and service leads to ensure that the clinical workforce is safe, competent, supported, and appropriately developed.
The role complements the established Head of Quality, Governance & Patient Safety by providing executive-level clinical oversight and professional leadership.
The postholder will sit on the Federation Senior Leadership Team and Board, providing independent clinical governance oversight and assurance regarding quality, safety and professional practice across all services.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Senior Clinical Governance Leadership
- Provide senior clinical leadership and assurance across all NICS services.
- Act as NICSs professional clinical lead for safe practice and quality standards.
- Ensure clinical governance arrangements are underpinned by strong clinical accountability.
- Provide expert advice to the Medical Director, CEO and CFOO on clinical risk and quality.
- Promote a culture of psychological safety, openness and speaking up, ensuring concerns are addressed appropriately.
2. Clinical Practice Standards & Competency Assurance
- Lead the development and implementation of NICS clinical competency frameworks.
- Provide governance oversight of non-medical prescribing practice including nurse prescribers, pharmacists and allied health professionals.
- Ensure safe prescribing frameworks, competency sign-off and ongoing supervision.
- Work with the Medical Director to ensure safe medicines management across the Federation.
- Ensure robust processes for competency sign-off, delegation and scope of practice.
- Maintain oversight of professional practice standards across nursing and clinical teams.
- Ensure clinical roles are working within evidence-based guidelines and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure high standards of clinical record keeping and documentation in line with regulatory and medico-legal requirements.
- Ensure risks relating to scope of practice, delegation, and advanced roles are identified, mitigated and escalated appropriately.
3. Clinical Supervision & Professional Support
- Establish and embed effective clinical supervision structures across services.
- Ensure appropriate models of supervision for nurses, ACPs, paramedics and wider MDT roles.
- Promote reflective practice, learning culture and professional development.
- Provide leadership in addressing clinical capability and practice concerns.
4. Clinical Education, Training & Development
- Provide strategic oversight of clinical education and training delivery across NICS.
- Ensure robust clinical induction programmes for new starters.
- Oversee mandatory and service-specific clinical training compliance.
- Work with HR and service managers to identify training needs linked to governance, safety and performance.
5. Quality Improvement & Clinical Audit
- Work with the Medical Director to provide clinical leadership to audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activity.
- Use outcomes, patient feedback and safety intelligence to drive improvements in care.
- Support clinical teams to implement best practice and learning from audits/incidents.
6. Clinical and Governance Policy Management
- Lead development, approval, and review of policies.
- Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and best practice standards.
- Embed policies into practice through engagement and clear communication.
- Monitor effectiveness and compliance through audit and reporting.
7. Safeguarding Lead
- Demonstrate safeguarding competencies aligned to Level 4 (or above) in line with intercollegiate guidance, including strategic leadership, expert advice, and organisational assurance.
- Develop and lead safeguarding frameworks
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and best practice.
- Lead management of safeguarding concerns and external referrals.
- Embed a strong safeguarding culture through training and awareness
8. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Clinical Lead.
- Ensure compliance with IPC policies and national guidance.
- Provide oversight of infection surveillance, audits and improvement actions.
- Develop, implement, and review IPC policies and procedures.
- Lead surveillance, audit, and response to infection risks and incidents.
9. Patient Safety & Risk Assurance
- Provide senior clinical oversight of patient safety systems including incident and complaint reviews and learning.
- Ensure Duty of Candour, safeguarding, infection prevention and medicines safety standards are upheld.
- Support the governance team in translating safety findings into clinical practice improvement.
10. Partnership with HR on Clinical Capability
- Work closely with HR to support professional practice governance.
- Provide clinical input into appraisal frameworks, competency frameworks, capability processes and workforce policies.
- Provide professional clinical judgement in capability, disciplinary and fitness-to-practise processes.
- Ensure clinical training and supervision align with recruitment, retention and staff wellbeing.
11. Regulatory & External Assurance
- Act as the CQC Nominated Individual for the Federation, holding ultimate accountability for regulatory compliance under the Health and Social Care Act 2008
- Provide Board assurance that services meet CQC fundamental standards.
- Lead preparation for CQC inspections and oversee action plans following inspections.
- Act as senior clinical lead for CQC preparedness and commissioner quality assurance.
- Represent NICS at system-level quality and professional practice forums.
- Ensure NICS services meet NHS contractual, regulatory and professional standards.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain professional registration and revalidation.
- Uphold Federation values, equality, safeguarding and patient-centred care.
- Champion a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Director of Clinical Governance, Patient Safety & Professional Practice
Accountable to
Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports
- Head of Quality, Governance & Patient Safety
Location
NICS Federation-wide
ROLE PURPOSE
The Director of Clinical Governance, Patient Safety & Professional Practice will provide senior clinical leadership across the Federation, ensuring the highest standards of clinical practice, professional accountability, and patient safety.
This post will work in partnership with the Medical Director, with clear delineation between medical leadership and professional governance oversight.
The role will act as the Federations senior clinical authority for clinical governance, education, training, competency assurance and supervision frameworks, working closely with HR and service leads to ensure that the clinical workforce is safe, competent, supported, and appropriately developed.
The role complements the established Head of Quality, Governance & Patient Safety by providing executive-level clinical oversight and professional leadership.
The postholder will sit on the Federation Senior Leadership Team and Board, providing independent clinical governance oversight and assurance regarding quality, safety and professional practice across all services.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Senior Clinical Governance Leadership
- Provide senior clinical leadership and assurance across all NICS services.
- Act as NICSs professional clinical lead for safe practice and quality standards.
- Ensure clinical governance arrangements are underpinned by strong clinical accountability.
- Provide expert advice to the Medical Director, CEO and CFOO on clinical risk and quality.
- Promote a culture of psychological safety, openness and speaking up, ensuring concerns are addressed appropriately.
2. Clinical Practice Standards & Competency Assurance
- Lead the development and implementation of NICS clinical competency frameworks.
- Provide governance oversight of non-medical prescribing practice including nurse prescribers, pharmacists and allied health professionals.
- Ensure safe prescribing frameworks, competency sign-off and ongoing supervision.
- Work with the Medical Director to ensure safe medicines management across the Federation.
- Ensure robust processes for competency sign-off, delegation and scope of practice.
- Maintain oversight of professional practice standards across nursing and clinical teams.
- Ensure clinical roles are working within evidence-based guidelines and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure high standards of clinical record keeping and documentation in line with regulatory and medico-legal requirements.
- Ensure risks relating to scope of practice, delegation, and advanced roles are identified, mitigated and escalated appropriately.
3. Clinical Supervision & Professional Support
- Establish and embed effective clinical supervision structures across services.
- Ensure appropriate models of supervision for nurses, ACPs, paramedics and wider MDT roles.
- Promote reflective practice, learning culture and professional development.
- Provide leadership in addressing clinical capability and practice concerns.
4. Clinical Education, Training & Development
- Provide strategic oversight of clinical education and training delivery across NICS.
- Ensure robust clinical induction programmes for new starters.
- Oversee mandatory and service-specific clinical training compliance.
- Work with HR and service managers to identify training needs linked to governance, safety and performance.
5. Quality Improvement & Clinical Audit
- Work with the Medical Director to provide clinical leadership to audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activity.
- Use outcomes, patient feedback and safety intelligence to drive improvements in care.
- Support clinical teams to implement best practice and learning from audits/incidents.
6. Clinical and Governance Policy Management
- Lead development, approval, and review of policies.
- Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and best practice standards.
- Embed policies into practice through engagement and clear communication.
- Monitor effectiveness and compliance through audit and reporting.
7. Safeguarding Lead
- Demonstrate safeguarding competencies aligned to Level 4 (or above) in line with intercollegiate guidance, including strategic leadership, expert advice, and organisational assurance.
- Develop and lead safeguarding frameworks
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and best practice.
- Lead management of safeguarding concerns and external referrals.
- Embed a strong safeguarding culture through training and awareness
8. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Clinical Lead.
- Ensure compliance with IPC policies and national guidance.
- Provide oversight of infection surveillance, audits and improvement actions.
- Develop, implement, and review IPC policies and procedures.
- Lead surveillance, audit, and response to infection risks and incidents.
9. Patient Safety & Risk Assurance
- Provide senior clinical oversight of patient safety systems including incident and complaint reviews and learning.
- Ensure Duty of Candour, safeguarding, infection prevention and medicines safety standards are upheld.
- Support the governance team in translating safety findings into clinical practice improvement.
10. Partnership with HR on Clinical Capability
- Work closely with HR to support professional practice governance.
- Provide clinical input into appraisal frameworks, competency frameworks, capability processes and workforce policies.
- Provide professional clinical judgement in capability, disciplinary and fitness-to-practise processes.
- Ensure clinical training and supervision align with recruitment, retention and staff wellbeing.
11. Regulatory & External Assurance
- Act as the CQC Nominated Individual for the Federation, holding ultimate accountability for regulatory compliance under the Health and Social Care Act 2008
- Provide Board assurance that services meet CQC fundamental standards.
- Lead preparation for CQC inspections and oversee action plans following inspections.
- Act as senior clinical lead for CQC preparedness and commissioner quality assurance.
- Represent NICS at system-level quality and professional practice forums.
- Ensure NICS services meet NHS contractual, regulatory and professional standards.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain professional registration and revalidation.
- Uphold Federation values, equality, safeguarding and patient-centred care.
- Champion a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered clinician
- Evidence of ongoing CPD and senior clinical practice
Desirable
- Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
- Qualification in clinical education, leadership, governance or patient safety
Experience
Essential
- Experience
- Significant senior clinical experience within primary care, community services or GP federation environments
- Demonstrable leadership in clinical governance, quality and professional practice.
- Experience developing competency frameworks, supervision and training structures.
- Experience working across multidisciplinary clinical teams.
- Experience supporting CQC inspection readiness.
- Experience in a senior safeguarding role within a regulated environment or completed Level 4 Safeguarding training.
- Knowledge & Skills
- Essential
- Expert knowledge of clinical governance and patient safety principles, including PSIRF.
- Lead implementation and oversight of PSIRF, ensuring proportionate, learning-focused responses to patient safety incidents.
- Strong understanding of professional accountability, scope of practice and competence assurance.
- Ability to lead clinical supervision and education frameworks.
- Strong communication and ability to influence at executive level.
- Ability to interpret quality/safety data and drive improvement.
- In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, frameworks, and statutory guidance.
- Personal Attributes
- Credible senior clinician with professional authority.
- Collaborative leader able to work with HR, governance and operational teams.
- Values-driven, improvement-focused and supportive leadership style.
- Resilient and confident managing clinical complexity and risk.
Desirable
- Experience working within PCNs, federations or ICS collaborative models
- Experience in advanced practice development or education governance
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered clinician
- Evidence of ongoing CPD and senior clinical practice
Desirable
- Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
- Qualification in clinical education, leadership, governance or patient safety
Experience
Essential
- Experience
- Significant senior clinical experience within primary care, community services or GP federation environments
- Demonstrable leadership in clinical governance, quality and professional practice.
- Experience developing competency frameworks, supervision and training structures.
- Experience working across multidisciplinary clinical teams.
- Experience supporting CQC inspection readiness.
- Experience in a senior safeguarding role within a regulated environment or completed Level 4 Safeguarding training.
- Knowledge & Skills
- Essential
- Expert knowledge of clinical governance and patient safety principles, including PSIRF.
- Lead implementation and oversight of PSIRF, ensuring proportionate, learning-focused responses to patient safety incidents.
- Strong understanding of professional accountability, scope of practice and competence assurance.
- Ability to lead clinical supervision and education frameworks.
- Strong communication and ability to influence at executive level.
- Ability to interpret quality/safety data and drive improvement.
- In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, frameworks, and statutory guidance.
- Personal Attributes
- Credible senior clinician with professional authority.
- Collaborative leader able to work with HR, governance and operational teams.
- Values-driven, improvement-focused and supportive leadership style.
- Resilient and confident managing clinical complexity and risk.
Desirable
- Experience working within PCNs, federations or ICS collaborative models
- Experience in advanced practice development or education governance
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
