Director of Clinical Governance
| Posting date: | 26 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £90,000.00 to £100,000.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £90000.00 - £100000.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 April 2026 |
| Location: | Woking, GU22 7RR |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | M0050-26-0000 |
Summary
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.