Clinical Governance Lead

HOSPICE UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leave allowance

Pension plan

Health plan

Onsite parking

Wellbeing programme

Blue Light Card discounts

Job summary

St Nicholas Hospice Care is seeking an experienced Clinical Governance Lead to provide visible leadership across clinical teams, drive continuous improvement, and ensure robust governance and risk management. You will implement the governance framework, oversee audit and quality initiatives, and support readiness for regulatory inspections.

You will also lead patient safety processes, incident reporting, and policy development, acting as safety officers where required and contributing to the

Qualifications

• Experience leading clinical governance, audit and quality improvement in a regulated healthcare setting.
• Knowledge of health and social care regulation and CQC inspection processes.
• Experience developing clinical policies and delivering education programmes.
• Strong communication skills with ability to translate complex information into actionable reports.
• Organisation and ability to manage multiple projects within tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate clinical governance activities across the hospice.
• Implement governance framework, oversee risk management and incident reporting.
• Oversee PSIRF learning responses and policy development.
• Support preparation for Care Quality Commission inspections.
• Act as Medicines Safety Officer and Medical Devices Safety Officer as required.
• Contribute to on‑call rota and provide visible leadership to clinical teams.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Audit

Quality improvement

Policy development

Communication

Programme management

Education

Healthcare qualification with professional registration

Job description

An exciting leadership opportunity at St Nicholas Hospice Care

St Nicholas Hospice Care is a local charity supporting nearly 2,000 people every year across West Suffolk and Thetford. We provide care in multiple settings, offering specialist clinical support, practical help, and services for families, carers, and those experiencing bereavement.

We are seeking an experienced and values-driven professional to join us as our Clinical Governance Lead.

This role will work closely with the Corporate Governance Lead to support integrated, effective and proportionate governance across the Hospice. Together, the postholders will help ensure that our clinical and corporate governance, organisational assurance and risk management arrangements are aligned, clearly reported and support continuous improvement across the organisation.

As our Clinical Governance Lead, you will provide visible leadership across our clinical teams, supporting the continuous improvement of patient and family services and helping us to deliver high-quality, effective and responsive care.

You will support the implementation of our clinical governance framework, lead audit and quality improvement activity, oversee clinical risk and patient safety processes, and help ensure our continued readiness for Care Quality Commission inspections. The role also includes responsibility for clinical complaints oversight, incident reporting, PSIRF learning responses, clinical policy development and the effective use of clinical governance data and systems.

You will act as the Hospice’s Medical Devices Safety Officer, Medicines Safety Officer and Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) Learning and Response Lead, and will participate in the clinical on‑call rota.

About you

• hold a degree or equivalent healthcare professional qualification or experience, with registration with an appropriate professional body
• have experience of leading clinical governance, audit and quality improvement within a regulated healthcare environment
• have extensive knowledge of health and social care regulation and experience of contributing to a CQC inspection
• understand PSIRF and the key risks associated with clinical care
• have experience of developing clinical policies and delivering audit, quality improvement and staff education programmes
• be an effective communicator who can influence others and translate complex information into practical action and meaningful reports
• be organised, adaptable and confident managing a varied portfolio of work within tight deadlines.

What we offer

• 25 days annual leave increasing to 29 with service
• Enhanced Occupational sick pay scheme
• Access to a group pension plan
• A Health Cash Plan & Wellbeing programme
• Free onsite parking
• Access to Blue Light Card scheme with a range of discounts