Head of Quality Improvement

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health provider organization in England is seeking a Head of Quality Improvement to lead and shape its improvement agenda across the Trust. This strategic role involves developing and implementing an organization-wide strategy focused on continuous improvement. Ideal candidates will have leadership experience within an NHS setting and a strong background in improvement science methodologies. The role offers opportunities for significant impact and engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Benefits

Flexible working

Excellent health and wellbeing support

Free parking

Opportunities for development

Qualifications

• Deep mastery of improvement science (IHI, Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma).
• A record of reframing improvement systems at an organisational level.
• Experience leading complex improvement and operational excellence initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in developing the Trust's Improvement Strategy.
• Build improvement capability at scale across teams.
• Partner with colleagues to improve safety and patient experience.

Skills

Improvement science

Leadership

Coaching

Facilitation

Education

Post-graduate qualification in healthcare management or equivalent experience

Improvement qualifications (Black Belt or equivalent)

Job description

Head of Quality Improvement

The closing date is 06 January 2026

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP) is seeking an exceptional improvement leader to shape and drive our Trust-wide improvement agenda. This is a senior, strategic role for someone who can bring clarity, ambition and energy to building a culture and system of continuous improvement across all our services.

We are on an organisational journey to become a genuinely learning‑focused organisation, one where improvement is how we lead, how we decide, and how we deliver safe, effective care every day. The Head of Improvement will be central to that ambition.

Main duties of the job

As Head of Improvement, you will provide visible, values‑led leadership and bring a strong strategic lens to SABP's portfolio of improvement work. You will:

• Re‑energise the Improvement function and strengthen its profile across the Trust
• Create a shared language, framework and ambition for improvement
• Lead the development and delivery of the Trust's Improvement Strategy
• Build improvement capability at scale across clinical and corporate teams
• Partner with operational, clinical and system colleagues to address unwarranted variation, improve safety and experience, and deliver sustained outcomes
• Ensure programmes are evidence‑based, outcomes‑focused and aligned with national policy

Reporting to the Associate Director in the Strategy, Innovation, Transformation & Improvement (SITI) team, you will act as the senior improvement leader and method custodian for SABP; shaping how improvement is practised, governed and measured across the organisation. This is an opportunity to work across divisions, with partners, and at system level to build a coherent improvement ecosystem that supports better lives for the people we serve.

About us

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.

We are one of the top 10 mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust to work for nationwide. Our Trust is an inclusive and supportive employer that offers a wide range of staff networks, flexible working, free parking and excellent health and wellbeing support. We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the role.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Job responsibilities

We are looking for an inclusive, strategically minded leader with:

• Deep mastery of improvement science (IHI, Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma)
• A track record of reframing or establishing improvement systems at organisation or system level
• Experience leading complex, multi‑site improvement and operational excellence programmes
• The ability to think beyond projects and to build portfolios, frameworks, culture and capability
• Strong skills in coaching, teaching, facilitation and measurement for improvement
• Confidence operating with senior leaders and Executives, with the humility and curiosity to work closely with teams on the ground
• A passion for helping organisations become learning systems
• A commitment to co‑production, equity and embedding psychological safety

If you are motivated by the intersection of improvement, strategy, leadership, culture change and system working, this role offers the scope and the mandate to make a meaningful, lasting impact.

What We Offer

• A senior leadership role with influence across the entire organisation
• Supportive executive sponsorship and a committed team
• The space to shape and embed a Trust‑wide Improvement Strategy
• Opportunities to work with ICSe Partners, academic networks, KSS AHSN and national bodies
• A strong culture of values‑led leadership: Treat People Well; Create Respectful Places; Involve not Ignore; Be Open, Inclusive and Accountable

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Post‑graduate qualification (healthcare management or improvement) or equivalent experience
• Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma and/or IHI Improvement qualifications (Black Belt or equivalent)

Experience

• Demonstrable experience operating as a senior improvement leader within an NHS provider organisation
• Demonstrable experience of leading and managing complex improvement and operational excellence programmes
• Experience of developing and delivering improvement training and education packages
• Experience leading complex improvement programmes and building capability through training and coaching
• Experience of line management, recruitment, supervision, performance management, and managing budgets
• Experience of strategy development and implementation
• Senior leadership experience within an NHS provider organisation

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 name

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust