Job Description

We are seeking an experienced, knowledgeable, and driven leader for the role of Quality Improvement & Audit Lead at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The right person will have an ambitious approach to leading the quality improvement and audit programmes to drive the very best patient outcomes and experience. Supporting the Associate Director of Quality Governance, this role will play an important part in continuing to drive forward and provide leadership to the Trust's Quality Improvement Strategy. The post holder will provide visible professional leadership which inspires, motivates, and engages teams across the organisation.



The right candidate will be able to demonstrate success in delivering Quality Improvement Methods and Strategies with a solid background in project management and transformation. They will act as a subject matter expert on quality improvement, clinical effectiveness and patient experience to build capacity across the organisation to improve systems and services. They will be a confident communicator who models civility and compassion and able to engage a wide range of stakeholders. The post holder should be resilient, self-motivated, politically astute, and able to negotiate challenging situations and interactions.



The role will provide strategic and operational leadership of the Quality Improvement and Clinical Audit (QICA) Team to ensure quality improvement and clinical effectiveness are embedded across the organisation.



The role will support the Associate Chief Nurse in delivering Patient Engagement aligned to quality improvement strategy.



The postholder will work collaboratively to promote a culture of transparency, learning, and continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and delivering high standards of care.



Applicants should note that to be successful at the initial stage of recruitment, the personal statement and job history need to demonstrate a solid understanding and evidence of implementation of a range of Quality Improvement methodologies and project / programme management experience.



The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres and an international leader in cancer research. We are a performance-driven, high-achieving organisation, with the patient at the heart of everything we do. Our ambition is to be one of the leading comprehensive cancer centres in the world.



A Foundation Trust since 2007 we are one of Europe's leading comprehensive cancer centres, treating over 44,000 patients a year and with a turnover in excess of 220m. Based in Manchester we serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, and as a national specialist around 26% of patients are referred to us from other areas of the country.



Our combination of service, research and education provides opportunities for innovation, and we use a strong business approach to develop our services. Our ambitious strategy includes delivering services closer to patients' homes for example through our network of Christie radiotherapy centres and developing new treatments for patients in our early phase trials unit which is the largest in the world.



If you think you could be the person we are looking for and wish to arrange an informal discussion, please contact Laura O'Brien, PA to Vicky Sharples, Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Quality: laura.obrien3@nhs.net



JOB PURPOSE



The Quality Improvement & Clinical Audit Lead is responsible for delivering key components of The Christie's Quality Plan 2026-2029, leading programmes of work across Quality Improvement (QI), Clinical Audit, and Patient Experience to ensure positive experience, safe, and effective care.



Lead the design, delivery and evaluation of the Trust's Quality Improvement Plan



Lead on the Clinical Audit programme in alignment with local and national standards



Support the Associate Chief Nurse for Quality & Standards to deliver the aims of the Christie Involvement & Engagement Plan



Act as Lead officer, supporting the Chair(s), of Patient Experience Committee and Clinical Research & Effectiveness Committee



Day to Day management of the Quality Improvement & Clinical Audit Team



Strengthen organisational capability through the NHS Elect training framework (Levels 1-3)



Ensure improvements align with Safe, Effective, Experience and PSIRF learning themes



The role will champion a culture of system learning, psychological safety, co-production, and continuous improvement across the Trust.



To establish robust structures and processes to ensure the experience of patients, families and carers are central to improving quality and experience of services.



Support the Associate Director of Quality Governance in delivering Trust-wide improvement plan



Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of the Trust-wide Quality Improvement Programme.



Ensure all QI and audit activity explicitly supports the Quality Strategy goals (Safe, Effective, Experience).



Provide strategic leadership for the patient experience agenda, embedding co-design and "You Said, We Did" processes.



Work with senior leaders to embed QI across clinical, operational and corporate services.



Drive alignment of QI, audit and patient experience within ICS and cancer alliance networks.



QUALITY IMPROVEMENT



Lead the adoption and implementation of the NHS Model for Improvement across the Trust.



Provide expert QI coaching using PDSA, driver diagrams, process mapping, measurement for improvement and SPC.



Lead and expand the QI Faculty, building a strong internal coaching and improvement capability.



Coordinate delivery of the NHS Elect training programme (Level 1 Intro, Level 2 Practitioner, Level 3 Coach).



Lead the design and delivery of QI training, workshops and coaching programmes.



Support PSIRF learning responses, ensuring improvement methodology underpins all action plans.



Provide methodological oversight of complex Trust-wide improvement programmes (e.g. pathways, safety, governance).



CLINICAL AUDIT



Lead and modernise the Clinical Audit Programme, ensuring compliance with:

HQIP standards

NICE

NCAPOP

National and local audit requirements



Ensure every audit follows the full cycle with measurable action and re-audit.



Advise divisions on audit prioritisation, standards selection, methodology and data interpretation.



Produce quarterly audit dashboards and exception reports for board assurance



Oversee the integration of audit outcomes into QI and service improvement cycles.



PATIENT EXPERIENCE



Lead the Trust's patient experience strategy, working with Associate Chief Nurse for Quality & Standards on;



Patient and carer involvement



Co-design in QI projects



Regular thematic analysis of patient feedback



Delivery of FFT requirements



Production of "You Said, We Did" improvement outputs



Ensure inclusion, equity and diverse voices inform improvement activity.



GOVERNANCE & REPORTING



Provide monthly and quarterly QI and Audit performance reports to Divisional and Trust-wide assurance committees



Ensure robust registration, prioritisation and monitoring of QI and audit activity.



Ensure audit and QI recommendations are tracked, completed and evidenced.



Maintain the QI and Audit dashboard systems, working with CODU

Produce the Annual Quality Improvement & Clinical Audit Report



WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT



Support organisational learning through mentoring, coaching and training.



Lead the Trust-wide improvement capability framework linked to the People Strategy.



Develop the QI and audit team's competencies and succession planning.



PERSONAL



Participate in the performance review by indicating own learning goals, support needs and setting personal development objectives with feedback from others.



Ensure own professional knowledge is regularly updated and keep abreast of relevant developments, making effective use of learning opportunities and actively promoting the workplace as a learning environment.



Undertake theoretical education/academic courses as necessary to maintain specialist knowledge base relating to cancer care, general management, and human resources issues.



Actively seek mentorship/supervision/coaching to enable reflection and own personal development within the role.



Promote a culture of continuous improvement, psychological safety and learning.



Facilitate improvement collaborations, workshops and communities of practice.



Engage patients, carers, and staff in co-production.



Represent the Trust at ICS, GM Cancer Alliance or national QI forums.



SCOPE



Expected to have freedom to make decisions that improve the service provision within the team, whilst working within the scope of the Trusts policies.



Expected to deep dive into clinical service activities for the purpose of investigation and quality improvement in line with risk identification.



Expected to escalate and act on information which may have an impact of the Trusts integrity and objectives.



Patient safety and quality of care should be central to each active decision made about service review and improvement activity.



RISK MANAGEMENT



It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Trust that they fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards.