Head of Quality for Maternity, Neonates, Children and Young People: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

Are you a passionate and experienced clinical leader ready to make a lasting impact on the quality and safety of services for women, babies, children and young people?

West and North London Integrated Care Board is seeking an exceptional Head of Quality for Maternity, Neonates, Children and Young People (CYP) to provide strategic leadership and expert oversight of quality, patient safety and clinical effectiveness across commissioned services. This is a rare opportunity to influence care at system level, improve outcomes for local communities, and drive meaningful change across one of the most diverse health systems in the country.

Main duties of the job

This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of maternity, neonatal and children’s services across West and North London, working alongside dedicated clinical and operational leaders to improve outcomes for some of our most vulnerable populations. You will be part of an organisation committed to collaboration, innovation, quality improvement, and population health, where your expertise can make a real difference.

Join us and help deliver safer, better and more equitable care for babies, children, young people and families across West and North London.

Person Specification

Education/ Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife, with current professional registration with the NMC.
• Educated to master’s level in a health-related subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level.
• Postgraduate Management qualification or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional develop.

Desirable

• Quality improvement qualification.
• Project Management Qualification (PRINCE2, MSP, APM or equivalent).

Experience

Essential

• Significant understanding of the ICB and ICS in relation to quality, patient safety and patient experience.
• Considerable understanding of the background to and the aims of current healthcare policy in London and appreciate the implications of this on engagement in relation to quality and patient safety.
• An appreciation of the relationship between NHS England, the ICB and in relation to commissioning and oversight responsibilities.
• Proven ability to influence a range of stakeholders and demonstrable commitment to partnership working and delivery with a range of external organisations.
• Previous experience of leading clinical governance patient safety or standards work (i.e. Leadership on complaints, risk management, clinical audit, serious incidents) at a senior level with demonstrable improvements in provision.
• xperience of successfully delivering approaches to improve and embed quality in providers within a partnership environment.
• Experience of carrying out a leadership role in clinical commissioning with acute provider(s).
• Experience improving provider safety in specific areas through a variety of commissioning activities.
• Proven ability to influence a range of stakeholders and demonstrable commitment to partnership working and delivery with a range of external organisations.
• Experience of designing systems to support quality governance and experience in shaping policy and setting improve provider service delivery. 1 1 objectives aligned to wider NHS and strategic objectives.

Desirable

• Commissioning experience.
• Experience improving provider safety in specific areas through a variety of commissioning activities.
• Experience of acting on feedback healthcare providers to improve provider service delivery.

Skills, & Abilities

Essential

• Understanding of NHS and ICB finance and funding models.
• Demonstrable commitment to and focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes. Uses evidence to make improvements, seeks out innovation.
• In-depth understanding of the NHS, Integrated Care System, NHS 10 Year Health Plan and the statutory duties of the ICB.
• Self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness

Communication

Essential

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft software.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to influence and persuade others at all levels within and across the organisation, articulating a balanced view and able to constructively question information from others.
• Ability to provide and receive, convey and present complex, sensitive and/or contentious nformation to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement and develop a range of options.
• Self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness.
• Proficient presentation skills & able to adapt presentation skills to different audiences.
• Ability to forge and maintain strong collaborative relationships.

Effort factors

Essential

• Manage long periods of intense concentration requiring in-depth mental and meticulous attention to detail, often with frequent interruption when preparing reports and presentations
• Actively engage and participate at meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Priorities and deadlines may change with little notice, ability to work in a pace faced environment is required.
• Manage disciplinary processes, manage poor performance, conduct and capability.
• Occasionally, may have to impart difficult and/or distressing information.

Values and Behaviours

Essential

• Commitment to the values and principles of system working across within WNL ICB.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion within all areas of responsibility.
• Team player.

Closing Date: 27 September 2026