Medical Director – GIRFT Lead & Clinical Audit and Effectiveness
The Medical Director – GIRFT & Clinical Audit and Effectiveness will provide senior clinical leadership to reduce unwarranted variation and improve outcomes across EKHUFT through the use of GIRFT methodology, national audit and evidence-based practice. Working from ward to Board, the post holder will support clinical teams to interpret data, translate national guidance into local action and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
Main duties of the job
* Provide visible clinical leadership across EKHUFT, working with Care Group Medical Directors and clinical teams to use GIRFT, audit and benchmarking to improve patient outcomes and experience.
* Lead the Trust’s clinical audit and effectiveness agenda, supporting specialties to design meaningful audits, interpret data and translate findings into practical pathway improvements.
* Work day‑to‑day with the Clinical Audit Team, Quality Directorate and Business Intelligence colleagues to develop clear dashboards and measures that help clinicians track progress.
* Chair and contribute to key forums including the Clinical Audit & Effectiveness Committee and GIRFT Delivery Board, promoting multidisciplinary learning and collaboration.
* Support implementation of NICE guidance and national standards through audit, ensuring changes are clinically owned and focused on patient benefit.
* Lead the Trust response to GIRFT reviews, meeting regularly with clinical leads to agree priorities, address unwarranted variation and remove barriers to improvement.
* Undertake this as a 4 PA portfolio role alongside clinical practice, with access to leadership development, coaching and opportunities to influence at Trust and system level.
Person specification
Qualifications and training
* GMC registration with licence to practise
* CCT or equivalent Consultant status
* Postgraduate leadership/management training
* Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management or healthcare improvement
* Formal training in quality improvement or patient safety
* Coaching or mentoring qualification
Clinical skills and experience
* Senior medical leadership experience (CD/AMD/DMD)
* Experience leading transformation aligned to NHS LTP or **ICS** priorities
* Proven delivery of governance, QI and improved outcomes
* Experience supporting Consultant and SAS development
* Experience of system-wide or networked leadership
* Experience in service reconfiguration or modernisation
* Strong knowledge of NHS LTP, EKHUFT Strategy, PSIRF, Core20PLUS5
* Strong communication, influencing, analytical and data interpretation skills
* Population health competence and quality improvement expertise
* Ability to build inclusive, multidisciplinary leadership cultures
* Experience of leading cross-site or system-wide transformation
* Experience of working with regulators including CQC
* Evidence of using data to drive improvement in outcomes
Governance
* Demonstrable senior leadership in clinical governance and patient safety within an acute NHS organisation
* Experience of implementing and overseeing PSIRF and learning from incidents with evidence of system improvement
* Proven ability to translate risk intelligence, complaints and investigation findings into safer care pathways
* Understanding of CQC regulatory requirements and governance assurance to Board
* Experience of promoting Duty of Candour and a just and compassionate culture
* Ability to work with Care Groups to strengthen local governance, risk management and quality processes
* Experience of chairing or contributing to patient safety and governance forums
* Ability to develop meaningful safety dashboards and quality reporting to support decision making
* Formal training in patient safety investigation or human factors
* Experience of representing an organisation within system safety networks (ICS/Kent & Medway)
* Track record of mentoring clinicians in investigation methodology and improvement science
Other requirements
* Ability to work flexibly within a 4 PA portfolio alongside clinical practice
* Commitment to Trust values and professional codes
* Ability to travel across Trust sites and Kent & Medway
Legal and regulatory
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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