Quality Improvement and Audit Lead at NHS
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Posted 29 December 2025
Band 6 – Salary £38,682 to £46,580 per annum pro rata. Permanent full‑time position.
Job Summary
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. They will be a confident communicator who models civility and compassion, and able to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide strategic and operational leadership of the Quality Improvement and Clinical Audit (QICA) Team.
* Support the Associate Chief Nurse in delivering Patient Engagement aligned to quality improvement strategy.
* Promote a culture of transparency, learning and continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and high standards of care.
* Lead the design, delivery and evaluation of the Trust’s Quality Improvement Plan.
* Lead the Clinical Audit programme in alignment with local and national standards.
* Support the Associate Chief Nurse for Quality & Standards in delivering the Christie Involvement & Engagement Plan.
* Act as Lead officer supporting the Chair(s) of the 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.
* Champion a culture of system learning, psychological safety, co‑production and continuous improvement across the Trust.
* Set up robust structures and processes so that the experience of patients, families and carers is central to improvement.
* 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.
* Embed the patient experience agenda, using co‑design and “You Said, We Did” processes.
* Embed QI across clinical, operational and corporate services; drive alignment within the Integrated Care Systems and cancer alliance networks.
Quality Improvement
* Lead the adoption and implementation of the NHS Model for Improvement.
* Provide expert QI coaching using PDSA, driver diagrams, process mapping, measurement for improvement and SPC.
* Expand the QI Faculty and build internal coaching capability.
* Coordinate delivery of the NHS Elect training programme (Levels 1–3).
* Lead the design and delivery of QI training, workshops and coaching programmes.
* Support PSIRF learning responses and provide methodological oversight of complex improvement programmes.
Clinical Audit
* Modernise the Clinical Audit Programme, ensuring compliance with HQIP, NICE, CAPOP, and national audit requirements.
* Ensure full audit 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.
* Integrate audit outcomes into QI and service improvement cycles.
Patient Experience
* Lead the Trust’s patient experience strategy in partnership with the Associate Chief Nurse.
* Facilitate patient and carer involvement, co‑design in QI projects and thematic analysis of patient feedback.
* Deliver FFT requirements and “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 assurance committees.
* Maintain robust registration, prioritisation and monitoring of QI and audit activity.
* Track, complete and evidence audit and QI recommendations.
* Maintain the QI and Audit dashboard systems and 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 team competencies and succession planning.
Personal
* Participate in performance review and set personal development objectives.
* Maintain professional knowledge and pursue relevant learning opportunities.
* Engage in mentoring, supervision and coaching for personal development.
* Promote a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety.
* Facilitate improvement collaborations and communities of practice.
* Represent the Trust at national QI forums.
Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience
* Essential Qualifications – Degree or equivalent experience in health‑related area; QI qualification or relevant work experience.
* Desirable Qualifications – Master’s degree, teaching qualification, project management qualification.
* Essential Experience – Senior management experience in healthcare; substantial experience in QI and clinical audit; capability to interpret national directives and assurance activities; experience with CQC regulations.
* Desirable Experience – Experience working with patients/public as partners; clinical audit and national audits; understanding of NICE guidance and CQC standards; patient involvement and co‑design.
* Interpersonal Skills – Advanced communication, people management, influencing peers, report writing, teamwork, time management, working under pressure, responsiveness.
* Knowledge – NHS issues and policy; Care Quality Commission; NHS national/local policy; stakeholder identification; office applications; analytical skills.
* Desirable Knowledge – PSIRF, governance, CQC Well‑Led, NICE, GIRFT, NCAPOP; measurement for improvement and SPC.
* Values – Demonstrate organisational values and behaviours.
* Other – Demonstrate flexibility in working hours; perform a wide range of duties.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
Background check is required under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
Employer Details
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust – Quality and Standards – Manchester, M20 4BX.
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