Interim Chief Medical Officer (4–6 Months)
£167,000 (pro rata, 0.8 FTE) | 30 hours over 4 days + on-call | Start Date: ASAP
Location: Within 1 hour of Taunton, Bedford, Peterborough or Welwyn Garden City
We are partnering with a leading Social Enterprise responsible for delivering high-quality urgent and unscheduled care services. We are seeking an exceptional Interim Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to provide immediate strategic and operational clinical leadership for an initial 4–6 month assignment, with the potential for extension.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior medical leader to step into a highly influential role, maintaining stability, strengthening clinical governance, and supporting service transformation during a critical transition period.
The Opportunity:
As the organisation’s most senior clinical leader, the Interim CMO will shape the clinical vision, uphold the highest quality standards, and provide expert guidance to the Executive Board and CEO. You will play a vital role in ensuring the ongoing safety, responsiveness, and effectiveness of services while leading and supporting a broad clinical workforce.
The organisation is seeking someone who can start as soon as possible to ensure continuity of leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Governance
* Lead the delivery of the annual clinical strategy and uphold clinical governance standards.
* Provide regular assurance to the Board on quality, patient safety, and clinical performance.
* Oversee learning from serious incidents, complaints, and audits.
* Ensure full compliance with CQC, safeguarding, NHS England, and statutory regulations.
Operational & Workforce Leadership
* Act as the overall clinical lead across all services during the interim period.
* Provide visible leadership to GPs, Nurses, Paramedics, Dentists, and Allied Health Professionals.
* Lead workforce performance management, training, medical education, and development programmes.
* Support recruitment, retention, and workforce resilience initiatives.
External Partnerships & System Influence
* Build and maintain effective relationships with ICBs, regulators, professional bodies, and system partners.
* Represent the organisation at regional and national forums.
* Act as Caldicott Guardian and Local Medical Committee liaison.
Service Quality & Innovation
* Lead monitoring and review of clinical workforce performance.
* Support the delivery of clinical KPIs across all service contracts.
* Drive innovation, service transformation, and integrated care development.
* Contribute to commercial and service integration opportunities.
What We’re Looking For:
Essential Qualifications
* GMC-registered medical practitioner (GP or Specialist Register).
* Inclusion on NHS England’s Performers List (GP).
* Relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g., MRCGP, MRCS).
* Level 4 Safeguarding training.
Essential Experience
* Senior medical leadership experience (e.g., CMO, Medical Director) in urgent care, out-of-hours, NHS 111, primary care, or similar.
* Strong background in clinical governance, patient safety, and quality improvement.
* Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders including Boards, ICBs and regulators.
* Knowledge of CQC requirements, NHS regulatory frameworks, safeguarding and data protection.
* Experience in medical education or GP training desirable.
Leadership Attributes
* Inclusive, credible, and collaborative leader with the gravitas to inspire multidisciplinary teams.
* Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
* Strategic thinker with sound judgement, commercial awareness, and resilience.
* Highly visible, approachable, and committed to organisational values.
Why This Role?
Even in an interim capacity, the successful candidate will benefit from access to:
* Leadership and development opportunities
* National and regional NHS networks
* Opportunities to shape urgent and integrated care
* A values-driven organisational culture focused on social impact
Salary, Benefits & Working Environment:
Salary: £167,000 (pro rata for 0.8 FTE)
Holiday: 38 days including bank holidays (pro rata)
Benefits include:
* Paid GMC fees
* NHS Pension Scheme
* Comprehensive wellbeing support
* Financial wellbeing programmes
* Exclusive discount schemes
* Learning and development pathways
* Free parking, relaxation areas, and unlimited tea/coffee
Additional Requirements
* Willingness to travel between multiple sites.
* Participation in the on-call rota (Director on Call).
* Eligibility to work in the UK.
* Availability to start immediately.
How to Apply
We’re keen to speak with senior clinical leaders who can step into this interim role quickly and provide stabilising, strategic leadership from day one.
For a confidential discussion or to submit your CV, please get in touch today:
will.drake@celsusgroup.co.uk
01582 394 801