Overview

ELFT is a vibrant, values-led community united by a deep commitment to delivering high-quality, equitable care for all. As the first NHS Marmot Trust, we are proud to act as an anchor institution, tackling the wider determinants of health and championing inclusion across Bedfordshire, East London and Luton.We are seeking a Chief Quality Officer who will be at the heart of our mission and who is passionate about continuous quality improvement and driven to make a difference for our diverse communities. You will be a credible and strategic leader grounded in clinical or care experience ideally within mental health, learning disability or community settings. You will bring a deep understanding of what quality means for people who use our services and for staff, alongside the strategic insight to drive improvement at scale. We are looking for a Chief Quality Officer who brings professional credibility through clinical or care experience ideally gained in mental health, learning disability or community settings. You will combine a deep understanding of quality from the perspective of people who use services and staff, with the strategic insight to shape improvement at scale. With curiosity, compassion and a forward-looking approach, you will inspire and connect colleagues, partners and communities working together to continually improve experiences, outcomes and equity of care.

What Were Looking ForAs CQO, you will:

Lead our quality agenda embedding planning, assurance, control and improvement across all services

Shape the future of care delivery driving innovation, improvement and person-centred care

Be a voting member of the Trust Board and executive team sharing accountability for performance, financial sustainability and the delivery of our strategic vision

Champion our values modelling kindness, inclusion and mutual respect at every level

Inspire and engage building capability and capacity for improvement across the Trust and with our partners

Drive transformation working with system partners to redesign care pathways, improve access and deliver better outcomes in line with the NHS 10 Year Plan.

About UsWhy ELFT?

Clinically led, service user driven and managerial supported: Our culture is shaped by clinicians, service users and carers working together to drive continuous improvement

Bold in the face of challenge: We are navigating a time of significant change - rising demand, workforce pressures, financial constraints and persistent health inequalities. We see these not as barriers but as opportunities to innovate and transform

A place to grow and belong: We invest in our people, prioritising health, wellbeing and development. We want you to thrive, lead and inspire.

DetailsDate posted: 24 September 2025

Pay scheme: Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary: Depending on experience per annum inc HCA

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 363-CP7186284

Job locations: Robert Dolan House, Alie Street, London, E1 8DE

Job DescriptionJob responsibilities

Lead our quality agenda embedding planning, assurance, control and improvement across all services

Shape the future of care delivery driving innovation, improvement and person-centred care

Be a voting member of the Trust Board and executive team sharing accountability for performance, financial sustainability and the delivery of our strategic vision

Champion our values modelling kindness, inclusion and mutual respect at every level

Inspire and engage building capability and capacity for improvement across the Trust and with our partners

Drive transformation working with system partners to redesign care pathways, improve access and deliver better outcomes in line with the NHS 10 Year Plan

Join UsThis is an opportunity to join a Trust that is passionate about making a real difference. If you share our values and are ready to lead with purpose, compassion and ambition, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Lorraine Sunduza, Chief Executive by emailing or Dr Amar Shah, Chief Quality Officer by emailing.

Person SpecificationClinical or operational experience

Essential: Experience in a senior clinical / care professional or operational role within healthcare, and ideally in an NHS Trust

Desirable: Research position / affiliation

Academic achievement

Essential: Degree Level Education

Desirable: Masters degree or further academic qualifications in a related field; Published research or quality work, of national or international significance; experience in peer-review process

Knowledge and experience

Essential: Expertise in quality improvement techniques and their application in varied clinical settings, aligned to ELFT''s method and approach (model for improvement)

Improvement advisor, certified through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement

Experience of improving organisational performance through implementing a systematic approach to quality improvement

Experience of design and delivery of large-scale quality improvement programmes, that have achieved demonstrable results in large, complex organisations/systems

Extensive experience of teaching, designing educational and learning programmes, and coaching

Experience in working with executive teams and Boards

Knowledge of the NHS performance frameworks and approach. Experience of applying improvement methods to performance topics

Management knowledge and experience

Essential: Experience of senior management in a clinical organisation

Budget management

Disclosure and SponsorshipThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer detailsEmployer name: East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Robert Dolan House, Alie Street, London, E1 8DE

Employer''s website: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/

#J-18808-Ljbffr