Associate Director

Will be accountable for the delivery of the ICB quality assurance, improvement and IPC services in Herefordshire & Worcestershire and will have a specific remit in providing expertise and leadership in quality assurance and improvement. They will also provide expert clinical advice and support in the quality assurance and improvement. The post holder will, with the Director of Nursing, assume leadership and responsibility for delivery of the ICB Infection Prevention and Control service across Worcestershire. Provide patient safety expertise/leadership as a Patient Safety Specialist within the organisation, demonstrating compassionate leadership, visibility and supporting the continued development of the patient safety culture.

Support the team in identifying and analysing intelligence and insight metrics. Ensure the organisation is up to date with current patient safety policy, NHS contract patient safety requirements, and regulatory patient safety requirements and engages with the regional/national team to understand national guidance and to advise on the best implementation approach. Provision of proactive strategic input to Programme Boards and Committees and other meetings where appropriate To provide senior representation and clinical leadership on behalf of the ICB at Multi-Agency meetings/ Forums as required. To produce and present high quality, accurate reports to boards, committee's and Governing Body meetings of the ICB as required, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.

Deliver formal presentations as requested. Ensure the organisation has a robust and effective patient safety strategy in place which aligns with the NHS patient safety strategy. To lead, manage and direct a team of staff responsible for the delivery of Quality Assurance and Monitoring of NHS commissioned health and care services. Taking decisions on a daily basis to ensure the services are effective and in line with achieving the team and corporate objectives.

Support (in providers) the Executives' systems for the response to National Patient Safety Alerts. Lead on the escalation and review of Quality risks for the ICB Board Assurance Framework and Risk Register. Articulate emerging risk indicators for approval of the Director of Nursing. To be responsible for leading the delivery of the Infection, Prevention and Control service delivered by the ICB in Worcestershire, ensuring adequate systems and processes are implemented and appropriate surveillance is conducted.

Work with patient safety colleagues to draw insight from service concerns, complaints, Serious Incident investigations and other sources of intelligence and ensure that themes and learning inform relevant Programme Boards. Quality Lead responsibility for identified improvement workstreams. Ensure there is an integrated approach to patient safety, performance management, quality and the continuous improvement of commissioned services, challenging providers accordingly and undertaking themed reviews and investigations into quality issues as appropriate. Lead, where required, on the coordination and facilitation of multi-agency or complex complaints and produce sensitive responses for sign off by the Chief Officer.

To be the Strategic lead for Quality Governance within the ICB ensuring that the Quality Governance function is effective and incorporates a robust system of managing serious incidents. Provide strategic leadership and direction in all aspects of portfolio to ensure an integrated and coordinated response across health and care organisations. Be responsible for the development and implementation of ICB quality assurance, improvement vision and strategic plans. The post holder will be a source of strategic, professional and specialist advice to colleagues.

Provide professional challenge and curiosity and escalate issues where required. To analyse risk and actively take steps to mitigate risks and escalate through the appropriate ICB governance process. Holding line management responsibility for the staff within portfolio. Assume strategic responsibilities within the wider clinical governance and quality functions of the ICB along with the senior Nursing and Quality Team.