Job Advert
VACANCY: QUALITY & SAFETY ASSURANCE LEAD
NHS Lothian Quality Directorate
GRADE: Band 8A
HOURS: 37 hrs / week
BASE: NHS Lothian – West Port / required to travel between sites
CONTRACT: Permanent
Apply on-line www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk
NHS Lothian’s Quality Directorate is looking to recruit an enthusiastic and driven individual to lead in implementing Lothian’s Quality Strategy (QS). The role will focus on developing a comprehensive approach to Quality Management (QM), encompassing the co-ordination and reporting of a range of assurance activities including risk management to contribute to the delivery of person-centred, safe and effective care.
As the Quality and Safety assurance Lead, you will:
- Provide expert leadership to develop and support risk management approaches across the organisation
- Lead the Directorate’s approach to scoping, planning, and implementing quality assurance programmes that meet organisational priorities.
- Empower and guide teams using proven quality tools and techniques, fostering a culture of learning and improvement that prioritises safe, effective and person-centred care and reduces avoidable harm.
- Develop and oversee systematic processes, guidance, and reporting to embed QM principles into everyday practice.
- Ensure that infrastructure and effective processes are in place to support quality assurance and risk management within NHS Lothian including:
- Risk management information system
- Management of claims
- Management of safety alerts
- Management of adverse events
- Compliance with relevant standards and guidelines
- Collaborate closely with local and national colleagues, for example participate in Healthcare Improvement Scotland National Network for Adverse Events.
- Provide leadership, mentorship, and management to the Quality Directorate team, fostering growth across a diverse range of roles.
- Work across the health board on key programmes which respond to areas of patient safety and harm reduction.
This role is ideal for someone who is:
- Passionate about enhancing safe, effective, person-centred care within NHS Lothian.
- Skilled in both risk management and quality assurance within healthcare.
- Experienced and knowledgeable in adverse event management
- Proficient in data analysis and reporting, with an ability to effectively convey insights across varied audiences.
- Experienced in programme management with a proven track record of leading teams
- Adept at coaching and motivating teams, influencing change, and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
- A strong communicator and leader with a collaborative, flexible approach.
Qualifications & Experience Required:
- A Master’s-level qualification, preferably in risk management or equivalent experience in risk management and quality assurance.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders across all levels and functions.
- Expertise in analysing complex qualitative and quantitative data and producing high quality reports.
For informal inquiries, please contact Sue Gibbs, Quality and Assurance Lead sue.gibbs@nhs.scot
Or Laura Martin, Quality and Safety Improvement Lead laura.martin8@nhs.scot
The closing date for application forms is 5 January 2026.
Interviews are proposed to be held week commencing 19 January 2026 at West Port, Edinburgh.
Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.
Join us in making a lasting impact on the quality of care in NHS Lothian!
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.