Head of Quality Assurance

Role: Head of Quality Assurance
Location: 2 Cavendish Square, Central London
Hours: Full‑time, 37.5 hours per week (Mon–Fri)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience, with an excellent benefits package

About the Role

The Head of Quality Assurance plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping and delivering HCA Healthcare UK’s Quality Assurance strategy across all facilities and primary care. This is a high‑profile position responsible for ensuring continuous compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and all relevant regulatory and statutory requirements.

You will provide strategic direction, expert oversight and operational excellence to the quality assurance agenda—working closely with senior leaders, governance teams and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to drive consistent improvement, uplift standards and ensure outstanding care across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Quality Leadership

• Develop, implement and continually enhance HCA Healthcare UK's Quality Assurance strategy, aligned with regulatory standards, best practice and organisational objectives

• Promote a culture of learning, transparency and continuous improvement across all care settings

• Provide expert leadership and guidance on all quality, safety and compliance matters to Facility Executives, Governance Teams, SMEs and Senior Leadership

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, support and grow a group‑wide portfolio of SMEs, ensuring high‑quality delivery, capability and, where needed, targeted training

• Translate peer review outcomes into meaningful action plans that support improvement and organisation‑wide learning

Regulatory Compliance & Assurance

• Ensure services consistently meet and aspire to exceed CQC Fundamental Standards and Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs)

• Maintain oversight of compliance with all relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks

• Lead organisational preparation for CQC inspections, thematic reviews and readiness assessments

• Provide visibility and oversight of quality‑related risks, working collaboratively with patient safety, risk and governance teams

• Develop and implement a group‑wide assurance tool/platform to support CQC readiness and effective governance monitoring

At HCA UK we care about what you care about. We care that you want to deliver the very best care. We care that you want a career you can be proud of. We care that you want working conditions that support your health and wellbeing. Let us care for you and your career, the same way you do for others. 

What You’ll Bring

• A professional qualification in Healthcare, Nursing, Allied Health, Social Care, Quality/Governance—or equivalent experience.

• Senior leadership experience in quality assurance, governance or regulatory compliance within independent healthcare or another regulated care environment.

• In‑depth knowledge of CQC regulations, Fundamental Standards, KLOEs and inspection methodology.

• Experience applying regulatory and assurance frameworks in practice.

• Strong interpersonal skills, including negotiation, influencing, stakeholder engagement and the ability to present complex information clearly.

• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret, understand and present data effectively.

• Ability to work under pressure, handle competing priorities and meet deadlines.

• Flexibility to travel across all HCA facilities as required (including Manchester, Birmingham and Primary Care).

Why HCA UK? 

Originally founded over 50 years ago by Dr Thomas Frist, HCA has gone on to become one of the world’s leading healthcare providers. In the UK, we’re one of the largest providers of privately funded healthcare and have invested over £500 million in the latest treatments, technology, techniques, medication and facilities. Being part of a large multisite, established healthcare group we can offer you unrivalled opportunities for career progression through internal and external courses, as well as working conditions that prioritise both your mental and physical wellbeing.   

We believe that by caring for our employees, we empower them to provide exceptional care for our patients. That’s why we offer a host of flexible benefits that reflect the invaluable contribution they make every day. As Head of Quality Assurance you’ll be eligible for: 

• 25 days holiday each year (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with option to buy or sell leave to suit you 

• Private Healthcare Insurance for treatment at our leading hospitals 

• Private pension contribution which increases with length of service 

• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work scheme 

• Group Life Assurance from day one 

• Critical illness cover 

• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay 

• Corporate staff discount for all facilities including Maternity packages at The Portland 

• Comprehensive range of flexible health, protection and lifestyle benefits to suit you 

• Discounts with over 800 major retailers 

Culture and values 

At HCA UK we believe exceptional care starts with our people. We celebrate the unique perspectives and different experiences each of us bring as we know that when you feel seen, heard and supported you can be at your best for our patients, and each other. 

Our mission is simple, above all else we’re committed to the care and improvement of human life, a clear statement that extends to both our patients and colleagues. To achieve this, we live and breathe four core values: 

• Unique and Individual: We recognise and value everyone as unique and individual 

• Kindness and compassion: We treat people with kindness and compassion 

• Honesty, integrity and fairness: - We act with absolute honesty, integrity and fairness 

• Loyalty, respect and dignity: We trust and treat one another as valued members of the HCA UK family with loyalty, respect and dignity 

Reasonable adjustments 

We believe everyone should feel comfortable to bring their full self to work and be afforded the same opportunities. As a Disability Confident committed organisation, we’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements to suit your needs as well as offer reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, and in the workplace, to anyone that needs them. 

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