Head of Improvement

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP) is seeking an exceptional improvement leader to shape and drive our Trust-wide improvement agenda. This is a senior, strategic role for someone who can bring clarity, ambition and energy to building a culture and system of continuous improvement across all our services.

• Re‑energise the Improvement function and strengthen its profile across the Trust
• Create a shared language, framework and ambition for improvement
• Lead the development and delivery of the Trust's Improvement Strategy
• Build improvement capability at scale across clinical and corporate teams
• Partner with operational, clinical and system colleagues to address unwarranted variation, improve safety and experience, and deliver sustained outcomes
• Ensure programmes are evidence‑based, outcomes‑focused and aligned with national policy

• Supportive executive sponsorship and a committed team
• The space to shape and embed a Trust‑wide Improvement Strategy
• Opportunities to work with IC partners, academic networks, KSS AHSN and national bodies
• A strong culture of values‑led leadership:
  Treat People Well;
  Create Respectful Places;
  Involve not Ignore;
  Be Open, Inclusive and Accountable

• Deep mastery of improvement science (IHI, Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma)
• A track record of reframing or establishing improvement systems at organisation or system level
• Experience leading complex, multi‑site improvement and operational excellence programmes
• The ability to think beyond projects and to build portfolios, frameworks, culture and capability
• Strong skills in coaching, teaching, facilitation and measurement for improvement
• Confidence operating with senior leaders and Executives, with the humility and curiosity to work closely with teams on the ground
• A passion for helping organisations become learning systems
• A commitment to co‑production, equity and embedding psychological safety

We are seeking to enrich the diversity of our Trust to better reflect demographic needs of the populations we serve and to enhance the skills of our workforce. We actively encourage applicants with underrepresented personal characteristics to apply for this role if you match the job description. Please note that you are not restricted from applying for this role if you do not identify with these characteristics and all applicants will be considered fairly against the job description.

As a flexible working and friendly organisation, we want to ensure that you can work in a way that is best for us, our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or any other flexible working patterns.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.

We are one of the top 10 mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust to work for nationwide. Our Trust is an inclusive and supportive employer that offers a wide range of staff networks, flexible working, free parking and excellent health and wellbeing support. We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received. Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles.