OverviewCQO Job Advert (September 2025). 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.

About the Role

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

Why 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.

What We’re Looking For

Clinical or care professional credibility- ideally from a mental health, learning disability, community or background

Strategic insight- a forward-thinking approach to continuous quality improvement and performance

Proven leadership- experience of leading large-scale improvement programmes and influencing at Board level

Expertise in quality management- including quality planning, assurance and improvement with a strong grasp of data and analytics

Commitment to equity and inclusion- bringing lived experience and insight into the challenges our populations face

Excellent interpersonal skills- the ability to inspire, engage and build trusted relationships across the system

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 elft.ceo-office@nhs.net or Dr Amar Shah, Chief Quality Officer by emailing amarshah@nhs.net

This advert closes on Monday 13 Oct 2025

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