Performance and quality management

As a manager of performance and quality, you will work with clinicians and other staff groups to set standards for the provision of services which are both ambitious and achievable.

Working life

There are a variety of job roles and job titles in performance and quality management. Examples include:

• Clinical risk manager
• Head of performance management
• Quality assurance manager

Clinical risk manager

You could report to the director of clinical governance, learning and development. You’ll work closely with the risk manager and executive nurse. You’ll be responsible for all aspects of clinical risk management.

Head of performance management

You could be instrumental in the continuous improvement of performance reporting and management in a clinical commissioning group [1] (CCG). You’d work in the finance, performance and project management office and have specific responsibilities for developing, implementing and embedding performance management systems.

You’d need a comprehensive understanding of national and local performance standards and be capable of developing and implementing a range of performance reports and solutions to help improve quality.

Quality assurance manager

As a quality assurance [2] manager, you could be involved in working in education. You would make sure that effective arrangements are in place to ensure that our students and trainees' education is continuously improving and of the highest standard.

You’d work with a range of organisations including universities to make sure this happens.

Want to learn more?

• Find out more about the entry requirements, skills and interests required to enter a career in performance and quality management [3]
• Find out more about the training you’ll receive for a career in performance and quality management management [4]

• Pay and conditions

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  Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) [5] pay scales. This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers. If you work in performance and quality management, your salary will depend on your role. This could be anywhere between AfC [6] bands 5 and 9 depending on the precise role and level of responsibility.

  NHS staff will usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. They may work a shift pattern.

  Terms and conditions of service can vary for employers outside the NHS.

• Where the role can lead

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  With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further and apply for more senior managerial roles. Relocation for promotion is common.

  More diverse routes are now opening up, for example, jointly-funded posts between health and social services.

  Management qualifications, such as an MBA (Master of Business of Administration) or DMS (Diploma in Management Studies) may be an advantage for some posts.

• Job market and vacancies

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  When you’re looking for managerial jobs or apprenticeship vacancies, there are a number of sources you can use, depending on the type of and level of work you’re seeking. However, most vacancies in NHS organisations can be found on the NHS Jobs website [7].

  Some of the current vacanices are below. 

  • View Vacancy [8]

    Quality Assurance Assistant

    Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, HP7 0JD

    • Salary:

      £20,330 - £21,777 pa

    • Type:

      Permanent

    • Employer:

      Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

    • View Vacancy
  • View Vacancy [9]

    Quality Assurance Specialist Pharmacist

    Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH

    • Salary:

      £47,154 - £52,936 per annum inclusive

    • Type:

      Permanent

    • Employer:

      Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    • View Vacancy
  • View Vacancy [10]

    Head of Quality & Assurance

    Esher, KT10 8NA

    • Salary:

      Depending on experience

    • Type:

      Permanent

    • Employer:

      Central Advertising - Social Enterprises

    • View Vacancy
  • View Vacancy [11]

    Primary Care Quality Assurance Lead

    Chelmsford, CM2 7PY

    • Salary:

      £55000.00 to £55000.00 a year

    • Type:

      Permanent

    • Employer:

      Virgin Care

    • View Vacancy
  • View Vacancy [12]

    Lead Pharmacist for Quality Assurance

    Reading, RG1 5AN

    • Salary:

      £47126.00 to £53219.00 a year

    • Type:

      Permanent

    • Employer:

      Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

    • View Vacancy
  • View Vacancy [13]

    Chief Technician – Pharmacy Quality Assurance

    Pembury, TN2 4QJ

    • Salary:

      £32306.00 to £39027.00 a year

    • Type:

      Permanent

    • Employer:

      Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

    • View Vacancy

• Further information

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  For further information about a career in performance and quality management, please contact

  • Association of Litigation and Risk Managers [14]
  • The Institute of Healthcare Management [15]