Join us and help shape the future of exceptional patient care.
Are you passionate about driving high standards in clinical quality, safety, and governance? Do you thrive in a role where your work leads to meaningful improvements for patients, carers and clinical teams? We are looking for an inspiring and proactive Clinical Governance Lead to manage our dynamic team and help shape a culture of excellence across the hospital.
In this pivotal position, you will play a central role in developing and delivering a proactive, robust approach to clinical governance, quality improvement and infection prevention. Working closely with senior leaders, you’ll ensure our clinical services not only meet regulatory requirements but consistently deliver safe, high‑quality care that patients can rely on.
About us
At Benenden Hospital we put patients are at the heart of everything we do. We attract kind, compassionate, and talented people to our ultra-modern private hospital, which has been rated as Outstanding by the CQC. We hold JAG accreditation for Endoscopy and ACSA accreditation for anaesthetics.
Benenden Hospital offers excellent working conditions and facilities. We promote flexible working and a healthy work/life balance. We are committed to professional development and have excellent training and education facilities. We work hard to make sure that everyone at Benenden Hospital feels involved and shares our values and vision for the future.
About the role
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In this pivotal role, you’ll work closely with the Head of Governance, Compliance and Risk to strengthen and evolve a robust, forward-thinking framework for clinical quality, patient safety, IPC (Infection Prevention & Control), risk and governance. Your expertise will help ensure our hospital not only meets regulatory standards but consistently delivers safe, high‑quality care that patients can trust.
You will also provide direct line management to the IPC Lead Nurse/Practitioner and Governance Coordinators, leading by example to ensure excellence across our governance functions.
Who We’re Looking For
You’ll be someone with strong leadership, excellent communication skills and a passion for elevating quality across clinical services. You’ll bring the confidence to influence at all levels, the curiosity to seek out improvement opportunities, and the commitment to help create a culture where safety and excellence come first.
At Benenden Hospital we put patients at the heart of everything we do. We attract kind, compassionate, and talented people to our ultra-modern private hospital, which opened in 1907 and has been rated as Outstanding by the CQC. We hold JAG accreditation for Endoscopy and have a beautiful setting in the middle of the Kent countryside.
Benenden Hospital offers excellent working conditions and facilities. We promote flexible working and a healthy work/life balance. We are committed to professional development and have excellent training and education facilities. We work hard to make sure that everyone at Benenden Hospital feels involved and shares our values and vision for the future.
Skills and experience required
As our Clinical Governance Lead you will:
- Champion the delivery of impactful quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient outcomes and service experience.
- Guide clinical teams in embedding learning from incidents, patient feedback and emerging trends to drive safer, smarter practice.
- Oversee the implementation of the hospital-wide Infection Prevention & Control programme, ensuring compliance, efficiency and clear progress reporting to the DIPC.
- Lead and support Governance Coordinators and the IPC Lead Nurse/Practitioner to ensure key operational functions run smoothly and effectively.
- Maintain sharp awareness of all relevant regulatory requirements—ensuring actions are taken, compliance is upheld and standards are consistently exceeded.
- Oversee the Patient Experience function, ensuring complaints are expertly managed and progressed in line with policy.
- Manage clinical claims processes, promoting organisational learning and embedding improvements.
- Support the development, review and rollout of clinical policies, procedures and best practice guidelines.
- Play a key role in investigating incidents, themes and feedback—helping ensure that lessons are learned, shared and actively implemented.
Benefits include
- Competitive salaries
- 27 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
- Defined contribution pension scheme with employer contribution up to 10%
- Excellent Life Assurance benefit
- Free parking
- Subsidised eye tests
- Free Flu vaccinations
- Free tea and coffee
- Subsidised on site Restaurant
“I love working at Benenden Hospital, it’s a beautiful location in the countryside”, “the whole organisation is supportive”, “it’s the team, the team are amazing”, “Benenden is a bit like a family”, “the whole atmosphere is brilliant”
These are just some of the reasons why more than 400 people work at Benenden Hospital which has a long history of caring since it was founded in 1907.
How to apply
If you wish to apply for this position, please complete our application form.
Then please send this application form, and your most up to date CV to kentcareers@benenden.org.uk
Closing Date: 23 March 2026
Please note this vacancy may close prior to the closing date without notice, If a sufficient number of applications are received
A member of the HR team will be in contact after the vacancy closes.
Together, we work hard to maintain a safe, comfortable, patient-focused environment for the people in our care.
All our vacancies are therefore subject to either a Standard or an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service as well as satisfactory reference checks. These procedures need to be completed before all new member of staff can join the hospital.
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we have implemented a Privacy Notice to inform you, as prospective employees of Benenden Hospital, of the types of data we process about you. Please visit our Careers page to read our Privacy Notice.