NHS quality for non-executive directors

As a non-executive director (NED), your role in overseeing the quality of NHS services is critical. But what does ‘quality’ really mean in a health and care context — and how do you know if your board is doing the right things to improve it?

This one-day course equips you with the confidence and knowledge to ask the right questions, understand what good looks like, and support your board in driving meaningful improvement. Whether you’re new to quality or looking for a fresh perspective, you’ll gain practical insights from experienced trainers and peer discussion.

Key takeaways

1. Identify the core components of NHS quality — safety, effectiveness, and experience.
2. Understand how quality is monitored and improved across health and care settings.
3. Explore your board’s role in quality oversight and how you can add value as a NED.
4. Build the confidence to scrutinise quality and offer robust, effective challenge when it counts.
5. Learn from real-world examples and gain practical insights to take straight back to the boardroom.

Quality is at the heart of everything the NHS does. As a NED, you’re not just there to scrutinise performance — you help shape the standards patients and service users experience every day. 

This course helps you to better understand the language of quality, navigate the data and frameworks, and hold your executive colleagues to account in a way that drives continuous improvement. You’ll walk away with practical tools and a clearer sense of how your role supports better outcomes for patients and communities.

• Overview of the national policy agenda in relation to quality, quality improvement and patient safety including defining quality, measuring quality and how quality is overseen at board, trust and system level. 
• "Finding signals through the noise" – sources of triangulation and assurance in relation to quality and patient safety and the role of the quality committee in this. 
• Overview of what quality improvement is in the NHS.  
• The role of organisational culture of continuous improvement.
• Practical exercises to put learning into practice encouraging attendees to triangulate across different sources of information to ask appropriate questions and gain assurance. 
• Time to connect with peers in a safe, supportive space to share challenges and explore solutions together.

The course runs from 9:30am to 4pm (subject to change).

Member (trusts and foundation trusts): £310 (ex VAT) | (incl. VAT) £372
Associate members and integrated care boards: £390 (ex VAT) | (incl. VAT) £468
Non member: £465 (ex VAT) | (incl. VAT) £558

You will need to provide a purchase order number at booking to confirm your place on this course. Card payments are also accepted.

Follow the 'Book now' link at the top of this page to book your place. You will need to create an account if you have not already done so.

• NEDs from any background, although NEDs who do not have a clinical background or are from outside of the NHS may find this particularly useful.
• Executive directors who would like to broaden their understanding of the quality agenda given their corporate director role on a unitary board.