CQC appoints Heads of Hospital Inspections

4 October 2013

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has appointed eight Heads of Hospital Inspections, who will support the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards in transforming the way acute care is regulated.

The appointees, who all have strong professional backgrounds in healthcare and regulation, are:

1. Fiona Allinson, Compliance Manager at CQC

2. Tim Cooper, Programme Director and Transition Lead at NHS Improving Quality

3. Ann Ford, Head of Regional Compliance at CQC

4. Siobhan Jordan, Director of Nursing and Quality at West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group

5. Heidi Smoult, Strategic Project Director at University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

6. Julie Walton, Compliance Manager at CQC

7. Joyce Frederick, Compliance Manager at CQC

8. Mary Cridge, Head of Regional Compliance at CQC

The Heads of Hospital Inspections will shape the design and testing of the CQC’s new way of inspecting hospitals, which began last month. They will cover different regions across England.

Before each inspection, the Heads will assess data collected about the provider to determine the skills, experience and expertise needed for the inspection team to enable a robust and thorough review of the services. They will also provide ongoing leadership and management to the inspectors and they will work with the Chief Inspector of Hospitals to set the direction for individual inspections.

Speaking of the appointments, Professor Sir Mike Richards, Chief Inspector of Hospitals said: “I am delighted to have appointed eight Heads of Hospital Inspections, who will support me in transforming the way acute services in England are monitored and inspected. They each bring with them a wealth of experience to the roles across regulation, national leadership and in frontline clinical practice. Together we will expose poor or mediocre care in hospitals, as well as highlight good and excellent services.”

CQC’s new way of inspecting hospitals involves significantly larger teams made up of doctors, nurses and other experts and trained members of the public. Each inspection will provide the public with a clear picture of the quality of care in their local hospital. On the evening of the first day of each inspection there will be a “listening event” where local people can tell members of the inspection panel their views of the hospital’s care.

By the end of 2015, CQC will have inspected all acute hospitals.  

Ends

For media enquiries about the Care Quality Commission, call the CQC press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours or out of hours on 07917 232 143. For general enquiries, call 03000 61 61 61.

Notes to editors

CQC’s Heads of Hospital Inspections

1. Fiona Allinson is currently a Compliance Manager at the Care Quality Commission, where she manages compliance inspectors in the Leicestershire region to regulate health and adult social care services and to use CQC’s enforcement powers effectively. She has worked in regulation for eight years and prior to that was a nurse across NHS and private services including theatres, intensive care and emergency services.

2. Tim Cooper is currently Programme Director and Transition Lead at NHS Improving Quality, where he leads a wide range of programmes to deliver improvements to patient care and experience. He also provides expert advice to NHS England’s radiotherapy programme. Prior to this, Tim was Associate Director of Radiotherapy for the National Cancer Action Team. He has progressed through radiotherapy and has held management roles in oncology and cancer services.

3. Ann Ford is currently Head of Regional Compliance at the Care Quality Commission, where she is accountable for the delivery of regulatory activity in the north west of England. She has a wealth of experience in regulation across health and adult social care, including as Regional Director at the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales. Prior to her roles in regulation, she was a nurse.

4. Siobhan Jordan is currently Director of Nursing and Quality at West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, where she has led on the quality and safety agenda for the region to enable best practice standards to be met. She has worked in acute hospital settings for over 25 years, including as staff nurse in A&E and has held a number of Director-level posts, including Director of Nursing and Quality at Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust.

5. Heidi Smoult is currently Strategic Project Director at University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, where she leads the development and implementation of the new children’s hospital strategy. Prior to this role, she gained significant experience in operational management in acute hospital settings.  She commenced her career working as a midwife in various roles including governance and clinical audit before progressing into a national role as a Senior Risk Management Assessor on behalf of the NHS Litigation Authority.

6. Julie Walton is currently Compliance Manager at the Care Quality Commission, where she leads the team of inspectors in central region regulating across health and social care services. She has been working in regulation for 20 years across health and social care, including a number of management roles in CQC’s predecessor organisations. She has a wealth of experience in inspection and enforcement activities and has been involved in hospital inspections for the last 10 years. She is a registered nurse who previously specialised in operating theatres, surgery, orthopaedics and hospice work.

7. Joyce Frederick is currently Compliance Manager at the Care Quality Commission, where she leads the team of inspectors responsible for regulating and monitoring health and adult social care in Dorset. She has worked in healthcare regulation for over ten years and prior to that worked in clinical audit for NHS Trusts.

8. Mary Cridge is currently Head of Regional Compliance at the Care Quality Commission, where she is responsible for delivering health and adult social care regulatory activities in the south west region of England. She has been involved in regulation for 20 years, including at the Charity Commission and the Office of Electricity Regulation and eight years in the healthcare sector.