Kayleigh Barnett
Ellesmere Port,Cheshire
Summary
Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in quality management systems, process improvement, and operational excellence. Demonstrates a strong ability to drive performance optimisation through the application of lean principles and the model for improvement. Skilled in change management, risk management, and governance strategy, with a proven track record in strategic execution and corporate planning. Adept at benefits realisation and portfolio strategies, ensuring effective stakeholder and executive engagement. Offers cross-functional leadership capabilities, focusing on capability development and leadership training. Committed to service optimisation and policy implementation within complex management environments.
Results-driven Continuous Improvement Manager with a knack for streamlining processes and driving operational efficiencies. Led cross-functional teams to implement lean methodologies, resulting in significant cost reductions and enhanced productivity. Recognised for fostering a culture of continuous improvement and boosting team performance through innovative problem-solving.
Overview
2
2
years of post-secondary education
16
16
years of professional experience
Work history
Head of Continuous Improvement
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
2022.10 - 2026.07
- Lead the Trust's Continuous Improvement function, providing strategic leadership for improvement, organisational development and capability building across a large acute healthcare organisation.
- Lead and develop the Trust's Continuous Improvement strategy.
- Provide leadership and management for the improvement team.
- Coach and mentor leaders, managers and frontline teams in improvement methodology and change leadership.
- Support delivery of strategic transformation programmes across the organisation.
- Provide expert advice and support to Executive Directors and senior leadership teams.
- Lead development of Quality Management System approaches to support organisational excellence.
- Facilitate strategy deployment processes that align Board priorities with operational delivery.
- Strengthen links between improvement, assurance, governance and performance management functions.
- Design and deliver a comprehensive improvement learning and development programme.
- Design and deliver regional improvement conferences and organisational development events.
- Represent the organisation within regional and system-wide improvement networks.
- Created structured organisational improvement capability pathway to enhance staff development across all levels.
- Aligned strategic objectives, transformation programmes and frontline improvement activity to strengthen organisational coherence.
- Supported the embedding of improvement methodologies across clinical and corporate services.
- Enhanced visibility and maturity of improvement approaches through leadership engagement and targeted capability development.
- Supported the embedding of improvement methodologies across clinical and corporate services.
- Enhanced visibility and maturity of improvement approaches through leadership engagement and targeted capability development.
Senior Improvement Lead
Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA)
Sale, Greater Manchester
2017.02 - 2022.10
- Led AQuA's flagship Advanced Improvement Programme for senior healthcare leaders.
- Delivered national capability-building programmes for Patient Safety Collaboratives across England.
- Influenced boards and executive teams on application of improvement approaches to address strategic organisational challenges, shaping key decisions and driving impactful initiatives.
- Led diverse portfolio of strategic improvement, safety, leadership and organisational development programmes across provider organisations, healthcare systems and regional partnerships, enhancing collaborative efforts and driving system-wide change.
- Facilitated system-wide communities of practice, uniting leaders from multiple organisations to foster learning and collaboration, resulting in shared insights and best practices.
- Supported implementation of the Measurement and Monitoring of Safety Framework across regional and national programmes.
- Developed expertise across safety improvement, mortality improvement, leadership development, human factors and measurement for improvement.
- Led strategic reviews of consultancy and membership services, advising senior leaders on growth opportunities and future direction.
- Key Responsibilities & Achievements
Programme Manager
Haelo
Salford, Greater Manchester
2016.08 - 2017.01
- Managed portfolio of complex improvement and innovation programmes across multiple organisations and stakeholder groups to enhance collaborative outcomes.
- Supported organisations in special measures by establishing tailored improvement plans and delivery frameworks, driving significant organisational change.
- Developed improvement strategies, governance structures and performance dashboards.
- Managed Health Foundation-funded safety improvement programmes.
- Delivered leadership and capability-building programmes for healthcare professionals, fostering enhanced skills and competencies in care delivery.
- Highlights
Innovation Project Manager
Haelo
2014.10 - 2016.08
- Managed the nationally recognised Making Safety Visible programme.
- Led innovative improvement and patient safety initiatives with NHS provider organisations, enhancing collaboration with executive leadership teams.
- Worked directly with Executive Boards across multiple Trusts to support strategic safety improvement.
- Developed training resources and implementation materials, equipping teams to effectively implement safety protocols.
- Coached teams in quality improvement methodologies, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
- Facilitated collaborative learning and innovation across organisational boundaries.
- Highlights
Project Manager
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Chester, Cheshire West
2010.10 - 2012.03
- Led complex projects from business case development to implementation and operational handover, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
- Oversaw project execution, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards.
- Developed comprehensive business cases to support project initiation and secure stakeholder buy-in.
- Budget and resource management.
- Risk and issue management.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Programme planning and delivery.
- Benefits realisation.
- Transition into business as usual operations.
Education
Master's Degree - Healthcare Leadership (Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme)
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool 2025.01 -
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) - Business
Manchester Business School
Manchester 2019.01 - 2021.01
Skills
- Quality management systems
- Process improvement
- Operational excellence
- Performance optimisation
- Lean principles
- Model for improvement
- Change management
- Risk management
- Governance strategy
- Strategic execution
- Corporate planning
- Benefits realisation
- Portfolio strategies
- Stakeholder engagement
- Executive engagement
- Cross-functional leadership
- Capability development
- Leadership training
- Team leadership
- System leadership
- Complex management
- Service optimisation
- Policy implementation
Accomplishments
- Leading the Continuous Improvement function for a large acute NHS Trust, providing strategic leadership for improvement and transformation activity across clinical and corporate services.
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive organisational improvement capability programme, supporting workforce development from beginner through advanced practitioner level.
- Led development and deployment of organisational Quality Management System approaches, strengthening alignment between strategy, governance, performance and improvement activity.
- Supported Board and Executive Teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable organisational objectives and improvement programmes.
- Led AQuA's flagship Advanced Improvement Programme, developing senior leaders from healthcare organisations across the region.
- Delivered national capability-building programmes for Patient Safety Collaboratives across England, strengthening improvement and measurement expertise across multiple systems.
- Led strategic reviews and advised senior leadership teams on future service and commercial development opportunities.
- Worked directly with NHS provider Boards and system partners to strengthen safety, organisational learning and improvement capability.
Publications, Speaking & Professional Contributions
- Published author in the field of Appreciative Inquiry in Health and Care
- Podcast Host.
- National and regional conference speaker.
- Leadership and improvement coach.
- Mentor to improvement professionals and emerging leaders.
- Advocate for Appreciative Inquiry, strengths-based leadership and continuous learning.
Executive Value Proposition
Strategic transformation leader with expertise in Quality Management Systems, strategy deployment, continuous improvement and organisational development. Trusted by Boards, Executive Teams and system partners to translate strategic ambition into measurable delivery, develop organisational capability and create the conditions for sustainable improvement at scale.
Affiliations
- Medievalist historian
- Keen gardener
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Master's Degree - Healthcare Leadership (Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme)
Liverpool John Moores University
2025.01 -
Head of Continuous Improvement
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
2022.10 - 2026.07
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) - Business
Manchester Business School
2019.01 - 2021.01
Senior Improvement Lead
Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA)
2017.02 - 2022.10
Programme Manager
Haelo
2016.08 - 2017.01
Innovation Project Manager
Haelo
2014.10 - 2016.08
Project Manager
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
2010.10 - 2012.03