Gemma Cheetham

I am a highly motivated and dynamic individual with a proven record of service improvement, adept at integrating patient-centred care with broader organisational strategies. My experience spans both operational and strategic roles, where I have successfully contributed to enhancing performance across financial, operational, and patient care domains without compromising on quality.

In my most recent role as Trust GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) Lead at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, I coordinated the National GIRFT programme and was part of the Project Management Office (PMO) team, supporting the Trust's financial recovery plan. My responsibilities included coordinating GIRFT visits, working closely with clinical leads to develop improvement strategies, and tracking progress to ensure sustainable service delivery. I also oversaw key transformation projects, ensuring alignment with the Trust’s objectives in cost, quality, and patient care improvements.

Key responsibilities included:

• Collaborating with the Chief Medical Officer to ensure timely Trust responses to GIRFT visits and submissions of data.
• Supporting clinical teams in developing actionable improvement plans and ensuring measurable progress.
• Using benchmarking tools to guide decision-making and identify areas for performance enhancement.
• Maintaining oversight of key performance metrics and tracking improvements, ensuring accountability and progress
across clinical teams.

Additionally, I have experience in project management, having played an active role in rolling out the Advice and Guidance system during the pandemic, as well as leading operational services for the COVID-19 Vaccination Hub. These roles involved managing demand and capacity, coordinating with stakeholders such as CCGs, and ensuring that services were delivered efficiently, with high-quality patient care at the forefront.

In 2022, I was seconded as Operations Manager for the GIRFT Workstream Delivery Team at NHS England. There, I managed clinical project bookings, oversaw administrative teams, and ensured effective communication across providers in England. This role demanded a high level of organisational skill, attention to detail, and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, all contributing to ongoing improvements in patient care.

My earlier role as a Quality and Performance Specialist at the Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit provided me with a deep understanding of quality assurance processes. I conducted quality visits, identified performance issues, and developed strategies to address these while ensuring compliance with national standards and policies. I also gained valuable experience in leading teams, providing training, and managing complex workflows across multiple organisations.

Throughout my career, I have developed a wide range of skills, including:

• Excellent time management and prioritisation, ensuring effective delivery of key activities under pressure.
• Strong analytical abilities, including the use of data to inform decision-making and improve service delivery.
• Comprehensive experience in change management, service development, and the implementation of new systems and
processes.
• A collaborative approach, working effectively across multi-disciplinary teams and with stakeholders at all levels.
• Knowledge and understanding of the policies and processes relating to Governance and Risk.
• The ability to obtain the relevant information required in order for a detailed and factual report to be produced.
• Experience in completing Root Cause Analysis in order to improve services based on the findings.
• Ability to negotiate, influence and escalate, seeking advice when appropriate.
• Experience of successful project management
• Ability to lead others.
• Ability to analyse data.
• Ability to prioritise own work to ensure effective support to all areas.
• Ability to achieve targets and objectives within a demanding and pressured environment against challenging deadlines

I am a self-motivated and enthusiastic individual who thrives in both team-based and independent work environments. I am passionate about driving continuous improvement and embracing change to enhance service delivery. My professional approach, strong communication skills, and commitment to values have allowed me to consistently achieve positive outcomes in my roles. I am eager to bring my skills and experience to a new challenge and continue making meaningful contributions.

Employment History 

Trust Lead Manager for GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time)

Employer: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals 
 

Dates of Employment: May 2019 – July 2025
 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

·       Coordinating the National GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) program. 

·       Tracking progress against implementation plans across specialties. 

·       Aggregate data for trust-wide plans to inform national monitoring. 

·       Collaborate with clinical teams to develop actionable improvement plans. 

Operations Manager (Secondment) 

Employer: NHS England (NHSE)
 

Dates of Employment: February 2022 – February 2023 
 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

·       Managed clinical project deep dive bookings within the GIRFT program. 

·       Oversaw project administrators and maintained workspaces. 

·       Supported national clinical leads and ensured governance of the project framework. 

·       Integrated clinical, managerial, and operational processes across the program. 

Quality and Performance Specialist 

Employer: Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit 
 

Dates of Employment: October 2017 – May 2019 
 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

·       Supported the Commissioning Care Group in ensuring seamless service delivery. 

·       Developed strategies and action plans for quality improvement. 

·       Led quality assurance processes and provided training to staff. 

·       Managed complex workflows across multiple organisations. 

Clinical Governance and Risk Support Manager 

Employer: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals 
 

Dates of Employment: May 2013 – October 2017 
 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

·       Implemented systems to monitor clinical risk and governance standards. 

·       Coordinated responses to national and local quality frameworks. 

·       Maintained compliance records for clinical incidents and complaints. 

Performance Manager 

Employer: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals 
 

Dates of Employment: November 2010 – May 2013 
 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

·       Managed patient services performance in line with national quality indicators. 

·       Ensured achievement of 18-week referral to treatment and cancer targets. 

·       Produced performance reports for internal review. 

18-week Pathway Coordinator 

Employer: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals 
 

Dates of Employment: March 2010 – November 2010 
 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

·       Tracked and updated patient pathways for 18-week targets. 

·       Identified and mitigated risks to ensure patient care was delivered on time. 

Patient Experience Coordinator Support Worker 

Employer: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals 
 

Dates of Employment: October 2009 – March 2010 
 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

·       Provided administrative support to the Orthopaedic Department. 

HR Admin

Employer: XChanging HR Services

Dates of Employment: December 2007 – October 2009

Duties & Responsibilities: 

·       Managed workload allocation and query resolution related to Work Life Balance areas such as Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave, Part Time/Term Time working and Career Breaks for BAE staff.

·       Handled a  high volume of transactions, ensuring adherence to service level agreements and contributing to the continuous improvement of business processes.

·       Achieved individual and team quantity and quality performance measures.

·       Provided training and support to team members and new starters to foster a multi-skilled team environment.

·       Created and improved policies and business processes within the Work Life Balance team.

1997 – English Language GCSE Grade B

1998 - Maths GCSE Grade C

1998 – English Literature GCSE Grade C

1998 – Science GCSE Grade C

2011 - ILM Leadership and Management Level 3 Pass