Job summary
The Trust Secretary will play a central role in supporting the NCA's mission and strategic objectives, ensuring robust governance and compliance.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and accountable to the Chair, this position is integral to the Trust's governance architecture, safeguarding the principles and regulatory standards that enable the NCA to achieve its vision.
This is a unique leadership role, where you will act as the independent advisor and primary governance liaison among board members, directors, governors, and Trust members, helping to guide the NCA's development and uphold its core values.
A crucial aspect of this role involves steering the Trust's governance evaluation and development programs, ensuring board members and governors are supported, well-prepared, and fully compliant with Fit and Proper Persons regulations.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a strategic and knowledgeable leader with significant experience in corporate governance, assurance and strategic change. You will demonstrate a track record of success at a senior leadership level in a complex public sector or large multi-site private sector organisation.
The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in governance principles, compliance regulations, and a track record of successful leadership at or close to executive level. Exceptional communication skills, integrity, and a collaborative mindset are essential, along with a high degree of attention to detail and personal accountability.
Your approach as Trust Secretary will be central to securing our future success and sustainability. You will, through your leadership of Change Portfolio Assurance Team, bring a crucial lens to major strategic change projects that impact on the structure and future form of the NCA, offering an independent perspective on mission critical agendas.
In collaboration with the Chair, Chief Executive, and Chief People and Strategy Officer, you will lead in designing, implementing, and continuously improving governance frameworks that empower the Board of Directors and Council of Governors to perform effectively. You will provide advice on complex legal, regulatory, and compliance matters, ensuring all statutory, constitutional, and governance obligations are met.
About us
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives. As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.
In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk
If you have the expertise, commitment, and vision to contribute to the NCA at a pivotal time, we look forward to receiving your application.
For more information on this appointment process, please contact Thomas Patterson, Managing Director at Alumni Global on thomas.patterson@alumniglobal.com.
Interviews will take place on Friday 6th December 2024.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk
If you have the expertise, commitment, and vision to contribute to the NCA at a pivotal time, we look forward to receiving your application.
For more information on this appointment process, please contact Thomas Patterson, Managing Director at Alumni Global on thomas.patterson@alumniglobal.com.
Interviews will take place on Friday 6th December 2024.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree (or evidence of equivalent achievement demonstrated through experience and relevant qualification/s)
Desirable
- Masters degree (or evidence of equivalent achievement demonstrated through experience and relevant qualification/s)
- Post-graduate qualification in Governance (or evidence of equivalent achievement demonstrated through experience and relevant qualification/s)
Professional Registration
Desirable
- Membership of the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGI)
Knowledge, Training & Experience
Essential
- Prior knowledge or the ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of NHS Foundation Trusts
- Experience of working at a very senior level in a large and complex organisation of scale and complexity
- Experience of working closely and effectively with Executive Directors/Non-Executive Directors/Governors or equivalents in different sectors
- Track record of dealing effectively with business conduct standards and associated issues in a large, complex organisation
- Experience of providing high-quality administrative support to Boards and Committees
- Experience of working within an environment where strictly confidential and high sensitive matters require close attention and appropriate management
Desirable
- Experience of working in an organisation under public and political scrutiny
- Experience of working as a Trust Board Secretary
- Able to convey complex ideas or view in a compelling matter with skill
- Able to manage discussions, conflicts and negotiation processes between people to best effect
- Ability to gain and sustain credibility with Boards of Directors, Council of Governors and senior colleagues in partner organisations
- Relationship-orientated, consensus builder and collaborative
- Appreciative of colleagues and stakeholders, and comfortable with changing approach to work collaboratively
- Skilled in establishing and maintaining relationships with key internal and external individuals, developing effective alliances and partnerships
- Politically astute and able to think laterally
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Detailed knowledge of corporate governance legislation and best practice
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Confident in working with high profile individuals and organisations
- Very strong attention to detail and consistent accuracy
- Consistently calm under pressure, reliable, realistic and focused
- High degree of personal integrity and consistently demonstrates manner and approach that is professional and reliable.
Desirable
- Ability to use initiative, work unsupervised and interpret situations and complex regulations to achieve high results and meet deadlines
- Ability to work under intense pressure to very demanding timetables
- Specialist knowledge of complex and extensive legal, regulatory and contractual requirements pertaining to NHS Foundation Trusts and NHS Trusts, and Group models
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree (or evidence of equivalent achievement demonstrated through experience and relevant qualification/s)
Desirable
- Masters degree (or evidence of equivalent achievement demonstrated through experience and relevant qualification/s)
- Post-graduate qualification in Governance (or evidence of equivalent achievement demonstrated through experience and relevant qualification/s)
Professional Registration
Desirable
- Membership of the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGI)
Knowledge, Training & Experience
Essential
- Prior knowledge or the ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of NHS Foundation Trusts
- Experience of working at a very senior level in a large and complex organisation of scale and complexity
- Experience of working closely and effectively with Executive Directors/Non-Executive Directors/Governors or equivalents in different sectors
- Track record of dealing effectively with business conduct standards and associated issues in a large, complex organisation
- Experience of providing high-quality administrative support to Boards and Committees
- Experience of working within an environment where strictly confidential and high sensitive matters require close attention and appropriate management
Desirable
- Experience of working in an organisation under public and political scrutiny
- Experience of working as a Trust Board Secretary
- Able to convey complex ideas or view in a compelling matter with skill
- Able to manage discussions, conflicts and negotiation processes between people to best effect
- Ability to gain and sustain credibility with Boards of Directors, Council of Governors and senior colleagues in partner organisations
- Relationship-orientated, consensus builder and collaborative
- Appreciative of colleagues and stakeholders, and comfortable with changing approach to work collaboratively
- Skilled in establishing and maintaining relationships with key internal and external individuals, developing effective alliances and partnerships
- Politically astute and able to think laterally
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Detailed knowledge of corporate governance legislation and best practice
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Confident in working with high profile individuals and organisations
- Very strong attention to detail and consistent accuracy
- Consistently calm under pressure, reliable, realistic and focused
- High degree of personal integrity and consistently demonstrates manner and approach that is professional and reliable.
Desirable
- Ability to use initiative, work unsupervised and interpret situations and complex regulations to achieve high results and meet deadlines
- Ability to work under intense pressure to very demanding timetables
- Specialist knowledge of complex and extensive legal, regulatory and contractual requirements pertaining to NHS Foundation Trusts and NHS Trusts, and Group models
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).