Head of Corporate Governance

Job responsibilities

Independence

• The post holder will ensure high levels of governance and policy development which reflect the strategic intent and direction of the Trust and will support the Associate Director of Corporate Governance in embedding a culture of probity and good governance. As such the post holder is required to act as an independent and impartial arbiter to the Trust Board and senior teams. Given the nature of the role, it demands exceptional listening, analytical and problem solving skills, and must bring strong judgement, objectivity and scrutiny to a range of activities across the Trusts corporate agenda; weighing up and presenting judgements on complex situations requiring the interpretation and comparison of a range of options. The post holder will need highly developed interpersonal and diplomatic skills for influencing and managing complex situations, whilst sustaining engagement and involvement. This will require advanced theoretical and practical knowledge across a wide range of specialist areas and functions.

The postholder will need to be cognisant of the following:

• The confidential nature of matters handled.
• The complex nature of the work dealing with highly contentious matters, involving the Board of Directors.
• An ability to identify and address potential conflicts of interest.
• Adviser on constitutional and corporate governance matters, acting as deputy for the Associate Director of Corporate Governance
• The sensitivity of the communications required with the Board and senior managers
• The requirement to act autonomously
• To comply and show demonstration of the above the post holder will ensure professional training and codes of conduct are maintained, demonstrated through:-
• The post holder will have appropriate experience of working with a Board of Directors.

• Be aware of and comply with the relevant codes of conduct and practice set out by The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, even if not formally registered with the institute. Any breach of these codes may lead to action by the Trust independent of any taken by the regulatory or professional body.
• In pursuing these duties, the post holder will ensure compliance with the NHS Constitution.

Board Governance

• Be responsible for ensuring the meetings of the Trust Board are arranged, planned and coordinated with sub-committees and any other related elements within the overall corporate framework. Ensure meetings are run in accordance with the Trusts Standing Orders and associate governance documents.
• Provide specialist governance advice to the Board of Directors to support the effective discharge of their responsibilities, supporting compliance with all statutory and regulatory frameworks. In doing so take into account areas of governance including but not limited to the Nolan Principles, compliance with the terms of authorisation, standing Order, Standing Financial Instructions, regulation, legal requirements and risk impact.
• Support the Chair and Associate Director of Corporate Governance in managing the communications and processes associated with and between the Board, the Board Committees and Working Groups, ensuring these are carried out in a way that enables the Board to undertake their duties as effectively as possible.
• Ensure specialist and high level administration support is provided to the following Board and its Committees. Ensure adequate briefing information is available prior to the meeting, flagging sensitive matters and monitoring papers for any governance implications.
• Hold terms of reference for the Board Committees and the Executive Group and any current or future partnership or provider collaboratives which underpin the Trusts governance arrangements. Ensure they all follow an agreed template and are subject to review at appropriate intervals in line annual committee review process. Maintain forward work programmes for each these meetings.
• To lead on the annual evaluation of the Board committees working with the committee chairs to review the effectiveness of committees, ensuring continual improvement, supported by the Corporate Governance Officer.
• Support the Associate Director of Corporate Governance in ensuring the regular evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board of Directors, through annual Board Well-led reviews in line with good governance principles.
• Provide information, assistance and advice to Non-Executive Directors on Board business as appropriate, often of a complex and confidential nature.
• With HR, NHSE appointments Teams (as required) support the recruitment process for Executive, Corporate and Non-Executive Directors, ensuring the procedure followed is in accordance with the Constitution and Code of Governance and in accordance with the Fit and Proper Person Test. This will require working with other internal and external departments.
• Responsible for ensuring effective arrangements for a comprehensive induction of all Board members is in place and provide advice and support regarding the discharge of their duties.
• Work with the Chair and Associate Director of Corporate Governance on the development and delivery of agreed Board Development programme, and replicate aspects of this, as deemed necessary, with Senior colleagues.
• Deputise for the Associate Director of Corporate Governance at Board meetings, Board Committee meetings, or other meetings when required.
• To develop systems and processes to effectively deliver the governance cycle working with a range of internal, as well as external colleagues.

Corporate Governance / Well led responsibilities

• Support the Associate Director of Corporate Governance in ensuring that advice is provided on all matters relating to statutory and legislative compliance, including compliance with the requirements of the Trusts Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions, the NHS Code of Governance and other best practice corporate governance guides.
• Keep up to date on all new corporate regulatory and governance developments such as the annual reporting processes, completing Board briefings on new corporate governance developments.
• Support the Associate Director of Corporate Governance in ensuring all Board and corporate records and documents are appropriately developed, consulted upon, maintained, reviewed and updated, including the Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, Schedule of Matters Reserved for the Board, and Board Committee Terms of Reference, and Corporate Policies associated with corporate governance arrangements.
• To assist with updating and ensure implementation of specific corporate policies include Fit and Proper Persons Policy, Standards of Business Conduct and others.
• Responsible for the policy management system for the wider list of corporate policies, ensuring there is a clear process for policy owners to meet review dates and provide governance advise to divisional teams on the management of written control documents in line with the Trusts policy.
• To lead the production the Trust's Annual Report ensuring adherence to regulatory guidance, and that nationally set timescales are met, including submission to the regulator. and support with preparation and delivery of the Annual General Meeting.
• Support the production of the Annual Governance Statement
• Take a lead role in the delivery of corporate governance effectiveness reviews, to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with best practice, including the dissemination of results and development of improvement plans.
• Take a lead role in maintaining and coordinating the regular review of the Board Assurance Framework working closely with directors and committees to maintain and update this.
• Lead on the process for updating the Trust Level Risk Register, reporting updates to Board and Risk Committee. Work closely with the Head of Safety and Risk on continual improvement to the Risk Management Framework and its implementation and dissemination across the Trust.
• Lead on the monitoring and updating of the Trusts Publication Scheme on the external Internet pages.
• To ensure the maintenance and management of the Trust senior decision makers Fit and Proper Persons declarations and to ensure this is readily available for inspection by accredited bodies when inspecting the Trusts management processes.
• Provide oversight of the Standards of Business Conduct Policy and associated register of interests, hospitality, sponsorship and gifts, and ensure the Directors declarations are published on the Trusts website.
• Ensure an effective process is in place and implemented for the use of the Trust seal, in line with Standing Orders.
• Assist the Associate Director of Corporate Governance with the management of Corporate Record Management arrangements.
• Actively engage the Directors and senior colleagues in the work to ensure that the Trust complies with the expectations and requirements of an organisation which is Well Led, including self-assessment processes and helping the Trust prepare for inspections.
• Undertake regular horizon scanning, to assess and interpret corporate governance and/or policy information from regulatory bodies to understand the implications for the Trust and determine and/or recommend the most appropriate course of action.
• Undertake research on potential issues relating to issues of corporate governance that may affect the Trust.
• Manage, co-ordinate and/or contribute to the production of all appropriate reports, forward plans, self-certifications and submissions to relevant regulatory bodies and ensure that they are filed and published and where appropriate made available for public inspection.

• Please refer to the attached job description for full list of key responsibilities

Qualifications

Essential

• Post graduate level knowledge and practice of NHS corporate governance gained through substantial evidence of working in a senior capacity in the NHS or related field.
• Educated to Masters Degree level or equivalent post graduate qualification or equivalent senior level experience.
• Management or leadership qualification, or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of on-going professional development.

Desirable

• Membership of the Chartered Governance Institute or working to or having completed a post-graduate level qualification in corporate governance.
• Project/Programme management qualification.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Highest level of integrity
• Ability to manage information in a confidential manner.
• Strong motivation to improve patient care and service effectiveness Openness, honesty, inclusiveness and high standards in leadership.
• Leads with compassion and integrity.
• Strives to do things right first time.
• Understands and respects cultural needs and differences.
• Uses appropriate language and behaviours, in keeping with Trust values.
• Challenges inappropriate behaviour constructively.
• Open to challenge from others.
• Empathetic.
• Seeks out feedback and uses this for self- development.
• Inclusive leader.
• Encourages ideas and enables team members to lead change.
• Uses mistakes as opportunity for learning.
• Encourages and enables collaborative working.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic.
• Embraces and demonstrates innovation to promote improved business/strategic outcomes.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with a Board in a complex organisation.
• Recent experience as a Senior Manager working closely with directors, servicing senior management governance meetings.
• Experience, knowledge and application of corporate governance legislation and best practice especially in complex and devolved settings.
• Relevant experience in an administration management position within the NHS or other.
• Track record of initiating and implementing good administrative and reporting systems.
• Experience of successfully partnership working with a range of stakeholders, including the public, Trust membership and system partners and balancing their different needs and requirements.
• Experience of working in an organisation under public and political scrutiny.
• Experience in producing high quality Board level reports.
• Experience of dealing with corporate governance and business conduct principles.
• Experience of building personal and professional credibility.
• Management and leadership of staff from a range of professional backgrounds.
• Experience of effective people management.

Desirable

• Previous experience working in a company secretariat or in a senior governance role either in public or private sector.
• Worked with or as part of a Governing body in a regulated organisation/ environment.
• Proven senior management/leadership experience within the NHS.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to monitor compliance requirements and where necessary influence relevant policies and changes to policies.
• Highly developed communication, interpersonal, facilitation, influencing and negotiation skills with ability to gain and sustain credibility with Board of Directors and a range of different stakeholders.
• Exceptional listening and problem solving skills.
• Ability to quickly understand issues involving highly complex, sensitive and /or contentious information and communicate them clearly and succinctly to all levels within and outside the Trust, including where there are significant barriers to understanding.
• Comfortable and credible operating with Board members.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to make effective judgments involving highly complex and multi-threaded facts or situations which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
• Able to effectively lead, motivate and manage a team.
• Sound judgement and objectivity.
• Highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Ability to be resilient in challenging situations and work with ambiguity.
• Political astuteness and understanding of what can and cannot be delivered at a senior level in a large complex organisation.
• Collaborative working skills and the ability to build strong relationships with clinical leaders and professional.
• Commitment to personal, staff and organisational development.
• Ability to develop and use effective professional networks.
• Ability to communicate at all levels.

Desirable

• Ability to work with stakeholders to develop good governance structures and assurance frameworks.
• Problem solving skills and ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they rise, as well as respond to sudden unexpected demands.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).