About this role
Job summary
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Head of Corporate Affairs to provide senior leadership for corporate governance, secretariat services, and assurance.
Reporting to the Company Secretary, the postholder will support the Board of Directors and Council of Governors to operate effectively and compliantly, ensuring the Trust meets its statutory, regulatory, and constitutional duties.
Responsibilities span regulatory and statutory compliance, including Fit and Proper Person requirements, declarations of interest, records management, and the governance interface with Freedom of Information, and corporate risk processes. The postholder will strengthen engagement with the Council of Governors, ensure compliance with Foundation Trust governance requirements, and foster constructive relationships between governors and the Board.
The role also contributes to organisational development through Board effectiveness activity, leadership development, and governance improvement programmes.
This is a high-profile position which offers the opportunity to play a critical part in supporting the Trust's strategic ambitions and assuring safe, effective, and well-governed care.
Main duties of the job
- Support the Chair in maintaining a high performing Board.
- Support the Company Secretary in all matters of Corporate Governance.
- Ensure a robust planning process to meet all year end and other reporting requirements including annual governance statements and annual reports/accounts.
- Maintain the Board Development programme, planning and responding to strategic needs.
- Support the management of the Board Assurance Framework.
- Ensure that Board Committees are well administrated and effective in their duties.
- Line manage the Risk Manager, Corporate Governance Officers, Policy Team and Executive PAs.
- Be the Information Risk Owner for Corporate Services.
- Ensure all risks are managed effectively within their area of responsibility and working closely with Divisional Colleagues to ensure Trust-wide learning from risks is co-coordinated and embedded in to practice.
- The post holder will report to the Trust's Company Secretary
About us
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Corporate Governance Team to shape this new role on the Trust's journey to continuously improve the quality of the services it delivers.
Job description Job responsibilities
Working closely with the Company Secretary, provide leadership to the Corporate Governance, Risk Management, Policy Management and Executive Assistant functions
Ensure all matters relating to Corporate Governance are effectively planned and delivered ensuring timely statutory returns and information provision.
Provide leadership and direction to Trust staff in the effective management of risk, ensuring that a positive, open and supportive risk management culture is adopted and embedded throughout the organisation.
Supporting the implementation of Risk Management processes that are fit for purpose by coordinating risk management activities and providing training within the Trust as appropriate.
Supported by the Trusts Risk Manager, ensure that effective management and update of the Board Assurance Framework.
Deputise for the Company Secretary on all matters within the portfolio as required.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Degree in a relevant subject and/or equivalent work experience Evidence of ongoing professional development
Experience and knowledge Essential
Experience of working at a senior level in a complex NHS organisation Experience of supporting NHS Trust Boards with demonstrable knowledge of requirements Experience of interacting with Directors to agree courses of action and to meet agreed objectives Proven ability to deliver organisational objectives for own sphere of work, handling complex arrangements with accuracy, timeliness and effectiveness Experience of delivering presentations to large audiences (internal and external) and tailoring information to different groups Knowledge and understanding of regulatory landscape, including the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and NHS England Good understanding of how an acute trust functions Experience of managing complex organisational projects, integrating information across departments Experience of devising and implementing detailed project plans and gaining support/ownership Experience of interpreting national guidance and equating it to local practice Experience of providing assurance, advice and direction at a senior level Extensive knowledge of trust policies as they relate to the role
Skills and Ability Essential
Ability to present complex ideas in a challenging environment Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders within and external to the organisation lity to listen to ideas from different perspectives, determine the way forward and maintain commitment Analytical skills with the ability to understand and frame issues rapidly Ability to work within tight deadlines and prioritise workload Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills at a senior level Able to develop and deliver presentations for different audiences, including those without an NHS background
Other requirements Essential
Ability to travel between sites and attend external meetings Ability to operate in a changing environment; solutions orientated; self-motivated; able to work under pressure to meet deadlines; confident speaker Discretion, tact, diplomacy and honesty Excellent IT skills; methodical and logical with attention to detail
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).
Employer details Employer name Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Whinney Heys Road
Blackpool
FY38NR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.blackpoolteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)