Overview

Director of Corporate Governance & Compliance Jobs in Camberley, England, United Kingdom at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Title: Director of Corporate Governance & Compliance

Company: Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Location: Camberley, England, United Kingdom

Job Overview

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and strategically focused leader to join our senior leadership team as Director of Corporate Governance & Compliance.

This is a pivotal Board-facing role, responsible for ensuring robust governance, assurance and regulatory compliance across the Trust, working closely with the Chief Executive, Board of Directors and Council of Governors.

We are looking for a credible senior leader with experience at, or close to, Board level, and a strong track record in corporate governance, risk and regulatory frameworks. You will provide expert advice to senior stakeholders, oversee Board and Committee governance, and ensure effective assurance systems that support organisational performance and integrity.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established Director or an experienced Deputy Director ready to step into a high-impact leadership role, shaping governance across a complex NHS organisation and supporting the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care.

Main duties of the job

  • The Director of Corporate Affairs & Governance is a key member of the Trust’s Executive Team, providing strategic leadership, advice and assurance across corporate governance, risk management, legal services, and regulatory compliance.
  • The postholder will ensure the Trust operates within statutory and regulatory frameworks, while supporting effective decision-making at Executive and Board level.
  • The postholder will also act as the Company Secretary for the Frimley Health Charity.
  • The role is pivotal in maintaining high standards of transparency, accountability, and probity, ensuring the Trust meets its obligations as an NHS Foundation Trust and delivers robust assurance to our populations, our patients, our people, our regulators and our stakeholders.

Working for our organisation

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the contract.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

Frimley Health Trust benefits on Vimeo

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Corporate Governance

  • Lead the development and implementation of best practice corporate governance frameworks across the Trust.
  • Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and NHS requirements, including NHS England guidance.
  • Provide expert advice to the Board and Executive on governance matters.
  • Oversee the planning, coordination, and delivery of Board and Committee business.
  • Ensure the Trust’s Constitution and Standing Orders are maintained and adhered to.
  • Ensure continued compliance with CQC well-led, NHSE Board capability assessment, Fit and Proper Persons Test, Nolan Principles and any other relevant frameworks, including Board succession planning.
  • Work closely with the Director of Quality Governance, Risk and Assurance to ensure alignment and assurance of risk management and governance processes relevant across corporate and clinical areas.
  • Responsibility for corporate policies, procedures and guidelines.
  • Maintain an up-to-date register of external visits and accreditations and report on these where appropriate.
  • Plan and coordinate the development of the Annual Report and Accounts, working closely with the finance and communications functions.

Company Secretary Function

  • Act as Trust Company Secretary, advising the Chair, Chief Executive, and Board on governance and legal obligations.
  • Ensure effective administration of Board, Committee and Executive Team meetings, including agendas, papers, minutes, and action tracking.
  • Maintain statutory registers and ensure compliance with FT governance requirements.
  • Support Board development and effectiveness reviews.

Board Assurance Framework (BAF)

  • Lead the development and continuous improvement of the Board Assurance Framework.
  • Ensure alignment between strategic objectives, risks, controls, and assurances.
  • Provide high-quality reporting to the Board and Committees on risk and assurance.
  • Support Executive Directors in identifying and managing strategic risks.

Corporate Risk Management

  • Working closely with the Director of Quality Governance, Risk and Assurance, contribute to the delivery and assurance of risk management arrangements that comply with internal and external standards and best practice requirements.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of the quality of risk management, particularly the internal control environment.
  • Develop and maintain a robust, risk management framework and comprehensive Board Assurance Framework.
  • Ensure effective identification, escalation, and mitigation of risks.
  • Oversee the Corporate Risk Register and ensure alignment with divisional risks.
  • Promote a positive risk management culture across the organisation.

Freedom of Information (FOI)

  • Oversee the Trust’s Freedom of Information function, ensuring compliance with statutory deadlines and reporting requirements.
  • Ensure robust systems for managing FOI requests, Subject Access Requests, and information disclosures.
  • Provide assurance on transparency and openness in line with legal obligations

Legal Services

  • Lead the provision of legal services to the Trust, including management of the internal team and of external legal advisors.
  • Ensure legal risks are identified, mitigated, and appropriately reported.
  • Provide strategic legal advice to the Board and Executive Team.
  • Act as General Counsel to the Board and Executive Team, providing strategic legal and governance advice across a wide range of areas including (but not limited to): compliance & regulation, clinical negligence, employers and public liability, contracting and agreements, estates issues and support HR with employment matters.

Non-Executive Directors (NEDs)

  • Lead the coordination and support of Non-Executive Directors.
  • Ensure NEDs receive high-quality information and support to fulfil their roles effectively.
  • Facilitate induction, appraisal, and ongoing development of NEDs.
  • Act as a key liaison between NEDs and the Executive Team.

Council of Governors

  • Provide leadership and support to the Council of Governors.
  • Ensure Governors are equipped to fulfil their statutory duties.
  • Support the Chair to engage and communicate effectively with the Governors
  • Oversee Governor engagement, elections, and development programmes.
  • Act as a key point of contact between Governors, the Board, and the wider organisation.

Leadership and Strategy

  • Contribute to the overall strategic leadership of the Trust as a member of the Executive Team.
  • Promote a culture of openness, integrity, and continuous improvement.
  • Lead, manage, and develop the Corporate Governance function.
  • Ensure effective stakeholder engagement, both internally and externally.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

  • Educated to master’s level or equivalent experience
  • Professional qualification in governance, legal, or related field or equivalent experience

Desirable criteria

  • Chartered or accredited membership of a recognised Chartered Governance Institute (ICSA/CGI)

Experience

Essential criteria

  • Senior leadership experience in a complex organisation, within the NHS or public sector
  • Extensive experience in corporate governance, company secretarial practice, and Board support
  • Proven track record in risk management and assurance frameworks

Desirable criteria

  • Exposure to regulatory engagement with NHS England, CQC or other statutory bodies, including preparing for inspections or external reviews

Skills & knowledge

Essential criteria

  • Demonstrable In-depth knowledge of NHS governance and Foundation Trust regulatory requirements
  • Strong understanding of legal frameworks relevant to healthcare
  • High level of political awareness and ability to manage sensitive issues

Desirable criteria

  • Advanced understanding of NHS corporate governance frameworks, including Foundation Trust governance, Board assurance, and statutory compliance

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.

We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.

We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.

Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.

Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.

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