Governance & Compliance Officer in Ipswich

We are seeking a motivated and reliable Governance & Compliance Officer to support our Medical Director and Integrated Governance Committee (IGC). This role supports the day-to-day coordination of Suffolk Primary Care's governance and compliance activity across our growing primary care organisation. We are looking for someone who has strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work supportively across multiple teams and priorities. The ideal candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities to meet deadlines. Experience working within a GP surgery or NHS setting, as well as part of a governance team, is desirable but not essential.

We offer a competitive salary along with various employee benefits, and the opportunity to join the NHS pension scheme.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring our governance processes run smoothly and efficiently. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing administrative and coordination support for CQC compliance.
• Managing incident reporting as the lead for our incident reporting system Datix.
• Acting as the principal liaison with our Data Protection Officer (DPO) team to uphold robust data protection and UK GDPR standards across the organisation.
• Leading the preparation and successful submission of the annual NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).

About us

Suffolk Primary Care (SPC) is a forward-thinking partnership of GP surgeries across Suffolk. Our collaborative approach enables doctors and staff to share resources, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality healthcare. We are committed to equal employment opportunities and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

Benefits of Working with SPC

• NHS Pension Scheme: Defined benefits scheme, life insurance, family benefits, including adult dependents & children's pensions, ill health benefits, 23.7% employer contribution.
• Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme: Low monthly payments, no deposit, no credit check, fully comprehensive insurance, servicing, tyres & breakdown cover, up to £2,000 annual SPC contribution (subject to conditions).
• Flexible Working Arrangements: GP remote working options to accommodate personal commitments.
• Additional Benefits: Eye care vouchers, health service discounts, including a complimentary Blue Light Card for new starters, minimum 33 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) for full-time employees, with enhancements for long service, enhanced maternity & paternity terms, high street discounts via our online portal, salary sacrifice schemes for technology, homewares (Currys, John Lewis, Decathlon), cycling, and gym memberships.

At SPC, we invest in our staff's professional growth and well-being, fostering a positive work environment that benefits both our team and the communities we serve.

Key Responsibilities

• Corporate Governance Inspection Readiness: Support preparation for CQC inspections and external visits. Support the implementation and monitoring of any required actions following inspections or audits.
• Committee Support: Prepare the agenda, produce reports, and provide comprehensive support to the Medical Director for the monthly IGC meetings.
• Policy Management: Oversee the centralised review, update, implementation, and communication of all governance policies and procedures across SPC practices.
• Audits: Conduct regular audits and self-assessments against CQC and local Integrated Care Board (ICB) requirements.
• Incident, Complaint & Risk Management: Act as the system lead for the incident reporting system (Datix). Provide technical support, written guidance, and staff training to ensure high-quality, integrated incident reporting. Maintain the corporate risk register, ensuring robust mitigation plans are in place. Monitor Significant Event Analyses (SEAs), incidents, and complaints to identify trends, ensuring that shared learning is documented and embedded across the practices.
• Information Governance (IG) & Data Protection: Act as the primary conduit between SPC and the Data Protection Officer (DPO) team. Foster a proactive, collaborative relationship to seamlessly manage data incidents, support Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and seek expert guidance on complex IG matters. Lead the preparation, compliance, and successful submission of the annual NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), consulting with the DPO team as required to ensure all standards are met. Support practices in processing Subject Access Requests (SARs), Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, liaising closely with the DPO team for complex or sensitive requests. Coordinate collaboratively with the DPO team to manage, formulate, and submit accurate responses to enquiries from the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).
• Continuous Improvement: Continuously review and improve internal compliance systems, processes, and governance frameworks in collaboration with the wider leadership team. Benchmark SPC's performance and compliance levels against local and national standards, identifying actionable opportunities for innovation and quality improvement.

Person Specification

Experience

• Essential: Experience conducting audits or compliance reviews, knowledge of governance frameworks and risk management.
• Desirable: Experience working within a GP surgery or NHS setting, experience preparing for CQC inspections, experience developing or delivering staff training.

Qualifications

• Essential: Educated to A-Level standard or equivalent, evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Desirable: Training in healthcare management, quality assurance, or CQC compliance and governance.

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.