Director of Corporate Governance in Wigan

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) is seeking to appoint an experienced and highly credible Director of Corporate Governance to play a pivotal role at the heart of the organisation. This is a senior leadership and technical governance role, responsible for ensuring that the Trust's corporate governance arrangements are robust, proportionate and effective, enabling the Board to lead with confidence and clarity. Acting as Board Secretary, the postholder will provide authoritative advice to the Chair, Chief Executive, Executive and Non-Executive Directors and Council of Governors on all aspects of corporate governance, assurance and regulatory compliance.

At WWL, we value governance that is purposeful, enabling and human — supporting good decision-making rather than bureaucracy for its own sake. We are therefore looking for a governance professional with deep expertise, sound judgement and the interpersonal skills to operate effectively in a complex, fast-paced NHS environment.

Main duties of the job

• Act as the Trust's chief adviser on corporate governance, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and best-practice requirements.
• Serve as Board Secretary, ensuring the Board and its Committees are properly constituted, supported and effective.
• Lead the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of the Trust's corporate governance framework, including Standing Orders, Scheme of Delegation and governance policies.
• Oversee effective Board and Committee management, ensuring high-quality agendas, papers, minutes and forward plans.
• Lead the Trust's Board Assurance Framework, corporate risk management arrangements and governance links to internal audit.
• Lead on the production of the Annual Report and Governance Statement, working closely with Executive colleagues.
• Ensure effective governance and support arrangements for the Council of Governors, including induction and development.
• Act as the Trust's accountable officer for the Freedom to Speak Up agenda, providing assurance on organisational response to concerns and overseeing the GM ICB FTSU contract.
• Lead and develop the executive support and corporate governance teams.
• Represent the Trust in discussions with regulators, system partners and external stakeholders.
• Participate as a member of the Executive On-Call rota.

As a key member of the Trust's senior leadership community, the postholder will role-model the Trust's values and contribute to delivery of Strategy 2030.

Working for our organisation

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values 'the WWL Way'. WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs. At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Degree-level education or equivalent senior professional experience, with evidence of continuous professional development.
• Substantial senior-level experience in corporate governance within the NHS.
• Significant experience of risk management, Board assurance and regulatory governance.
• Extensive experience of Board and Committee management, including Company Secretary responsibilities.
• Strong analytical, strategic, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• In-depth knowledge of NHS governance frameworks, legislation and healthcare regulation.
• Post-graduate qualification in Corporate Governance and/or Risk Management, or a legal qualification.
• Membership of relevant professional bodies.
• Experience of leading or supporting the Freedom to Speak Up agenda.

Person specification

• Degree level education, or equivalent experience.
• Post-Graduate Qualification in Corporate Governance and/or Risk Management or equivalent experience.
• Legal Qualification.
• Membership of relevant bodies.
• Substantial experience of working effectively as in a senior Corporate Governance role.
• Substantial experience of risk management and governance within a healthcare enterprise, significant experience gained across the NHS.
• Substantial Experience of Board Management / Company Secretary role and responsibilities.
• Experience of leading the Freedom to Speak Up agenda.

Skills

• Highly developed skills to quickly assess accuracy and relevance of competing sources of information, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrates commitment and an ability to understand diverse interest groups and power bases within organisations and the wider community and the dynamic between them.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of NHS legislation and practice that relates to duties, e.g. Code of Governance and Provider License requirements.
• High level understanding of the principles and good practice in communications and engagement with patients, carers, families, stakeholders and colleagues.
• Expert knowledge of healthcare risk and enterprise-wide risk management techniques.
• Full understanding of the Audit Committee Handbook.