Head of Board Governance

Are you passionate about good governance, confident working with senior leaders, and ready to play a pivotal role at the heart of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust? This highly motivated and experienced position supports the effective operation of our Trust Board and Committees, ensuring we meet our statutory and regulatory responsibilities with integrity and transparency. You’ll work closely with the Chief of Staff and senior leaders across the organisation, providing expert advice on governance and compliance. You’ll also manage the Trust’s governance frameworks, and help shape how we operate at the highest level. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, enjoys working collaboratively, and has a keen eye for detail. If you’re looking to make a real impact and support the delivery of high‑quality care through excellent corporate governance, we’d love to hear from you.

Core Responsibilities

• Work with the Chief of Staff, Chair and Trust Board on all issues relating to corporate governance, ensuring the Trust’s Corporate Affairs are undertaken to the highest standards of probity and according to statutory and legislative requirements.
• Accountable to the Chief of Staff, to work with the Executive team, contributing to the delivery of corporate and statutory objectives and maintenance of the highest standards of prudence, propriety and regularity.
• With support from the Risk and Governance Officer, service the Trust Board, Board Committees and Trust Management Executive Groups.
• Establish and refine procedures for the sound, integrated governance of the Trust and advise the Trust Board on developments in governance and other issues.
• Ensure that meetings of the Board, the Board of Directors and their Committees run efficiently and effectively, that they are properly recorded and that Directors receive appropriate support.
• Provide administrative support relating to Board and Committee meetings and matters to the Chair and Board of Directors of the Trust, ensuring common standards are applied across all committees supporting the governance arrangements.
• Line manage the Risk and Governance Officer, and work with this post-holder to provide administrative support to the Trust Management Executive Group by producing and planning agendas and minuting the meetings.
• Provide support as required to CEO Office Manager and the wider Executive Personal Assistant team.
• Provide administrative support to the Executive meetings, to ensure decisions and actions are captured accurately and disseminated appropriately.
• Maintain the register of Declarations of Interest, Gifts and Hospitality and annual Fit and Proper Persons checks.
• Ensure the accurate storage and maintenance of official Board Committee business records in safe, secure and retrievable systems.
• Provide a high quality, customer‑focused service ensuring that the Trust maintains high standards in relation to good practice and departmental quality standards.
• Support the appointment and induction of new Executive, and Non‑Executive, Board Members.
• Ensure that there are Terms of Reference for Board, its Committees, the Executive Team, Management Executive Team and that they are reviewed at appropriate intervals, in accordance with the Trust’s Corporate Governance Manual.
• In the absence of the Director of Governance, provide information and advice to the Non‑Executive and Executive Directors on Board business as appropriate, often of a complex and confidential nature.
• Accountable to produce a calendar of all Board and Committees, ensuring the meetings are scheduled to maximise timely flow of information to enable effective decision making.
• Ensure the regular evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board, its Committees, Members Group and other groups, incorporating a range of methods including self‑assessment and independent review.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Initiatives

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our EDI initiatives cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI team, and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the five aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development.
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability.
• Improving the experience of staff with disability.
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development.
• Making equalities mainstream.