Head of Board Governance

Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused healthcare provider in England is seeking a highly motivated Head of Board Governance to enhance the effectiveness of the Trust Board and Committees. You'll work closely with senior leaders, ensuring governance standards are met while handling the Trust’s governance frameworks. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in corporate governance and compliance, providing expert advice, managing administrative processes, and supporting effective decision-making. Join a committed team aiming for excellence in patient care and community support.

Qualifications

• Experience in corporate governance and compliance.
• Proficient in administrative support related to Board and Committee meetings.
• Ability to manage governance frameworks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Support the Trust Board and Committees in governance operations.
• Work with senior leadership to ensure compliance and regulatory needs are met.
• Manage and refine governance procedures and frameworks.

Job description

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Head of Board Governance to join our team. This role supports the effective operation of our Trust Board and Committees and ensures statutory and regulatory responsibilities are met with integrity and transparency.

You will work closely with the Chief of Staff and senior leaders across the organisation, providing expert advice on governance and compliance. You will also manage the Trust’s governance frameworks and help shape how we operate at the highest level.

Key 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, 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.
• With the Chief of Staff, 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 working with this post-holder, 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we are supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those we care for. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives support a culture of engagement.

1. 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.
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability.
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability.
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development.
5. Making equalities mainstream.

We reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date, please apply early. We do not contact applicants with the outcome of the shortlisting. If you have been shortlisted, you will receive an invite to an assessment day or interview.

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (LGT) is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. We provide whole‑life care and support our communities to live healthier lives.

We employ almost 7,500 colleagues who work at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospital Lewisham and various community settings. Our trust vision is to be exceptional in patient care, colleague support and community partnership.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS).

We encourage all suitable candidates to apply, including those who are Black, Asian or other ethnic minorities, live with a disability (visible or not) or are LGBT+. We welcome applications from a wide variety of people to ensure our workforce reflects the local communities we serve.

Please note that sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route is subject to Trust allocation and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approval.

As a local employer and anchor institution we work closely with our community to recruit locally and we welcome applications from the widest variety of people to ensure our workforce are reflective of the local communities which we serve.