Head of Risk

VerseOne Group; Leigh on Sea; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Head of Risk to provide leadership over the Trust’s risk management framework, Board Assurance Framework, and Corporate Risk Register. You will work with senior clinical and corporate leaders to identify, assess, and manage risks and provide clear insights for executive decision-making.

You will guide risk culture, oversee the Risk Team, and collaborate with patient safety, information governance, fire safety, and business continuity

Qualifications

• Experience with risk management in a multi-disciplinary health environment.
• Knowledge of governance, assurance, and strategic risk management practices.
• Experience reporting to and influencing at board level (CEO, Chair, NEDs).

Responsibilities

• Own the Risk Assurance Framework and map objectives to risks, controls, and assurance.
• Collaborate with internal auditors to ensure effective internal controls.
• Maintain high-quality risk registers for all services and address high risk areas.
• Lead system quality assurance including data accuracy and evaluating organisational risks.
• Deliver risk-related education and training and ensure compliance with legislation and standards.
• Provide expert use of risk management software for recording, reviewing and reporting on risks.

Skills

Governance knowledge

Strategic leadership

Risk management expertise

Stakeholder influence

Board-level communication

Education

MSc in governance-related subject

MSc in Risk Management

Tools

Risk management software

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest trusts in the country, following the merger of Mid Essex, Basildon and Southend hospitals in April 2020.

Site Britannia Park Town Westcliff on Sea Salary £66,582 Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time) Salary period Yearly Closing 04/11/2026 23:59

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the onlyacute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a risk specialist to join our Trust as Head of Risk. As Head of Risk, you will provide expert leadership and oversight of the Trust’s risk management framework, Board Assurance Framework, and Corporate Risk Register.

Working closely with senior clinical and corporate leaders, you will ensure risks are effectively identified, assessed, and managed, providing the Board and executive teams with clear insight to support informed decision-making and the delivery of strategic objectives.

In this role you will offer constructive challenge, expert advice, and professional guidance on all aspects of risk management. You will lead and develop the Risk Team while overseeing the day-to-day management of key governance and assurance processes.

You will also work collaboratively with colleagues across a wide range of specialist functions, including patient safety, health and safety, fire safety and security, information governance, infection prevention and control, and business continuity, helping to foster a proactive and positive risk culture across the Trust.

If you are a strategic thinker with strong leadership skills and a passion for governance, assurance, and continuous improvement, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• To be the responsible owner of the Risk Assurance Framework, mapping the principle objectives to risks, control and assurance, and compiling and presenting risk reports.
• Work with the internal auditors, ensure that the Trust’s mechanisms for internal control are fit for purpose and monitored
• Ensure that Risk Management & Risk Registers for all services are of a high quality and up to date; ensuring any high risk areas are dealt with appropriately
• Take responsibility for system quality assurance including data entry accuracy, responsibility for evaluating organisational risks, identifying risk implications and advising executives on strategic options.
• Responsible for delivering risk related education and training and assessing skills and competencies to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards.
• Provide specialised knowledge in the use of the risk management software for recording, reviewing and reporting on risks and risks registers.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Are you looking for an exciting role using your unique qualities, then we want to hear from you. For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description. We look forward to your application. Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications.

Qualifications

• MSc in governance related subject or equivalent experience in the role Significant experience of risk management software
• Knowledge gained by continued study and/or work experience in the area of risk management.
• MSc in Risk Management or equivalent subject related to the role

Experience

• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary/ multi-agency health/ social care environment.
• Experience of risk management and managing projects, and some experience of strategic development and planning
• Experience of working at board level - influencing, persuading, challenging and providing assurance to Chief Executive, Chair and Non-Executive Directors.

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.