Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to join South London and Maudsley NHS Trust as a senior leader in the position of Director of Corporate Governance. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will provide strategic advice and guidance to the Chair, Non-Executive Directors and Executive Directors on all matters relating to corporate governance.



Fulfilling the critical role of Board Security for the Trust, you will ensure compliance with laws and regulations, Standing orders and NHS guidance. You will also be accountable officer for the Freedom to Speak Up agenda, ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place to provide assurance on organisational response to colleagues concerns.



The role offers the opportunity to work with the Board to continue to ensure that South London and Maudsley lead the way in working with and for our communities. You will have experience working at Board or sub-Board level, performing the duties of a Company Secretary as well as experience managing communications strategically with internal and external stakeholders. You will need to have an eye for detail, political awareness and have experience leading high performing teams.



The Director of Corporate Governance role is to develop, maintain and continuously improve corporate governance arrangements and provide strategic advice and guidance to the Trust Board, Chair, Chief Executive, Executive and Non-Executive Directors on all matters relating to corporate governance.



The post holder will act as the Board Secretary and play a key coordination role within the Trust. They will be expected to use their initiative to identify opportunities to anticipate support and streamline the work of the Board, Committees, executive meetings. They will manage the interface between the management and governance arrangements of the Trust and take every opportunity to ensure a high standard of reporting and debate.



As a key member of the Trust's Senior Leadership Team, the post holder will champion achievement of our strategic vision, leading in line with our values. Although they are not an Executive Director, they will report directly to the Chief Executive and be a member of the Executive Leadership Team.



The post holder will be accountable officer for the Freedom to Speak Up agenda ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place to provide assurance or organisational response to colleagues concerns. They will also lead an efficient and effective executive support office.



South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

About our locations:

Maudsley Hospital (headquarters)

Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2) and is within walking distance from the beautiful green spaces of Ruskin Park and the vibrant high-street that offers great shopping opportunities and with a wide range of restaurants.

Flexible working:

As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk about flexible working at the interview stage. This is a Monday to Friday 9-5 post, with the option for a combination of blended on site and remote working and flexible hours. The post is full-time.



Corporate Governance



Act as chief advisor to the Board of Directors on all corporate governance matters. Ensure that Board members and others are fully briefed on corporate government developments, new law and guidance which might affect the Trust. Review and monitor, on an ongoing basis, the Trust's Scheme of Delegation and Reservation. Lead on the production of the Annual Report and Governance Statement working closely with the Chief Finance Officer and other relevant Executive Directors and senior managers. Lead on compliance with 'Well Led' Oversee the work programmes of all Trust Board committees, including the annual assessment of effectiveness and lead the Trusts strategic risk management process. Attend Board and committee meetings and ensure the Trust Board and its Committees are properly constituted, operated and supported. Ensure good information flows to the Trust Board and its committees and between senior management and Non-Executive Directors. Take responsibility for ensuring Trust governance arrangements are formally reviewed annually. Ensure that the Trust Corporate Governance Manual, including Standing Orders, for the Trust Board are in place, acted upon, and reviewed as necessary. Ensure that the Trust fully complies with all elements of guidance and best practise around the Fit and Proper Persons Test for all senior leadership roles. Ensure the Board undertakes a formal well well-led governance review every 3-5 years in line with NHS England guidance and be responsible for tracking and reporting on actions from Well Led reviews to the Board. Ensure that effective processes are in place for the induction and professional development of Executive and Non-Executive Directors. Ensure an annual appraisal process is in place for Non-Executive Directors and work closely with the Chair on this. Lead the corporate governance framework to ensure the Internal Audit work programme is developed, ensuring strong links to regulatory requirements. Represent the Trust at external meetings with commissioners, regulators, other providers and public bodies. Oversight of the Annual General Meeting planning and execution. To be the Company Secretary and ensure arrangements are in place for any company established by the Trust, responsible for ensuring compliance with all statutory duties under the Companies Act 2006 and any other related legislation or mandatory requirements. Advising Companies House as necessary of any changes including the appointment and removal of directors, ensuring mandatory returns are completed within statutory timescales including the completion of returns to the Office of Fair Trading where appropriate, and ensuring banking arrangements are in place for those companies.

Board Management



As the Board Secretary to the Trust, act independently of the Board and monitor the Trust's compliance with law, standing orders and observance of NHS England guidance; this will include ensuring the Trust Board and its committees are properly constituted at all times. Provide key support and advise to the Non-Executive Directors in their roles as Chairs of Committees. Act as the Trust lead for Conflicts of Interest and ensure there are systems and processes in place to support Board members and staff to declare interests and ensure unresolved conflicts of interest are managed appropriately. Coordinate on behalf of the Chair, the Trust Board development programme. Ensure the effective provision of daily administrative support to the Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors through an effective board secretariat function. Lead the development and implementation of a Non-Executive Director Trust Induction Programme. Support the Chair to ensure all Non-Executive Directors have access to and complete relevant training. Ensure the effective administration of the Trust Committee structure, including Board, supporting the Chair and Chief Executive in the effective conduct of the Board through: Pla nning, preparation and timely submission of agendas reports minutes and supporting papers ensuring they comply with best governance practice. - Ensuring proper preservation of records of business including minutes and notes of actions. - Maintaining effective and dynamic forward plans for Board and sub-committees. - Reviewing Board meetings with the Chair to ensure optimum use of Board Committee time. - Ensuring that arrangements are in place with the safe custody and application of the common seal.

Council of Governors



Ensure appropriate arrangements are in place to: - Manage the membership function of the Foundation Trust - Ensure an accurate membership database is maintained including the public register - Manage legal and constitutionally compliant arrangements for elections to the Council of Governors, manage the process for resignations and replacements between elections - Advise the Chair on matters relating to Governors - Undertake regular monitoring of the Foundation Trust's membership community to ensure it represents the diversity of the local population, recommending strategies to address any shortcomings - Develop internal and external communication channels with potential members and governors - Provide leadership on the development of any membership engagement strategy - Ensure the provision of support and advice to the Council of Governors, including interpretation of their duties under the NHS Act 2006 (and its subsequent updates), the constitution, standing orders and any other policies/procedures - Ensure the general meetings of the Council of Governors and members are properly held in accordance with the constitution of the Trust.

Corporate Risk Management / Assurance



Take a lead role working closely with all Directors in the implementation and delivery of the Trust's agreed approach to Board Assurance. Work with the Board to regularly review the Risk Appetite ensuring this is communicated to the organisation and understood in the day-to-day identification and management of risk. Oversee management of the Board Assurance Framework documentation and administration, working with Executive Leads for strategic risks. Ensure that the Trust's Annual Internal Audit Plan is designed, maintained and delivered to assist the Trust Board in gaining assurance against the risks described within the Board Assurance Framework. Ensure the provision of effective risk management and governance structures and robust systems which assure implementation of the Trust risk and governance objectives through the proactive identification and prioritisation of key organisational and clinical risks. Oversee the management of the Trust's Corporate Risk Register. Promote a culture of control and contingency planning, anticipating the needs of the Trust where there is no existing advice available.

Compliance



Maintain an overview and monitor compliance with the Trust's Corporate Governance Manual including Standing Financial Instructions e.g. NHS provider licence, National Oversight Framework. Ensure appropriate returns are approved by the Board and submitted to regulators and external bodies in a timely way. Responsible for ensuring and evidencing compliance with the Code of Governance on an annual basis and making recommendations for improvement and further development of the associated control environment to the Board. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the changing governance framework.

Freedom to Speak Up



Legal Services



Policy Review and Assurance



Responsibilities for Financial and Physical Resources



Management and Leadership Responsibilities



Responsibilities for Information Resources



Corporate Project Work



Please see job description for full list of main responsibilities for this role.