[ref. i8474001] Director of Corporate Governance & Trust Secretary

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist provider of mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental care to people living in South East England. We are also lead provider for three specialist mental health provider collaboratives.

We are seeking to appoint a confident, experienced, and innovative Director of Corporate Governance & Trust Secretary to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is a strategic, high-profile role reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and acting as the principal adviser, working directly with the Chief Executive and Chair as well as the Board of Directors, and Council of Governors on all matters related to corporate governance.

You will lead the corporate governance function, ensuring that the Trust’s governance arrangements are effective, legally compliant, and aligned with NHS best practice. As Trust Secretary, you will manage the interface between executive leadership and formal governance structures and ensure the Board and its Committees operate with high standards of transparency and accountability.

This is an exciting time to join the Trust as we have recently launched our new 5-year Trust Strategy with a Board focused on rolling-out continuous quality improvement across the organisation. Our Board recognises the current challenges in the NHS, is well placed to respond, and is ambitious for the future as we seek to fulfil our vision of 'delivering great care and improving outcomes together'.

Main duties of the job

The Director of Corporate Governance & Trust Secretary is responsible for ensuring high standards of corporate governance, compliance, and risk management across Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT). This role provides expert advice to the Board of Directors and Council of Governors to maintain governance integrity, regulatory compliance, and strategic oversight.

They will have responsibility for supporting the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive to undertake their roles.

As Director of Corporate Governance & Trust Secretary at SPFT, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Trust is well-led, legally compliant, and operationally effective. Your leadership will strengthen governance, accountability, and transparency, directly supporting SPFT’s vision to deliver great care and improve outcomes together.

Please see the attached Job Description for the full Main duties of the job.

Working for our organisation

Join Sussex Partnership and you'll be part of an NHS trust that allows you to thrive and, in turn, thrives because of you. We believe in the vibrancy of our fantastic people. And how that leads to even better support for the people who use our services.

Interview Date: Monday 23rd June

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Governance and Compliance

The Director of Corporate Governance is the lead for the Trust’s corporate governance arrangements. In the execution of this responsibility, they will:

• Provide independent expert advice and support to the Chair, the Chief Executive, the Deputy Chief Executive and Board of Directors on all matters relating to statutory/legislative compliance and interpretation, reporting on any areas of non-compliance. This will involve giving and receiving information which is highly complex, sensitive and confidential and has major compliance implications for the Trust.
• Monitor the Trust’s governance arrangements, continually and proactively reviewing external developments to ensure compliance with corporate governance best practice.
• Advise the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive in ensuring compliance with external governance frameworks, in particular with NHS Code of Governance, NHS England, and Care Quality Commission (CQC).
• Ensure the Board operates effectively under the Well-Led Framework and is prepared for external reviews.
• Participate in partnership and other networking arrangements that require governance input.
• Guide the Board of Directors in the responsible and effective conduct of its role, providing, where appropriate, a discreet, independent and challenging voice in relation to Board deliberations and decision-making.
• Provide advice on a wide range of legal matters, including (but not restricted to) the Freedom of Information Act, the Human Rights Act, Health & Safety legislation, Information Governance legislation, Data Protection (GDPR), NHS regulatory guidance and legislation on Board liabilities.
• Commission and provide briefings for external legal advice where necessary to ensure the Board acts on good authority.
• With the Director of Communications, lead the preparation and submission of all statutory annual returns, including the annual report, annual accounts and annual governance statement, adhering to the prescribed timescales.

The Director of Corporate Governance will facilitate the effective working of the Board of Directors, the Trust Executive, the Council of Governors and related Committees and, in particular, will:

• Plan and prepare agendas, reports, supporting papers and minutes for the Board, the Council, their Committees and Executive meetings, ensuring they comply with internal Trust policy and external corporate governance best practice.
• Oversee and provide expert advice on the administrative arrangements that support the business of the Board, the Executive, and the Council of Governors, allowing them to function efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure the Council of Governors can effectively represent staff, service users, and the wider community, supporting patient-focused governance.

• Lead on board development, training, and effectiveness reviews, ensuring compliance with the NHS Code of Governance.
• Work with the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive to ensure that arrangements are in place for a comprehensive induction of all Board members and Governors and provide advice and support regarding the discharge of their duties.
• Work with the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for the regular evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board of Directors, including the appraisal of Non-Executive Directors.
• In consultation with the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive, ensure that a Board Succession Plan is in place.
• Support the Chair and the Deputy Chief Executive with the recruitment process for Non-Executive Directors.
• Support the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive to ensure that the capability and experience of the Board of Directors and the Executive Team are as required and in accordance with the Fit & Proper Persons Test

Please see the attached Job Description for the full Detailed job description and main responsibilities.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Master's level or equivalent professional qualification
• Evidence of continuous professional development and experience in this role

Experience

• Previous relevant experience in a Company Secretary role
• Able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of corporate governance conduct principles, legislation and best practice and able to evidence application of this knowledge in a complex organisation
• Able to evidence application of advanced organisational management skills and delivery of complex organisational tasks
• Experience of working within an organisation under public and political scrutiny
• Significant experience of Board and corporate governance systems and processes
• Strong evidence of experience in handling complex arrangements to a high degree of accuracy, timeliness and effectiveness, including managing multiple deadlines
• Proven experience in writing papers for senior level, internal and external audiences
• Understanding of the roles and relationships between the Trust Chair, Chief Executive, Executive and NonExecutive Directors relationships between Council of Governors and Board of Directors
• Demonstrates evidence of budgetary management experience
• Experience of line management of staff
• Experience in digesting new legislation and being able to translate and communicate its implications for a public or statutory body

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.