Head of Corporate Governance

In this pivotal role, you will lead our corporate governance function, ensuring that we meet all legal and corporate governance requirements. Your expertise will be essential in navigating the complexities of evolving legislation while maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance. You will also have a key role in the achievement of the Trust's strategy, Great Together (www.hpft.nhs.uk/about-us/great-together-our-5-year-strategy-2023-2028) which sets out how we will address inequalities and achieve equity, and how by focusing on developing our people and creating a vibrant learning organisation, whilst working in strong partnerships, we will deliver high quality care. Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, you will also work closely with the Chief Executive, Trust Chair, Board of Directors and Council of Governors. As a key member of the corporate team your role will involve extensive collaboration with all Directors and the senior leaders of the Trust.Main duties of the job The post holder will:

• Be responsible for maintaining the highest levels of corporate governance, acting as the first point of contact at the Trust for corporate governance arrangements including working with, providing highly specialist governance advice to, and in support of, the Chair Board of Directors, Board Committees, Council of Governors and relevant Executive Groups to meet their obligations to ensure that the Trust can secure on-going compliance with the regulatory framework enforced by NHS regulators, including NHS England and the Care Quality Commission.
• Provide a highly effective and supportive role to the Chief of Staff in their role across with a view to continued improvement around corporate governance functions in compliance with statutory and mandatory requirements.
• To undertake project-based work under the direction of the Chief of Staff.
• Deputise for the Chief of Staff to ensure compliance with all corporate statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Act independently, working to broad policies and strategies using their own judgement and experience to establish how these are interpreted. The post holder will ensure decisions are made responsively and meet organisational objectives., To lead the effective management and delivery of a full secretariat service at the Trust in support of the Chair, Chief Executive, Trust Board, the Board level committees, Council of Governors and other regulatory / oversight meetings as required, including the development of a programme of meetings, co-ordination of meetings, publication of agendas, production of minutes, and ensuring actions are circulated.
• Undertake research across the NHS to ensure that the Trust's Standing Orders and Constitution are reviewed and amended / updated on a regular basis and when required, and that the terms of references and work plans for all Board level committees are aligned to best practice.
• Analyse and assess highly complex and conflicting information related to statutory and legislative compliance, including compliance with the requirements of the Trust's Constitution, The NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance, Provider Licence and other best practice in corporate governance.
• Provide independent expert interpretation, advice and support to the Chief of Staff, Chair and Chief Executive on all matters relating to statutory and legislative compliance with the Trust's Standing Orders.
• Advise the Board Committees and Board members (Non-Executive Directors and Executives) and senior management teams on compliance with statutory and legislative compliance, including compliance with the requirements of the Trust's Constitution, The NHS Foundation Trust Code of Provider Licence and other best practice in corporate governance.
• Manage legal and constitutionally compliant arrangements for elections to the Council of Governors and the appointment of stakeholder governors, managing the process for resignations and replacements between elections.
• Provide expertise in FT Constitutional and corporate governance to deliver a successful and inclusive election processes for public, patient and staff representatives to the Council of Governors, including: ensuring statutory and constitutional requirements are met in the conduct of contested and non-contested elections; arranging for the required public disclosures and organising events for the release of election results working with the Communications team to effectively communicate with Governors and members and promote the election.
• Ensure that all Registers required by the Constitution, or related legislation, are established and maintained and are available for public inspection.
• Develop and implement policies relevant to corporate governance.
• Undertake analytical reviews of committee effectiveness surveys and other sources of feedback including from Non-Executive, Executive Directors and Governors, and present options for improvements.
• Support the Chief of Staff to keep under review all governance arrangements that might affect the Trust to ensure that the Board is fully briefed on these matters and have regard to them when taking decisions.
• Oversee the implementation and monitoring the Standards of Business Conduct policy, including the publication of registers.
• Support Chief of Staff to develop and maintain the Board Assurance Framework for the Trust ensuring quarterly updates are made in consultation with Executive Leads, providing effective scrutiny and challenge, and presenting reports to the Board and Board level committees as required.
• Work in conjunction with the Chief of Staff to commission external well-led reviews as required in accordance with NHS England guidance.
• Ensure that arrangements are in place for the safe custody and application of the Trust's Common Seal. Maintain a register on the use of the Trust seal and report its use at regular intervals as laid down in the Trust's Standing Orders.
• Work with the Chief of Staff to lead on the production of the Trust's Annual Report and Annual Governance Statement, collating multiple sources of information and ensuring adherence to regulatory guidance and that nationally set timescales are met. Ensuring that the Annual Report is presented to parliament and published appropriately.
• Seek legal advice as may be required and directed by the Chief of Staff.
• Undertake other duties as required by the Chief of Staff.
• Draft and present reports to Board and Committees as required.
Board of Directors
• Ensure standing orders, including standing financial instructions, a scheme of delegation, and schedule of matters reserved for the Board of Directors and associated procedures are reviewed updated and properly discharged.
• Facilitating the smooth operation of the Foundation Trust's formal decision-making and reporting machinery.
• Organise board of directors' meetings.
• Ensure that there is proper and appropriate co-ordination of Boards and Committees and an effective flow of information.
• Produce and maintain an annual work programme for the Trust Board.
• Ensure that all meetings are minuted with certified copies of the minutes; and that action is taken on matters arising. Communicating Board decisions to those required to implement them and ensuring that actions and tasks assigned are managed appropriately and to the required timetable, reporting back as required.
• Ensure that the Board of Directors' meetings are properly constituted and provided with clear terms of reference and performance reviewed regularly.
• Ensure that an Annual General Meeting is held in accordance with the requirements of the National Health Service Act 2006, Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the Foundation Trust's constitution.
  
  Masters level post-graduate qualification or equivalent level of experience, Membership of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, Comprehensive knowledge and practical application of NHS and public sector governance arrangements
• Experience in governance role in complex organisation environment.
• Demonstrable advanced in depth and broad knowledge of corporate legislation and governance agenda
Desirable criteria
• Experience as a Board/ Company Secretary (or equivalent role) in an NHS Trust, Skilled with dealing with highly complex and contentious sensitive information and communicating this effectively
  
  Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an Outstanding provider of mental health and learning disability services. In 2021, we won the prestigious Health Service Journal award for Mental Health Trust of the Year, with the judges saying they were "blown away" by our people's achievements and that everything they saw "sings and hums". This year, our staff rated us the 4^th best mental health and learning disability trust to work for out of all 52 trusts in the country. Our staff tell us that they are proud to be part of the HPFT team, proud of the standard of care we provide and proud that service users are our top priority. Our people tell us they feel supported though a great development, wellbeing and work-life balance offer and a highly compassionate, values-driven culture. We are equally proud of our staff, who live our values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional