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South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Company Secretary

The closing date is 27 August 2025

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Job summary

We're seeking a strategic and experienced Company Secretaryto lead our corporate governance and assurance functions. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you'll work closely with the Chair and Board to ensure compliance, transparency, and effective decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

- Advise the Board and CEO on governance and regulatory matters

- Lead the Corporate Governance and Executive Office teams

- Oversee Board Assurance Framework and membership functions

- Support Non-Executive Director recruitment and development

What You'll Bring

- Master's degree or equivalent experience

- ICSA qualification (or willingness to obtain)

- Proven NHS governance leadership

- Strong communication and strategic thinking skills

Join us to help shape the future of high-quality patient care through outstanding governance.

Main duties of the job

Board of Directors

  • Primary point of contact and source of advice and guidance for Non-Executive Directors in regards to the Trust and its activities in order to support the decision making process.
  • Act as lead support for the Chair in the effective functioning of the Board of Directors.

Company Secretary

  • Facilitate the smooth operation of the Trust's formal decision making and reporting mechanisms.
  • Comply with and manage processes and procedures which are legal requirementsfor the sound corporate governance of the Trust and will advise the Chair, CEO , Board of Directors and Council of Governors directly.
  • Organise Board of Directors Meetings and development sessions as agreed with Chair and CEO.

Supporting the Council of Governors and Managing Membership

  • Ensure that effective relationships between the Board of Directors and Council of Governors are established and maintained and that the actions of the Board and Council comply with standing orders and other appropriate legalities
  • Provide the secretariat functions for the Council of Governors and its statutory and non-statutory subgroups.

Other

  • Support the Chief Executive in drafting their 'state of the nation' briefings for Board, Council of Governors, and Senior Leadership Team.
  • As a budget holder, manage the Corporate Governance budget in line with standing financial instructions and standing orders.
  • Identify and address training and development needs of staff.
  • Induct new staff within team as appropriate.

About us

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

The role is based in Exeter, one of the most vibrant, attractive and historically interesting cities in England, with excellent transport links and a great mix of independent shops, cafes and bars.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills and resources you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles across the Trust and enjoy continuous professional development.

Benefits

  • Competitive NHS salary
  • A standard working week of 37.5 hours
  • Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
  • Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
  • Generous Pension Scheme
  • Career and salary progression
  • Car leasing scheme
  • Free parking across Trust sites
  • Staff networks
  • Wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Details

Date posted

05 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£91,342 to £105,337 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Home or remote working

Reference number

202-7334508

Job locations

South Western Ambulance Service Trust HQ

Abbey Court, Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Job description

Job responsibilities

For more detailed information on the main responsibilities of this role please refer to the attached job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more detailed information on the main responsibilities of this role please refer to the attached job description.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to a Masters level or equivalent experience
  • Recognised Company Secretary Qualification (ICSA Membership) or prepared to undertake

Desirable

  • General Business qualification at a master level or equivalent

Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to job)

Essential

  • Extensive proven experience of working in a large organisation in a senior governance role
  • Proven experience in senior leadership roles in the NHS advising Boards/Executive teams and working at board level within a large and complex organisation and system
  • Experience of managing challenging situations, dealing with third party, external organisations and performance managing their activity where necessary.

Desirable

  • Demonstrable evidence of project management experience and the delivery of objectives
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to a Masters level or equivalent experience
  • Recognised Company Secretary Qualification (ICSA Membership) or prepared to undertake

Desirable

  • General Business qualification at a master level or equivalent

Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to job)

Essential

  • Extensive proven experience of working in a large organisation in a senior governance role
  • Proven experience in senior leadership roles in the NHS advising Boards/Executive teams and working at board level within a large and complex organisation and system
  • Experience of managing challenging situations, dealing with third party, external organisations and performance managing their activity where necessary.

Desirable

  • Demonstrable evidence of project management experience and the delivery of objectives

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Western Ambulance Service Trust HQ

Abbey Court, Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Employer's website

https://www.swast.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Western Ambulance Service Trust HQ

Abbey Court, Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Employer's website

https://www.swast.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Chief Executive

John Martin

John.Martin@swast.nhs.uk

01392261501

Details

Date posted

05 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£91,342 to £105,337 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Home or remote working

Reference number

202-7334508

Job locations

South Western Ambulance Service Trust HQ

Abbey Court, Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Supporting documents

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