Job summary
The post holder will provide advice and support to staff, Directors and Governors on matters of Corporate Governance. You will be part of a small Foundation Trust Officer team.
The postholder will provide a full, professional secretariat service to the Trust's Finance and Commercial Committee and Audit and Risk Committee, in addition to other Board and Committee responsibilities. The role requires demonstrable knowledge and experience of supporting senior-level finance, commercial, audit and risk discussions. Applicants must have a practical understanding of financial reporting, governance frameworks, internal control, risk management, and commercial matters to effectively service these Committees. This is not a purely administrative role; the postholder must be confident working with complex financial information and engaging with executive and non-executive directors at Board level.
This role will involve considerable contact with the Chairman, Non-Executive and Executive Directors, Governors and senior staff within the organisation.
You will be expected to meet tight deadlines whilst maintaining a high standard of accuracy. You should already have highly developed minute writing skills. You should have experience of dealing sensitively with information of a confidential nature.
Main duties of the job
Board of Director, Council of Governors and their Committees
- In partnership with the Chair, Director of Corporate Affairs and Deputy Director of Corporate Governance, lead the planning and coordination of corporate meetings in your portfolio, including the development of forward plans, production of high-quality agendas and papers, and the preparation of accurate minutes and comprehensive action logs.
- Facilitate the Trust's decision-making process by ensuring that Board and Committee minutes accurately and clearly capture discussions, decisions, recommendations and agreed actions, and that actions are appropriately tracked through to completion.
Compliance:
- Advise Directors and Governors on declarations of interest and maintain the appropriate registers.
- Assist with arrangements for the election of public, patient and staff governors in accordance with the election rules contained within the Trust's constitution.
- Ensure that Governors' declarations of eligibility to vote at meetings are kept up to date.
- Ensure that committees of the Board of Directors and Council of Governors are properly constituted with clear terms of reference.
- Draft Board and Committee reports, as required and advise report authors on the content and presentation of their papers.
- Respond to public, regulatory and Trust queries concerning corporate governance, including FOI requests.
About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Working Relationships
INTERNAL:
EXTERNAL:
Chairman
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Directors
Non-Executive Directors
Governors
Senior staff
Chiefs of Divisions
Patient, Public Involvement Team
Communications Team
Foundation Trust Members
External and Internal Auditors
NHS England (NHSE)
Care Quality Commission
Department of Health & Social Care
Other NHS Foundation Trusts
NHS South East London Integrated Care Board
NHS Providers
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Compliance:
- You will contribute to the production of the Trusts Annual Report in accordance with NHS England (NHSE) guidance, advising internal authors on content, drafting relevant sections yourself, ensuring all statutory requirements are fulfilled.
- Ensure that the election of governors is carried out in accordance with the Trusts constitution.
- Advise Directors and Governors on declarations of interest and maintain the appropriate registers.
- Assist with arrangements for the election of public, patient and staff governors in accordance with the election rules contained within the Trusts constitution.
- Ensure that Governors declarations of eligibility to vote at meetings are kept up to date.
- Maintain agreements with partnership organisations with regard to their nominated representatives on the Council of Governors.
- Ensure disclosures are updated regularly on the Trusts website in accordance with the Code of Governance.
- Assist in the production and submission of the statutory annual returns, including the Annual Accounts and Annual Report, and quarterly returns to NHS England, the Independent Regulator, in accordance with their compliance requirements.
Governance
- Keep under review all corporate governance developments and guidance which might affect the Trust, to ensure that the Boards of Directors and Council of Governors are fully briefed on these matters and have regard to them when taking decisions.
- Support the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the Foundation Trust Office, ensuring robust processes, systems and governance frameworks are in place to enable effective corporate governance and the efficient functioning of the Trusts corporate affairs function.
- Ensure that committees of the Board of Directors and Council of Governors are properly constituted with clear terms of reference.
- Draft Board and Committee reports, as required and advise report authors on the content and presentation of their papers.
- Maintain a Corporate Governance Handbook including policy and procedure relating to the register of gifts and hospitality for staff and directors.
- Assist in the delivery of induction programmes for new directors and governors.
- Ensure that directors and governors receive information in a timely and appropriate way to enable them to discharge their duties effectively. This includes meeting papers and information from external organisations.
- Respond to public, regulatory and Trust queries concerning corporate governance, including FOI requests.
Board of Directors, Council of Governors and their Committees
- In partnership with the Chair, Director of Corporate Affairs and Deputy Director of Corporate Governance, lead the planning and coordination of corporate meetings in your portfolio, including the development of forward plans, production of high-quality agendas and papers, and the preparation of accurate minutes and comprehensive action logs.
- Provide support to Kings Executive meetings, when called upon, assisting with agenda planning in liaison with the Director of Corporate Affairs and ensuring appropriate monitoring of agreed actions.
- Facilitate the Trusts decision-making process by ensuring that Board and Committee minutes accurately and clearly capture discussions, decisions, recommendations and agreed actions, and that actions are appropriately tracked through to completion
- Assist in the development and maintenance of forward plans for Board of Directors and Council of Governors and their sub committees and draw up the yearly programme of meetings.
- Draft Board Committee Annual Reports and Self Assessments for approval by Non-Executive Committee Chairs and Committee leads.
- Draft, maintain, and update Committee terms of reference, ensuring these comply with best practice corporate governance and statutory/regulatory requirements.
- Support the review and draft of amendments to the Trusts constitution for approval by Directors and Governors.
Membership Management
- Support in ensuring that the membership database is kept updated in line with the Trusts requirements.
- In liaison with the Membership Team, ensure the accuracy of the membership database with regard to members eligibility, contact details and communication preferences.
- To liaise with the database provider with regard to governor recruitment, including membership data selection and mailing fulfilment.
Information
- Responsible for ensuring, in liaison with the Corporate Communications Team, that relevant and up to date corporate governance information is provided on the Trusts website and intranet.
- Develop and maintain, in liaison with the Corporate Communications Team, the Governors page on the Trust Website, ensuring timely, relevant and statutory information is provided to Governors, including NHSE guidance, board and committee information, meeting papers, and the Governors induction handbook.
General Responsibilities
- The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
- To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
- To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
- To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
Safe Guarding
- The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibilityto support the organisation in our duties by.
- attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults,
- familiarising ourselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns,
- reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately.
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and projects and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties may change over time and this description may be subject to review after discussion with the post holder. Flexibility is required where meeting events are held outside of office hours.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Working Relationships
INTERNAL:
EXTERNAL:
Chairman
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Directors
Non-Executive Directors
Governors
Senior staff
Chiefs of Divisions
Patient, Public Involvement Team
Communications Team
Foundation Trust Members
External and Internal Auditors
NHS England (NHSE)
Care Quality Commission
Department of Health & Social Care
Other NHS Foundation Trusts
NHS South East London Integrated Care Board
NHS Providers
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Compliance:
- You will contribute to the production of the Trusts Annual Report in accordance with NHS England (NHSE) guidance, advising internal authors on content, drafting relevant sections yourself, ensuring all statutory requirements are fulfilled.
- Ensure that the election of governors is carried out in accordance with the Trusts constitution.
- Advise Directors and Governors on declarations of interest and maintain the appropriate registers.
- Assist with arrangements for the election of public, patient and staff governors in accordance with the election rules contained within the Trusts constitution.
- Ensure that Governors declarations of eligibility to vote at meetings are kept up to date.
- Maintain agreements with partnership organisations with regard to their nominated representatives on the Council of Governors.
- Ensure disclosures are updated regularly on the Trusts website in accordance with the Code of Governance.
- Assist in the production and submission of the statutory annual returns, including the Annual Accounts and Annual Report, and quarterly returns to NHS England, the Independent Regulator, in accordance with their compliance requirements.
Governance
- Keep under review all corporate governance developments and guidance which might affect the Trust, to ensure that the Boards of Directors and Council of Governors are fully briefed on these matters and have regard to them when taking decisions.
- Support the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the Foundation Trust Office, ensuring robust processes, systems and governance frameworks are in place to enable effective corporate governance and the efficient functioning of the Trusts corporate affairs function.
- Ensure that committees of the Board of Directors and Council of Governors are properly constituted with clear terms of reference.
- Draft Board and Committee reports, as required and advise report authors on the content and presentation of their papers.
- Maintain a Corporate Governance Handbook including policy and procedure relating to the register of gifts and hospitality for staff and directors.
- Assist in the delivery of induction programmes for new directors and governors.
- Ensure that directors and governors receive information in a timely and appropriate way to enable them to discharge their duties effectively. This includes meeting papers and information from external organisations.
- Respond to public, regulatory and Trust queries concerning corporate governance, including FOI requests.
Board of Directors, Council of Governors and their Committees
- In partnership with the Chair, Director of Corporate Affairs and Deputy Director of Corporate Governance, lead the planning and coordination of corporate meetings in your portfolio, including the development of forward plans, production of high-quality agendas and papers, and the preparation of accurate minutes and comprehensive action logs.
- Provide support to Kings Executive meetings, when called upon, assisting with agenda planning in liaison with the Director of Corporate Affairs and ensuring appropriate monitoring of agreed actions.
- Facilitate the Trusts decision-making process by ensuring that Board and Committee minutes accurately and clearly capture discussions, decisions, recommendations and agreed actions, and that actions are appropriately tracked through to completion
- Assist in the development and maintenance of forward plans for Board of Directors and Council of Governors and their sub committees and draw up the yearly programme of meetings.
- Draft Board Committee Annual Reports and Self Assessments for approval by Non-Executive Committee Chairs and Committee leads.
- Draft, maintain, and update Committee terms of reference, ensuring these comply with best practice corporate governance and statutory/regulatory requirements.
- Support the review and draft of amendments to the Trusts constitution for approval by Directors and Governors.
Membership Management
- Support in ensuring that the membership database is kept updated in line with the Trusts requirements.
- In liaison with the Membership Team, ensure the accuracy of the membership database with regard to members eligibility, contact details and communication preferences.
- To liaise with the database provider with regard to governor recruitment, including membership data selection and mailing fulfilment.
Information
- Responsible for ensuring, in liaison with the Corporate Communications Team, that relevant and up to date corporate governance information is provided on the Trusts website and intranet.
- Develop and maintain, in liaison with the Corporate Communications Team, the Governors page on the Trust Website, ensuring timely, relevant and statutory information is provided to Governors, including NHSE guidance, board and committee information, meeting papers, and the Governors induction handbook.
General Responsibilities
- The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
- To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
- To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
- To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
Safe Guarding
- The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibilityto support the organisation in our duties by.
- attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults,
- familiarising ourselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns,
- reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately.
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and projects and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties may change over time and this description may be subject to review after discussion with the post holder. Flexibility is required where meeting events are held outside of office hours.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or demonstrable equivalent experience.
- Evidence of Continuous professional development in corporate governance.
Desirable
- Qualified (or near qualified) Chartered Secretary or professional postgraduate qualification.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of servicing and supporting Boards and Committees.
- Proven expertise in producing accurate, authoritative minutes of senior-level Board, Finance, and Audit Committee meetings, clearly capturing discussions, decisions, recommendations, and agreed actions.
- Experience of using specialist board secretarial programmes such as Diligent or Board Intelligence.
- Thorough knowledge and practical experience of Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Excel.
- Experience of working with Chairs, Executive and Non- Executive Directors and senior staff.
Desirable
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels using email, telephone or face to face.
- Demonstrable ability to understand and accurately minute discussions relating to finance, audit, and risk in a X governance or committee setting, including familiarity with financial terminology and audit processes.
- Ability to undertake delegated projects or assignments and prepare reports arising from these.
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS financial governance, including the annual reporting cycle, internal/external audit, and financial assurance frameworks.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or demonstrable equivalent experience.
- Evidence of Continuous professional development in corporate governance.
Desirable
- Qualified (or near qualified) Chartered Secretary or professional postgraduate qualification.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of servicing and supporting Boards and Committees.
- Proven expertise in producing accurate, authoritative minutes of senior-level Board, Finance, and Audit Committee meetings, clearly capturing discussions, decisions, recommendations, and agreed actions.
- Experience of using specialist board secretarial programmes such as Diligent or Board Intelligence.
- Thorough knowledge and practical experience of Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Excel.
- Experience of working with Chairs, Executive and Non- Executive Directors and senior staff.
Desirable
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels using email, telephone or face to face.
- Demonstrable ability to understand and accurately minute discussions relating to finance, audit, and risk in a X governance or committee setting, including familiarity with financial terminology and audit processes.
- Ability to undertake delegated projects or assignments and prepare reports arising from these.
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS financial governance, including the annual reporting cycle, internal/external audit, and financial assurance frameworks.
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.
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.
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
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
Employer's website
https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
