Job summary
The Corporate Governance Officer will:
- Support the team in ensuring that the Trust Corporate Governance function is performed to the highest standards in accordance with statutory and legislative requirements.
- Be responsible for ensuring the Board, its Committees (as determined) and Council of Governors and its Committees are appropriately administrated.
- Be the primary contact point for the Council of Governors, ensuring information flows and communications are appropriately dealt with.
Main duties of the job
The role supports the Head of Corporate Governance in ensuring effective corporate, board and committee governance across the Trust.
It involves coordinating and administering Board of Directors, Council of Governors and committee meetings; drafting reports and taking high-quality minutes; supporting elections, the Annual Members Meeting and Governor development; and acting as a key communication link between the Trust, Governors and members.
The postholder maintains governance frameworks, policies and records, ensures compliance with statutory, constitutional and regulatory requirements, manages policy systems and publications, supports Non-Executive Director recruitment and induction, and contributes to statutory reporting, audits and inspections.
The role also provides broader governance support, including data analysis, action tracking and the delivery of complex governance activities as required.
About us
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.
We provide specialist NHS mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services and care for people of all ages at home, in hospital and through our community services in Sussex.
- Read abouthow our trust is run.
- Read ourvision, strategy and values.
- Check out thelatest news from Sussex Partnership.
We offer a wide range of rewards and benefits to our staff. Here are some of the perks that makeworking at Sussex Partnership a great choice.
At Sussex Partnership we put people first - whether you are someone who uses our services, works with us or works here. Read about our vision and values which underpin everything we do, and what how we are investing in workforce so that we are best placed to respond to the needs of our communities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Board of Directors GovernanceThe role supports the Head of Corporate Governance in the effective operation of the Board of Directors. This includes coordinating Board meetings by arranging venues, refreshments and equipment, and drafting reports for consideration by the Board as required.
Governors, Membership and CouncilThe postholder supports the coordination and administration of the Council of Governors, including meeting logistics, training arrangements and the delivery of a Governor Development Programme. The role will involve maintaining governance processes and documentation such as terms of office, fit and proper person records, induction materials and the membership database. Acting as the main communication link between the Trust, Governors and members, the role also involves drafting reports for the Council and managing Governors expenses related to Trust business.
Elections and Annual Members Meeting (AMM)The role supports the administration of Governor elections as vacancies arise, including planning, delivery and induction processes. It also assists with organising and administering the Annual Members Meeting, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and the Trusts constitution.
Board Committee GovernanceThis area focuses on supporting Board Committees through meeting preparation, execution and follow-up. Responsibilities include liaising with Chairs and executive sponsors, drafting committee reports and reviews, maintaining attendance records, managing annual cycles of business, and taking high-quality minutes. The role ensures meetings comply with governance requirements, supports committee effectiveness reviews, tracks actions arising from meetings and audits, and provides governance advice to Chairs and members.
Governance Frameworks, Policy and SystemsThe postholder will support with maintaining the Trusts Policy Index and overseeing robust systems for policy management, review and publication. This includes supporting departments with policy development, ensuring alignment with NHS guidance, auditing policies for accuracy and relevance, archiving superseded documents, and preparing policy reports. The role also supports external inspections and audits by ensuring policies are current, accessible and compliant.
Statutory Reporting and Corporate ComplianceThe role manages the safe custody and appropriate use of the Trust Seal and supports statutory and corporate reporting through data collection, analysis and publication. Responsibilities include maintaining governance content on the Trust website, supporting the induction and recruitment of Non-Executive Directors, contributing to audits and statutory returns, and delivering complex governance activities as required. The postholder also undertakes additional duties in support of the Head of Corporate Governance, as appropriate to the role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Board of Directors GovernanceThe role supports the Head of Corporate Governance in the effective operation of the Board of Directors. This includes coordinating Board meetings by arranging venues, refreshments and equipment, and drafting reports for consideration by the Board as required.
Governors, Membership and CouncilThe postholder supports the coordination and administration of the Council of Governors, including meeting logistics, training arrangements and the delivery of a Governor Development Programme. The role will involve maintaining governance processes and documentation such as terms of office, fit and proper person records, induction materials and the membership database. Acting as the main communication link between the Trust, Governors and members, the role also involves drafting reports for the Council and managing Governors expenses related to Trust business.
Elections and Annual Members Meeting (AMM)The role supports the administration of Governor elections as vacancies arise, including planning, delivery and induction processes. It also assists with organising and administering the Annual Members Meeting, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and the Trusts constitution.
Board Committee GovernanceThis area focuses on supporting Board Committees through meeting preparation, execution and follow-up. Responsibilities include liaising with Chairs and executive sponsors, drafting committee reports and reviews, maintaining attendance records, managing annual cycles of business, and taking high-quality minutes. The role ensures meetings comply with governance requirements, supports committee effectiveness reviews, tracks actions arising from meetings and audits, and provides governance advice to Chairs and members.
Governance Frameworks, Policy and SystemsThe postholder will support with maintaining the Trusts Policy Index and overseeing robust systems for policy management, review and publication. This includes supporting departments with policy development, ensuring alignment with NHS guidance, auditing policies for accuracy and relevance, archiving superseded documents, and preparing policy reports. The role also supports external inspections and audits by ensuring policies are current, accessible and compliant.
Statutory Reporting and Corporate ComplianceThe role manages the safe custody and appropriate use of the Trust Seal and supports statutory and corporate reporting through data collection, analysis and publication. Responsibilities include maintaining governance content on the Trust website, supporting the induction and recruitment of Non-Executive Directors, contributing to audits and statutory returns, and delivering complex governance activities as required. The postholder also undertakes additional duties in support of the Head of Corporate Governance, as appropriate to the role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant degree or management qualification or equivalent experience, underpinned by theoretical knowledge
- Hold or be willing to work towards a graduate-level corporate governance qualification
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of corporate governance and its work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge or relevant practical experience
- Recent experience of working in a governance role in complex organisation, preferably in a corporate governance role within the NHS.
- Experience of working with and providing advice within a highly confidential environment, including experience of liaising and operating at Chair, NonExecutive and CEO Level
- Ability to interpret national policy initiatives and identify the relevance to the trust and the governance agenda
- Demonstrable minute-taking skills, including experience of Board-level minute-taking, and extensive experience of servicing and administering high-level meetings
- Ability to understand complex legal, regulatory and statutory requirements
- Experience of undertaking research and presenting the results
- Experience and knowledge of regulatory matters, NHS compliance and corporate governance and extensive experience in their application in complex settings
- The ability to work with senior management, clinical colleagues and other staff, to make sound judgements and respond positively to a rapidly changing environment
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant degree or management qualification or equivalent experience, underpinned by theoretical knowledge
- Hold or be willing to work towards a graduate-level corporate governance qualification
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of corporate governance and its work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge or relevant practical experience
- Recent experience of working in a governance role in complex organisation, preferably in a corporate governance role within the NHS.
- Experience of working with and providing advice within a highly confidential environment, including experience of liaising and operating at Chair, NonExecutive and CEO Level
- Ability to interpret national policy initiatives and identify the relevance to the trust and the governance agenda
- Demonstrable minute-taking skills, including experience of Board-level minute-taking, and extensive experience of servicing and administering high-level meetings
- Ability to understand complex legal, regulatory and statutory requirements
- Experience of undertaking research and presenting the results
- Experience and knowledge of regulatory matters, NHS compliance and corporate governance and extensive experience in their application in complex settings
- The ability to work with senior management, clinical colleagues and other staff, to make sound judgements and respond positively to a rapidly changing environment
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).
