Head of Corporate Governance inChester inChester PUBLISHED 14 NOV 2024

Band 8a: £53,755 to £60,504 a year pa  PERMANENT 


Working hours: 37.5 hours per week

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has an exciting opportunity to join us as our Head of Corporate Governance.

This role is based at the centre of our organisation. Supporting the Director of Governance, Risk and Improvement and the Company Secretary, you will ensure that the Trust has in place, sound, integrated corporate governance policies, procedures and structures.

You will be responsible for ensuring the Trust complies with its legal, constitutional and regulatory requirements in order to support the delivery of outstanding, integrated care to the people who use our services.

The successful applicant will be highly motivated, enthusiastic individual with extensive knowledge of NHS governance processes. You will have excellent verbal and written skills, with the ability to communicate and negotiate effectively at all levels within the organisation toensure key deadlines are met, whilst also liaising with our external partners such as Internal and External Audit.


Interviews will take place: 16th December 2024

1. Support the Company Secretary in the effective operation of the Trust's governance structure, ensuring it is fit for purpose, reporting any deficiencies and making proposals for improvement.2. Ensure that arrangements are in place for the Trust to maintain a well-defined and established corporate governance framework, including best practice Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, and Schemes of Delegation; and that these are reviewed on an annual basis.3. Be responsible for the preparation of the corporate calendar, circulation of agenda, minutes and papers of the Board of Directors, Council of Governors and Board Committees.4. Act as an advisor on the Constitution and code of conduct, ensuring transparency and accountability in the conduct of the Trust's business.5. Act as the point of contact with the external auditor to provide relevant evidence to them in order to provide an audit opinion and to ensure that a final draft of the annual report is available for approval by Board and laying to Parliament in a timely manner.6. Ensure the effective and efficient flow of information to and between the Trust Board of Directors, Governors and Members.7. Support the Company Secretary to consistently review all corporate governance arrangements to ensure that the Board is fully briefed in order to make informed decisions, and ensure that arrangements are in place for monitoring compliance with the code of governance and provider licence.

About us

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.


Working hours: 37.5 hours per week

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has an exciting opportunity to join us as our Head of Corporate Governance.

This role is based at the centre of our organisation. Supporting the Director of Governance, Risk and Improvement and the Company Secretary, you will ensure that the Trust has in place, sound, integrated corporate governance policies, procedures and structures.

You will be responsible for ensuring the Trust complies with its legal, constitutional and regulatory requirements in order to support the delivery of outstanding, integrated care to the people who use our services.

The successful applicant will be highly motivated, enthusiastic individual with extensive knowledge of NHS governance processes. You will have excellent verbal and written skills, with the ability to communicate and negotiate effectively at all levels within the organisation toensure key deadlines are met, whilst also liaising with our external partners such as Internal and External Audit.


Interviews will take place: 16th December 2024

1. Support the Company Secretary in the effective operation of the Trust's governance structure, ensuring it is fit for purpose, reporting any deficiencies and making proposals for improvement.2. Ensure that arrangements are in place for the Trust to maintain a well-defined and established corporate governance framework, including best practice Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, and Schemes of Delegation; and that these are reviewed on an annual basis.3. Be responsible for the preparation of the corporate calendar, circulation of agenda, minutes and papers of the Board of Directors, Council of Governors and Board Committees.4. Act as an advisor on the Constitution and code of conduct, ensuring transparency and accountability in the conduct of the Trust's business.5. Act as the point of contact with the external auditor to provide relevant evidence to them in order to provide an audit opinion and to ensure that a final draft of the annual report is available for approval by Board and laying to Parliament in a timely manner.6. Ensure the effective and efficient flow of information to and between the Trust Board of Directors, Governors and Members.7. Support the Company Secretary to consistently review all corporate governance arrangements to ensure that the Board is fully briefed in order to make informed decisions, and ensure that arrangements are in place for monitoring compliance with the code of governance and provider licence.

About us

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.



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