Head of Governance and Compliance

Head of Governance and Compliance

Brainkind is a charity that aims to improve the lives of people with brain injuries in the UK. Our assessment centres, rehabilitation units, and hospitals use expert neurorehabilitation to support people to regain the skills they have lost. We treat people with a range of brain injuries – sustained through trauma, illness, substance abuse, and more – to recover and meet their personal goals.

Main Responsibilities:

• Ensure a robust governance and compliance structure is in place.
• Oversee the management of corporate risk.
• Oversee all legal matters within the organisation and contribute to the successful delivery of strategic objectives by offering pragmatic and sound legal perspectives on key business decisions.
• As the Company Secretary for Brainkind, ensure that the charity complies with statutory, regulatory, and charity commission requirements.
• Lead on data protection matters for the organisation.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Corporate Governance:
  • Facilitate good corporate governance practices by advising the board on their roles, responsibilities, and legal obligations.
  • Provide Company Secretarial services to the Board and board committees, ensuring that meetings are properly conducted, minutes accurately recorded, and all statutory, legislative, and procedural obligations relating to the governance of Brainkind are fulfilled.
  • Maintain, update, and ensure Trustees and Directors adhere to Brainkind's Articles and relevant Terms of Reference, ensuring that they are compliant with company and charity law and the Charity Commission's requirements.
  • Keep the board informed about legal and regulatory changes that may impact the organisation and ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies.
  • Organise the Annual Accounts sign-off and lead on the preparation of notices and papers in line with the organisation's Articles of association. File all necessary forms and documents at Companies House, with the Charity Commission or as required by legislation.
  • Support the Chair with Trustee recruitment, inductions, and elections to the Board and any committees, trustee professional development, and the Trustee's annual review.
  • Co-ordinate, plan, and set governance meetings each year, maintain up-to-date and current databases of directors' information, HMRC forms, and declarations of interest, and monitor and ensure delivery of Board governance action plans.
  • Lead on the development of board-owned policies, ensure that the policies are up-to-date, and that compliance is maintained across the organisation.
  • Support the Chair and CEO directly as required.
• Legal Services:
  • Provide sound and pragmatic legal advice to the Executive team and the Trustee Board in a cost-effective manner.
  • Manage legal disputes and litigation, either by handling them directly or coordinating with external legal counsel.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements to protect the organisation's legal interests.
  • Provide commercial and practical legal support to the organisation's operational services, advising them promptly of material legal developments and their implications.
  • Build and maintain positive relationships with external legal partners, regulatory bodies, and relevant stakeholders. Represent the organisation in legal matters, negotiations, and collaborations.
  • Co-ordinate and promote initiatives that result in the sharing of legal knowledge and best practice across Brainkind.
• Risk Management:
  • Co-ordinate and manage the approach to risk and ensure that the legal, commercial, and reputational interests of Brainkind are adequately protected.
  • In partnership with the Head of Quality, develop a comprehensive corporate governance and risk framework, to ensure appropriate oversight across all the organisation's directorates.
  • Develop, implement, and assist the organisation remain compliant with legal risk management requirements, policies, and standards.
  • Collaborate with relevant departments to develop and review organisational policies, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and industry standards.
  • Provide leadership, assistance, and oversight of the corporate policies and standards and ensure compliance with them.
• Data Protection Officer (DPO) and Information Governance:
  • Ensure that obligations under UK data protection legislation and GDPR (and when relevant EU GDPR) are met.
  • Monitor compliance and data practices internally to ensure the business and its functions comply with applicable requirements under GDPR.
  • Advise on data protection training requirements and oversee data protection impact assessments and internal audits.
  • Serve as the primary contact for supervisory authorities including the Information Commissioner's Officer, and the individuals whose data is processed by Brainkind.
  • Responsible for implementing measures and maturing the existing privacy governance and information governance framework.
  • Working with key internal stakeholders to review projects and related data and information governance compliance.

About You:

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister ideally with a minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience.
• Solid understanding and experience of legislation, governance requirements, and best practice ideally within a Health & Social Care setting and the compliance needs of a charity. Demonstrated career record of being accountable for regulatory, governance, and legal activities and reporting associated to role.
• Experience of a high standard of business writing with proven experience of documenting complex and confidential commercial meetings and proposals.
• Strong commercial acumen with good business skills, able to review and identify opportunities.
• Proven experience in a senior level, relevant, legal role.
• Financial awareness with an understanding of the principles of managing financial assets.
• Works with gravitas and diplomacy with developed influencing skills to affect change.
• Sensitive to the needs and demands of working in a confidential environment.
• Manage complex plans and projects through to completion.
• Logical and analytical with strong attention to detail and accuracy.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary of £80,000 per annum.
• 38 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays).
• Group life assurance.
• Company Pension.
• Perkbox (staff discount and benefits platform).
• Blue Light Card.
• Eye voucher scheme.
• Staff awards.

Brainkind is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive organisation. It is a place where we recognise, celebrate, and live our values, which includes offering a range of inclusive employment policies and staff engagement forums to support employees from all backgrounds.

We put a big focus on employee wellbeing and support. It matters to us that you feel at your best. Career development is a priority. We will ensure you get all the training and learning opportunities you need to achieve your goals.

To be successful in this role, you will need to have a strong understanding of governance and compliance requirements, as well as experience of managing legal matters within an organisation. You will also need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders.

We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced individual who can provide sound and pragmatic legal advice to the Executive team and the Trustee Board. If you have a strong background in legal services and a passion for governance and compliance, we would love to hear from you.