Head of Corporate Governance

This will include identifying and working with services to complete variations to registration which may be required to reflect the changing regulated activities and locations of the Trust. With direction from the Chief Nurse and Associate Director of Corporate Affairs, implement effective CQC compliance monitoring processes and oversight frameworks across the organisation, including clinical divisions and corporate services, in order to be able to reliably demonstrate compliance with CQC standards and to provide evidence and oversight of improvement progress as required. Continuously review services to ensure that they meet the CQC standards; safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. This will require the post holder to autonomously undertake extensive reading and research, to identify and assess risks to compliance based on horizon scanning of inspection reports and key national publications, and to implement effective solutions and on-going monitoring to achieve compliance locally.

Support the Chief Nurse and Associate Director of Corporate Affairs to contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and review of key trust strategies and quality governance frameworks, in line with Trust objectives and priorities, changing legislation and regulations, and to ensure they support continuous improvement, the delivery of high standards of care and the Trusts vision and values. Directly assist the Chief Executive, Chief Nurse and Associate Director of Corporate Affairs in leading the Trusts inspection readiness preparations, ensuring that the Trust is prepared for inspection and risks to compliance are identified and documented. This will include logístical arrangements with regards to inspection, supporting staff and ensuring an effective communication strategy is in place, and working in clinical areas to support readiness assessments and preparations. Work with clinical divisions and corporate services to ensure awareness and readiness for inspection.

This will include working with services on understanding of the CQC standards and articulating the improvement journey. In liaison with the Chief Executive, Chief Nurse and Associate Director of Corporate Affairs, ensure that any CQC announced or unannounced visit has been notified and coordinated in line with the relevant policy. Ensure effective processes are in place to capture feedback and learning from the inspection process and this is used to improve the Trusts approach. Participate as a core team member in any CQC regulatory inspection, to support development of responses, and tracking the commitments to completion.

Work with the Associate Director of Corporate Affairs to embed an effective framework for monitoring progress against inspection outcomes and improvement requirements. This includes working with divisional and service leads to develop and implement robust action plans, ensure robust oversight of progress against agreed plans and providing clear and accurate updates on progress to the Executive Team, Trust Board and committees as required. This will include leading follow up visits to clinical areas to assess sustainability and to ensure changes have been embedded. Under direction from the Associate Director of Corporate Affairs, lead and coordinate the Trusts participation in consultations regarding changes in regulatory activities.

Coordinate the infrastructure to support and replicate CQC compliance requirements internally through the collation, scrutiny and analysis of background and supporting information to inform inspection, in addition to a go and see approach. In partnership with stakeholders, lead the development of a methodology for risk assessment, inspections, and rating of services to inform an assessment of their performance (self-assessment). Develop and maintain a timetable to ensure compliance is reviewed and challenged to provide assurance of compliance to Board and committees. To develop key performance indicators on which the effectiveness of policies and systems for compliance and regulation can be determined so that progress can be measured over time, reported to relevant operational and assurance forums, and provide assurance to the Executive Team and Trust Board.

Build highly effective relationships with managers and directors to foster a culture of collaborative working regarding compliance. Provide advice, support and training to executive, clinical and associate directors in the development and maintenance of robust governance processes and systems with respect to compliance. Where required, support healthcare professionals in the facilitation of changes to support improvements in patient care identified as a direct result of regulation and compliance activity. Maintain regular engagement and communicate effectively with the Trusts link inspectors and managers including responding to ad hoc queries, co-ordinating engagement meetings and provision of assurance.

Effectively distil key risks a