Job overview This is an exciting newly established role, central to strengthening the Trust’s corporate governance and supporting its ambition to achieve an outstanding Well-Led rating. The post holder will act as the Trust’s operational lead for corporate governance arrangements, ensuring governance structures are effective, proportionate and aligned with organisational priorities. They will oversee the effective operation of the Board and its Committees, ensuring robust assurance processes and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Working closely with the Chair, Executive Directors and senior leaders, the post holder will provide senior governance advice, shaping governance processes, supporting high-quality organisational decision-making and promoting the highest standards of probity, transparency and accountability. Advert · Lead and maintain effective corporate governance arrangements across the Trust, ensuring Board and Committee processes meet statutory requirements, regulatory expectations, and best practice. Oversee the operation of the Board and its Committees, ensuring meetings are well-managed, properly recorded, and that Directors receive high-quality governance support. Drive continuous improvement of governance frameworks, policies and assurance processes, ensuring they remain aligned with organisational priorities and regulatory developments. Provide professional leadership to the governance function, setting standards for governance practice and coordinating support across Board assurance committees and executive support teams. Manage key corporate governance responsibilities, including the Scheme of Delegation, Terms of Reference, registers of interests and gifts, Fit and Proper Person checks, and secure management of official records. Support Board effectiveness and development, including board evaluation processes and the appointment and induction of Executive and Non-Executive Directors. Working for our organisation Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond. Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey. We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care. We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures. We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition: Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement On-site Nurseries On-site staff cafes On-site parking Support in career development Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. For more information about a career at ASPH please visit: www.asph-careers.org Detailed job description and main responsibilities · Be accountable for maintaining consistent governance standards across Board and Committee processes, ensuring alignment with statutory requirements and best practice. · With the Associate Director of Corporate Affairs & Governance, establish and refine procedures for the sound, integrated governance of the Trust and advise the Trust Board on developments in governance and other issues. · Oversee and assure the effective operation of Board and Committee governance processes so that meetings of the Board, the Board of Directors and their Committees, run efficiently and effectively, that they are properly recorded and that Directors receive appropriate support. · Lead the continuous development of the Trust’s governance arrangements, ensuring structures, processes and assurance mechanisms remain effective and aligned to organisational priorities. · Provide professional leadership and development to governance staff, setting standards for governance practice and ensuring consistent delivery across the function. · Working with the Corporate governance Officer, lead and coordinate governance support to all Board assurance committees by producing and planning agendas and minuting the meetings. · Provide strategic governance coordination across Executive support functions as required by the Executive Assistant Manager and the wider Executive Personal Assistant team. · Maintain the register of Declarations of Interest, Gifts and Hospitality and annual Fit and Proper Persons checks. · Ensure the accurate storage and maintenance of official Board Committee business records in safe, secure and retrievable systems. · Provide a high quality, customer focused service ensuring that the Trust maintains high standards in relation to good practice and departmental quality standards. · Support the appointment and induction of new Executive, and Non-Executive, Board Members. · Lead the review and maintenance of Terms of Reference for Board and its Committees, the Executive Team ensuring that and that they are reviewed at appropriate intervals, in accordance with the Trust’s Corporate Governance Framework. · Keep under review the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation ensuring this is updated in line with any regulatory changes · In the absence of the Associate Director of Corporate Affairs & Governance, provide information and advice to the Non- Executive and Executive Directors on Board business as appropriate, often of a complex and confidential nature. · Accountable for producing a calendar of all Board and Committees, ensuring the meetings are scheduled to maximise timely flow of information to enable effective decision making. · Ensure the regular evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board, its Committees, Members Group and other groups, incorporating a range of methods including self-assessment and independent review.