Head of Risk and Performance Assurance: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) is seeking an exceptional leader to join us team as our new Head of Risk and Performance Assurance.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced governance, risk, assurance or performance professional to play a pivotal role in helping the Trust achieve its strategic objectives while ensuring high-quality, safe and effective services for our communities.

Working closely with Executive Directors, clinical leaders and senior managers, you will lead the Trust’s corporate risk management and performance assurance arrangements, ensuring that risks are effectively identified, managed and mitigated, and that robust performance frameworks provide the insight needed to drive continuous improvement.

Main duties of the job

As Head of Risk & Performance Assurance, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Trust’s risk management and performance assurance functions, helping to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality services across Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

You will work closely with Executive Directors, senior leaders and clinical teams to strengthen governance arrangements, support informed decision-making and drive continuous improvement across the organisation.

This is a highly visible senior leadership role that offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, strengthen organisational assurance and contribute directly to improving outcomes for patients, service users and communities across Cheshire and Wirral.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Master’s degree or significant equivalent and relevant experience in risk management, clinical governance, or a healthcare-related field
• Project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE 2) or equivalent experience/ qualification

Desirable

• Membership of an appropriate professional body such as the Institute of Risk Managers
• Formal leadership qualification

Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

• In-depth knowledge of risk management, corporate and clinical governance, performance management, and financial governance
• Experience of advising and influencing Senior Managers on best practice in governance approaches, particularly focusing on quality and service improvement
• Experience of working as a key stakeholder on governance projects
• Experience of interpreting legislation, national guidance and current best practices appropriate to the role
• Experience of coaching and training managers on governance, risk and performance issues
• Proven experience of staff involvement & engagement and influencing large groups of staff
• Experience of delivering a range of effective governance interventions within a public sector organisation

Desirable

• Experience within mental health or community healthcare
• Experience working with regulators (e.g. CQC) or external assurance bodies

Experience

Essential

• Experience of delivering Board-level reporting and assurance frameworks
• Experience of managing organisational performance frameworks, KPIs and accountability processes

Desirable

• Experience facilitating senior leadership forums or workshops
• Experience using business intelligence tools (e.g. Power BI)

Trust Values

Essential

• Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C’s: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

Closing Date: 16 August 2026