Trust Secretary: Sponsorship Available

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly credible governance professional to join George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) as our Trust Secretary.

This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of two successful NHS organisations, supporting our Chair, Chief Executive, Board and Governors to deliver the highest standards of corporate governance, transparency and accountability.

As a trusted adviser to the Board, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring both organisations operate in accordance with statutory requirements, NHS governance frameworks and best practice. You will help shape governance arrangements that support the delivery of high-quality services to our communities while enabling closer collaboration across the two Trusts.

Main duties of the job

Act as advisor to the Chief Executive, Chairperson, Board of Directors/Trust Board and Council of Governors on all issues relating to corporate governance, ensuring the Foundation/NHS Trust’s corporate affairs are undertaken to the highest standards of probity and according to statutory and legislative requirements of the regulatory framework.

Support the Chief Executive in fulfilling their Accounting Officer responsibilities with respect to good governance and to maintain the highest standards of prudence, propriety and regularity.

Oversee the administration and secretarial service to the Board of Directors/Trust Board and Council of Governors, advising the Chairperson and ensuring compliance with all statutory and procedural requirements.

To manage SWFT budgets for pay and non-pay within the department.

Act as gatekeeper to the Trust’s legal advisors when legal advice is required for corporate, clinical and other matters.

Provide ad-hoc legal support to large scale projects within the Trust.

Line manage the Deputy Trust Secretary, and the corporate support function.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level qualification or equivalent experience
  • Qualification in Corporate Governance
  • Evidence of on-going commitment to continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Post graduate professional/management qualification or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience working as a Company Secretary or in a senior governance role in a large and complex organisation.
  • Experience of supporting Boards and Committees and working at Board level
  • Evidence of creating successful partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders
  • Evidence of managing highly complex arrangements to a high degree of accuracy, timeliness and effectiveness
  • Evidence of successfully handling sensitive situations efficiently and confidentially
  • Previous experience of working in the NHS or other regulated sector

Skills

Essential

  • Proven specialist knowledge of corporate governance and other relevant legislation and best practice
  • Ability to understand highly complex issues quickly and explain them clearly and succinctly
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Highly organised with excellent prioritising skills
  • Ability to prioritise workloads to achieve competing deadlines
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to receive, interpret and provide highly complex, sensitive or confidential information
  • Excellent minute-taking skills
  • An understanding of NHS legislation, regulatory and governance frameworks (including those specific to Foundation Trusts) and Constitutions and their impact on NHS organisations

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Able to build excellent relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and partners
  • Methodical with a high level of organisational and administrative skills
  • Well-developed inter-personal and influencing skills
  • Ability to concentrate on highly complex technical materials for long periods of time
  • Ability to work as part of a team at a variety of levels, with the skills to develop collaborative relationships
  • Demonstrates an innovative and motivated approach to the role
  • Ability to work flexibly and under pressure and to meet demanding timescales
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Proven ability to work with significant autonomy and to make decisions based on sound well-informed judgements

Other

Essential

  • Good personal presentation
  • Good attendance record
  • Requirement to work flexibly including some unsociable hours
  • Requirement to travel independently
  • Passes Occupational Health clearance for this role

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 11 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.