Head of Regulation and Compliance, Band 8a

• Lead the Trust's regulatory compliance and accreditation portfolio.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory compliance framework aligned to statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Interpret and translate national policy, legislation, regulatory guidance and accreditation standards into Trust-wide systems and processes.
• Ensure organisational readiness for external inspection, peer review and accreditation assessments.
• Horizon scan for emerging regulatory requirements and advise senior leaders regarding potential impacts and compliance risks.
• Develop annual compliance and assurance programmes aligned to Trust priorities and Board requirements.

• Lead planning and coordination of all CQC inspections, thematic reviews and regulatory assessments.
• Coordinate evidence collation, validation and quality assurance for external regulators.
• Lead factual accuracy reviews and support preparation of regulatory representations and formal responses.
• Establish systems to track compliance against regulatory standards and recommendations.
• Oversee preparation and submission of evidence requested by regulators and external bodies.
• Support Executive Directors, Governors and Divisions in demonstrating compliance and improvement.

Desirable

• Professional registration or relevant professional qualification
• Formal qualification in quality improvement, quality management systems, governance or compliance
• Non-Medical Independent Prescriber

Essential

• Detailed knowledge of CQC regulatory framework and NHS regulatory environment
• Detailed understanding of healthcare governance, quality assurance and compliance systems
• Knowledge of accreditation methodologies and external assessment frameworks
• Advanced report writing, analytical and presentation skills
• Ability to interpret complex legislation and regulatory requirements

Essential

• Significant experience of regulatory compliance, governance or quality assurance within an NHS provider organisation
• Experience of leading preparation for CQC inspections and regulatory reviews
• Experience of evidence management, assurance reporting and compliance monitoring
• Experience of developing and implementing regulatory action plans
• Experience of influencing senior clinical and managerial staff
• Experience of managing teams and leading organisational change programmes

Essential

• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Resilient and able to work in highly pressured environments
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capability
• Ability to challenge constructively and maintain professional credibility
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail