Job summary
Head of Regulation and Compliance, Band 8a (15 hours a week)

Reporting to the Associate Director of Clinical Effectiveness and Compliance, the post holder will provide Trust-wide leadership for regulatory compliance, accreditation programmes, external assurance, inspection readiness and governance of regulatory action planning.

The post holder will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive regulatory compliance framework that supports the Trust to meet statutory, mandatory and regulatory requirements, including those of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), NHS England, the Health and Safety Executive, and other external review bodies. The role will ensure the organisation maintains a constant state of inspection readiness and is able to provide timely, accurate and robust evidence of compliance and improvement.

Acting on behalf of the Associate Director, the post holder will lead regulatory reviews, coordinate complex evidence submissions, oversee accreditation programmes, challenge divisional assurance, identify emerging compliance risks and provide expert advice to senior leaders, committees and divisional teams.

The role requires highly developed specialist knowledge of regulation, governance, quality assurance, compliance systems, inspection methodologies, healthcare policy and performance management within a complex NHS provider environment.

Main duties of the job
Strategy, Regulation and Compliance

• 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.

Regulatory Assurance and Inspection Management

• 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.

About us
Working for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust means joining one of the largest NHS hospital trusts in England and becoming part of a diverse, skilled and supportive workforce committed to delivering Best Care for Everyone. We put people at the heart of everything we do, value every contribution and foster an inclusive culture where colleagues are respected, supported and encouraged to learn, develop and improve. In return, you will have opportunities to build a rewarding career, make a meaningful difference to patients, families and local communities, and benefit from flexible working opportunities, generous annual leave, the NHS Pension Scheme, health and wellbeing support, staff discounts and recognition initiatives.

Job responsibilities
See full job description and person specification attached. If there are any queries, please contact Debra Ritsperis.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in quality governance, healthcare management, compliance, regulation or related discipline

Desirable

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

Knowledge and Skills
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

Clinical/Experience
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

Desirable

• Experience of accreditation programmes and external quality assessments

Personal Attributes
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

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.