Head of Risk and Assurance
The closing date is 11 June 2026. The successful post holder will commence with the Trust on 5th October 2026.
The Trust’s Head of Risk and Assurance is a senior post within the organisation and leads on the effective management of risk across the Trust, being responsible for developing and maintaining the Trust’s risk management process. They are accountable for the development and implementation of the Trust’s Quality and Equality Impact Assessment (QEIA) process ensuring compliance with national guidance and best practice. In addition, they manage the Adverse Incident and safety alerts function.
Main duties of the job
Be the Trust’s risk management specialist and lead on the effective management of risk across the Trust, both clinical and non-clinical, and oversee all corporate level risk management activities. The postholder is responsible for developing, implementing and embedding the Trust’s Risk Strategy and establishing the Risk Management architecture of the organisation.
Lead the Trust’s QEIA process ensuring a robust, standardised and evidence‑based approach is embedded across the Trust.
Lead the Trust’s Risk and Assurance functions, including the risk management and the incident systems and safety alert teams, ensuring that processes within those separate functions are managed effectively in accordance with legislation and best practice.
Develop and prepare qualitative and statistical assurance reports of a very high standard on the implementation of the Trust’s risk and assurance framework, including those required for external organisations, Trust Board, committees and various groups, as required.
Be the System Owner of the Trust’s web‑based risk and assurance management information system Local Risk Management System, holding responsibility for the design, development, improvements, maintenance and testing of the system.
Job responsibilities
Be the Trust’s Head of Risk and Assurance, setting strategic direction for risk management, Quality and Equality Impact Assessments (QEIAs) and incident management across the organisation.
Lead on the effective management of risk across the Trust, both clinical and non-clinical and oversee all corporate level risk management activities. The postholder is responsible for developing, implementing and embedding the Trust’s Risk Strategy and establishing the Risk Management architecture of the organisation.
Design, lead and manage the Trust’s end‑to‑end process for QEIAs, ensuring a robust, standardised and evidence‑based approach is embedded across the organisation. This includes developing and maintaining the Trust’s QEIA framework, providing expert guidance to operational and corporate teams, assuring the quality and consistency of assessments, and ensuring that potential impacts on quality, safety, patient experience and equality are systematically identified, evaluated and mitigated. The postholder will work closely with senior leaders to ensure QEIAs inform decision‑making, support compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and contribute to the Trust’s overall assurance and governance arrangements.
Be the Trust’s subject‑matter expert, providing highly developed specialist advice and guidance on all aspects of the role, particularly relating to risk and assurance management, assessing and monitoring assurance, and developing and maintaining strong assurance performance. Work with leads across the organisation to enable the Trust to demonstrate compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. This will be based on theoretical knowledge and experience, legislation, national, international and local guidelines and best practice.
The post‑holder is responsible for leading, developing and promoting effective risk management and assurance across all areas of the organisation; establishing processes and procedures that meet and exceed the Trust’s statutory responsibilities and standards required by regulatory authorities such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The post‑holder is also responsible for ensuring that there are effective processes in place to identify risks, monitor them and implement appropriate actions to mitigate risk of harm to patients, colleagues and the public, and bring about improvements in practice.
Lead the Trust’s Risk and Assurance functions, including the risk management, and the incident systems and safety alert teams, ensuring that processes within those separate functions are managed effectively in accordance with legislation and best practice.
The postholder will build an effective risk culture and will ensure that the Trust’s overall approach promotes an open and positive risk‑management culture in which staff pro‑actively identify, assess and prevent risks and hazards, supporting the delivery of high quality care to patients.
Develop and prepare qualitative and statistical assurance reports of a very high standard on the implementation of the Trust’s risk and assurance framework, including those required for external organisations, the Board of Directors, Audit and Risk Committee, Quality Committee, Executive Directors Group and other groups, as required.
Be the System Owner of the Trust’s web‑based risk and assurance management information system Local Risk Management System, holding responsibility for the design, development, improvements, maintenance and testing of the system.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
- Educated to degree level
- Post graduate risk or assurance qualification
- Strong evidence of CPD
- Masters in risk management or similar discipline
- Significant experience in similar or relevant role
- Significant demonstrable working knowledge of risk management principles
- Experience of managing risk management systems
- Significant experience of analysing, interpreting and acting on data
- Significant experience of developing, implementing and monitoring policies
- Experience in working in a risk management role within the NHS
Skills, knowledge and ability
- Demonstrable specialist knowledge of risk management processes
- High level of written and verbal communication skills
- Experience of developing and presenting high level reports
- Able to lead and motivate a team
- Experience in leadership and people management
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.
Right to work / Certificate of sponsorship
This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current Home Office regulations. You must have the existing right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.
For further information on visa sponsorship and eligibility, please refer to the UK Government guidance on Skilled Worker visas: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Employer name
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
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