Head of Assurance

Head of Assurance

Head of Assurance is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the Integrated Care Board (ICB) operates to the highest standards of governance, integrity and transparency.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of all corporate assurance functions including statutory compliance, policy frameworks and robust assurance systems.
• Act as a key advisor to the Board of Directors and Executive Team, shaping organisational effectiveness and enabling the ICB to meet its duties under the Health and Care Act.
• Lead coordination of assurance and regulatory processes, ensuring effective management of corporate assurance and alignment with internal and external audit requirements.
• Deliver high‑quality reporting to NHS England and system partners.
• Support strong relationships across the Integrated Care System, fostering collaborative governance that strengthens accountability and performance.
• Champion a good governance culture, promoting continuous improvement, learning and best practice.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing Assurance team, setting objectives, KPIs and fostering professional development.
• Manage budgets, resources and contracts (e.g., audit, legal, governance systems) to ensure value for money.
• Produce clear, insightful Board‑level reports on risk trends and assurance level insights, using data to identify emerging risks and improvement opportunities.
• Operate a disciplined Assurance PMO for planning, performance initiatives, RAID, milestones and change control.
• Ensure alignment between strategic objectives, risks, controls, assurances and mitigation strategies.
• Track and drive delivery of actions arising from audits, reviews and investigations.
• Support the executive lead for the Audit Committee, delivering an effective annual programme.
• Liaise with internal and external audit providers, ensuring implementation of recommendations.
• Oversee compliance with legislation, the Health and Care Act duties and NHS regulatory requirements.
• Promote equality, inclusion, sustainability and other statutory duties within governance processes.
• Champion Nolan Principles, Freedom to Speak Up and an open, learning governance culture.

Portfolio Responsibilities

• Corporate assurance PMO delivery linked to key corporate objectives, improvement plans and CRES Risk, Assurance, Audit & Regulatory Compliance System leadership.
• Partnership Governance & Team Management.
• Corporate Governance, Board Support & Decision‑Making.

Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to master’s level in a relevant subject or equivalent level of experience at a similar corporate affairs, governance or assurance role.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in corporate affairs or assurance, acquired over a significant period.
• Significant experience implementing project management methodologies.
• Dynamic personality with the ability to build trusted stakeholder relationships in a political context.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to produce concise yet insightful communications for senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long‑term timeframes, adjusting plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• Experience with project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince2 or Managing Successful Projects.
• Commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good working relationships in employment and service delivery.

Additional Information

This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder. It will be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder on an annual basis. The role is based within NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and is subject to the NHS Equality Act and the NHS Constitution.

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