Senior Assurance and Compliance Manager

Job summary We are seeking expressions of interest for a Group Senior Assurance & Compliance Manager to establish and lead a dedicated perinatal assurance function across UHL and UHN. This is a new and exciting opportunity to shape how we deliver clear, robust and transparent assurance from frontline care through to Board-level oversight. Main duties of the job The Group Senior Assurance & Compliance Manager will play a key role in delivering a systematic, intelligence-led approach to assurance, providing a clear line of sight across safety, quality, workforce and performance. You will:

• Develop and coordinate Group-wide Perinatal assurance reporting
• Triangulate data from incidents, complaints, workforce, performance and audit
• Support Board and committee reporting, ensuring information is clear, accurate and actionable
• Enable early identification, escalation and management of risk
• Strengthen regulatory readiness including CQC, NHS Resolution MIS Year 8 and national reviews (Ockenden, Amos, Thirlwall)
About us Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030). We have four primary goals:
• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities. Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve. About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: https://www.uhleicester.nhs.ukDetailsDate posted 11 August 2026Pay scheme Agenda for changeBand Band 8aSalary 57,528 to 64,750 a year paContract PermanentWorking pattern Full-timeReference number 358-8074265-COR-AJob locations UHL (LRI or LGH), UHN (KGH or NGH) Leicester, Kettering or Northamptonshire LE1 5WW United KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilities Why This Role Matters This role is central to ensuring we can demonstrate:
• Robust and credible assuranceto Boards and regulators
• Improved visibility and management of risk
• Delivery of national safety and quality requirements
• A consistent and standardised approachacross the Group
It directly supports the success of the UHL and UHN alignment of perinatal accountability and assurance operating model What We Are Looking For We are seeking individuals who:
• Have strong experience in governance, assurance, or quality improvement
• Are confident working with complex data and intelligence
• Can communicate clearly with senior leaders and committees
• Are highly organised, analytical and detail-focused
• Are motivated to improve outcomes for women, babies and families
Additional Information This role forms part of a new Group Perinatal assurance function, repurposing existing resource to enhance oversight, reduce duplication and improve consistency across organisations. Job descriptionJob responsibilities Why This Role Matters This role is central to ensuring we can demonstrate:
• Robust and credible assuranceto Boards and regulators
• Improved visibility and management of risk
• Delivery of national safety and quality requirements
• A consistent and standardised approachacross the Group
It directly supports the success of the UHL and UHN alignment of perinatal accountability and assurance operating model What We Are Looking For We are seeking individuals who:
• Have strong experience in governance, assurance, or quality improvement
• Are confident working with complex data and intelligence
• Can communicate clearly with senior leaders and committees
• Are highly organised, analytical and detail-focused
• Are motivated to improve outcomes for women, babies and families
Additional Information This role forms part of a new Group Perinatal assurance function, repurposing existing resource to enhance oversight, reduce duplication and improve consistency across organisations.Person SpecificationTrainingEssential
• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience gained in a large, complex healthcare organisation.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to governance, assurance, quality improvement, service improvement or programme delivery.
Desirable
• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field, with training or qualification in quality improvement, project or programme management, governance, audit or risk management.
ExperienceEssential
• Substantial experience of leading assurance, compliance, governance, quality improvement or service . Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance, quality and risk arrangements. Application, Interview improvement activity within a healthcare setting.
• Experience of developing and maintaining action plans, assurance frameworks, governance reports and evidence systems to support delivery and oversight.
• Experience of preparing high-quality reports, presentations and updates for senior leaders, committees and boards.
• Experience of working with complex qualitative and quantitative information, triangulating evidence and presenting clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Experience of managing competing priorities, working to deadlines and influencing delivery across multidisciplinary teams and organisational boundaries
• Experience of audit, service review, risk management or quality improvement methodology to support assurance and service development.
• Evidence of achieving transformation which has resulted in positive change in the health and/or social care setting
• Management experience to include experience of having undertaken change management.
• Project management at a senior level with evidence of leading and managing improvement projects.
• Experience of analysing complex data with multiple components of information in both qualitative and quantitative formats
• Experience of undertaking audits and using improvement methodology within change projects.
• Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders
• Knowledge of research, audit, data collection and analysis methodologies
• Specialist knowledge, practical application and experience in change management, modernisation, service redesign, facilitation and successful implementation of service improvements at a senior level
• Competent in theory and application of service improvement tools and techniques.
• Ability to manage competing demands, deadlines and a pressured environment.
Desirable
• Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance, quality and risk arrangements.
• Knowledge of national maternity and neonatal policy, recommendations and review programmes relevant to perinatal services
• Understanding of NHS structures, system working and the wider health and care landscape.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS commissioning and benchmarking.
• Knowledge of perinatal services and the NHS national delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services
Communication and relationship skillsEssential
• Highly developed communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to work credibly with senior clinical, operational and corporate leaders.
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information clearly and appropriately to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to prepare and present concise, evidence -based written and verbal reports for committees, boards and external stakeholders.
• Ability to present complex and sensitive information to groups of staff from multidisciplinary backgrounds at all levels of the organisation
• Ability to present to large groups including the public as necessary.
Analytical and Judgement skillsEssential
• Strong analytical and problem - solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, identify themes, risks and gaps, and develop practical options and recommendations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement on complex and sometimes contentious issues, balancing risk, evidence and organisational priorities.
• Ability to anticipate issues, take a strategic view and respond proactively to emerging requirements.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options and solutions.
• Takes decisions on contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
• Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
SkillsEssential
• Strong skills in project coordination, report writing, data interpretation, stakeholder engagement and the use of governance, audit and quality improvement tools to support delivery, oversight and service improvement.
Planning and organisation skillsEssential
• Demonstrable ability to plan and organise work programmes over the short, medium and long term, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Ability to coordinate complex work across teams and organisations, ensuring actions, risks, evidence and reporting requirements are delivered in a timely way
Equality, Diversity and InclusionEssential
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to treating all individuals with dignity and respect, supporting equitable access, inclusive practice and culturally sensitive care
Other requirements specific to the roleEssential
• Ability to travel across UHL and UHN sites and work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality, professional credibility and a high standard of accuracy in all assurance and compliance work
Desirable
• Experience of working across more than one site, organisation or system footprint
• Knowledge of perinatal services across maternity and neonatal pathways.
Person SpecificationTrainingEssential
• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience gained in a large, complex healthcare organisation.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to governance, assurance, quality improvement, service improvement or programme delivery.
Desirable
• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field, with training or qualification in quality improvement, project or programme management, governance, audit or risk management.
ExperienceEssential
• Substantial experience of leading assurance, compliance, governance, quality improvement or service . Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance, quality and risk arrangements. Application, Interview improvement activity within a healthcare setting.
• Experience of developing and maintaining action plans, assurance frameworks, governance reports and evidence systems to support delivery and oversight.
• Experience of preparing high-quality reports, presentations and updates for senior leaders, committees and boards.
• Experience of working with complex qualitative and quantitative information, triangulating evidence and presenting clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Experience of managing competing priorities, working to deadlines and influencing delivery across multidisciplinary teams and organisational boundaries
• Experience of audit, service review, risk management or quality improvement methodology to support assurance and service development.
• Evidence of achieving transformation which has resulted in positive change in the health and/or social care setting
• Management experience to include experience of having undertaken change management.
• Project management at a senior level with evidence of leading and managing improvement projects.
• Experience of analysing complex data with multiple components of information in both qualitative and quantitative formats
• Experience of undertaking audits and using improvement methodology within change projects.
• Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders
• Knowledge of research, audit, data collection and analysis methodologies
• Specialist knowledge, practical application and experience in change management, modernisation, service redesign, facilitation and successful implementation of service improvements at a senior level
• Competent in theory and application of service improvement tools and techniques.
• Ability to manage competing demands, deadlines and a pressured environment.
Desirable
• Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance, quality and risk arrangements.
• Knowledge of national maternity and neonatal policy, recommendations and review programmes relevant to perinatal services
• Understanding of NHS structures, system working and the wider health and care landscape.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS commissioning and benchmarking.
• Knowledge of perinatal services and the NHS national delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services
Communication and relationship skillsEssential
• Highly developed communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to work credibly with senior clinical, operational and corporate leaders.
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information clearly and appropriately to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to prepare and present concise, evidence -based written and verbal reports for committees, boards and external stakeholders.
• Ability to present complex and sensitive information to groups of staff from multidisciplinary backgrounds at all levels of the organisation
• Ability to present to large groups including the public as necessary.
Analytical and Judgement skillsEssential
• Strong analytical and problem - solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, identify themes, risks and gaps, and develop practical options and recommendations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement on complex and sometimes contentious issues, balancing risk, evidence and organisational priorities.
• Ability to anticipate issues, take a strategic view and respond proactively to emerging requirements.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options and solutions.
• Takes decisions on contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
• Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
SkillsEssential
• Strong skills in project coordination, report writing, data interpretation, stakeholder engagement and the use of governance, audit and quality improvement tools to support delivery, oversight and service improvement.
Planning and organisation skillsEssential
• Demonstrable ability to plan and organise work programmes over the short, medium and long term, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Ability to coordinate complex work across teams and organisations, ensuring actions, risks, evidence and reporting requirements are delivered in a timely way
Equality, Diversity and InclusionEssential
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to treating all individuals with dignity and respect, supporting equitable access, inclusive practice and culturally sensitive care
Other requirements specific to the roleEssential
• Ability to travel across UHL and UHN sites and work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality, professional credibility and a high standard of accuracy in all assurance and compliance work
Desirable
• Experience of working across more than one site, organisation or system footprint
• Knowledge of perinatal services across maternity and neonatal pathways.
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). Additional informationDisclosure 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).Employer detailsEmployer name University Hospitals of Leicester NHS TrustAddress UHL (LRI or LGH), UHN (KGH or NGH) Leicester, Kettering or Northamptonshire LE1 5WW United KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer name University Hospitals of Leicester NHS TrustAddress UHL (LRI or LGH), UHN (KGH or NGH) Leicester, Kettering or Northamptonshire LE1 5WW United KingdomEmployer's website


• Have strong experience in governance, assurance, or quality improvement
• Are confident working with complex data and intelligence
• Can communicate clearly with senior leaders and committees
• Are highly organised, analytical and detail-focused
• Are motivated to improve outcomes for women, babies and families, Degree level qualification or equivalent experience gained in a large, complex healthcare organisation.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to governance, assurance, quality improvement, service improvement or programme delivery.
Desirable
• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field, with training or qualification in quality improvement, project or programme management, governance, audit or risk management.
ExperienceEssential
• Substantial experience of leading assurance, compliance, governance, quality improvement or service . Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance, quality and risk arrangements. Application, Interview improvement activity within a healthcare setting.
• Experience of developing and maintaining action plans, assurance frameworks, governance reports and evidence systems to support delivery and oversight.
• Experience of preparing high-quality reports, presentations and updates for senior leaders, committees and boards.
• Experience of working with complex qualitative and quantitative information, triangulating evidence and presenting clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Experience of managing competing priorities, working to deadlines and influencing delivery across multidisciplinary teams and organisational boundaries
• Experience of audit, service review, risk management or quality improvement methodology to support assurance and service development.
• Evidence of achieving transformation which has resulted in positive change in the health and/or social care setting
• Management experience to include experience of having undertaken change management.
• Project management at a senior level with evidence of leading and managing improvement projects.
• Experience of analysing complex data with multiple components of information in both qualitative and quantitative formats
• Experience of undertaking audits and using improvement methodology within change projects.
• Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders
• Knowledge of research, audit, data collection and analysis methodologies
• Specialist knowledge, practical application and experience in change management, modernisation, service redesign, facilitation and successful implementation of service improvements at a senior level
• Competent in theory and application of service improvement tools and techniques.
• Ability to manage competing demands, deadlines and a pressured environment.
Desirable
• Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance, quality and risk arrangements.
• Knowledge of national maternity and neonatal policy, recommendations and review programmes relevant to perinatal services
• Understanding of NHS structures, system working and the wider health and care landscape.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS commissioning and benchmarking.
• Knowledge of perinatal services and the NHS national delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services
Communication and relationship skillsEssential
• Highly developed communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to work credibly with senior clinical, operational and corporate leaders.
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information clearly and appropriately to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to prepare and present concise, evidence -based written and verbal reports for committees, boards and external stakeholders.
• Ability to present complex and sensitive information to groups of staff from multidisciplinary backgrounds at all levels of the organisation
• Ability to present to large groups including the public as necessary.
Analytical and Judgement skillsEssential
• Strong analytical and problem - solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, identify themes, risks and gaps, and develop practical options and recommendations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement on complex and sometimes contentious issues, balancing risk, evidence and organisational priorities.
• Ability to anticipate issues, take a strategic view and respond proactively to emerging requirements.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options and solutions.
• Takes decisions on contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
• Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
SkillsEssential
• Strong skills in project coordination, report writing, data interpretation, stakeholder engagement and the use of governance, audit and quality improvement tools to support delivery, oversight and service improvement.
Planning and organisation skillsEssential
• Demonstrable ability to plan and organise work programmes over the short, medium and long term, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Ability to coordinate complex work across teams and organisations, ensuring actions, risks, evidence and reporting requirements are delivered in a timely way
Equality, Diversity and InclusionEssential
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to treating all individuals with dignity and respect, supporting equitable access, inclusive practice and culturally sensitive care
Other requirements specific to the roleEssential
• Ability to travel across UHL and UHN sites and work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality, professional credibility and a high standard of accuracy in all assurance and compliance work
Desirable
• Experience of working across more than one site, organisation or system footprint
• Knowledge of perinatal services across maternity and neonatal pathways.
Person SpecificationTrainingEssential
• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience gained in a large, complex healthcare organisation.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to governance, assurance, quality improvement, service improvement or programme delivery.
Desirable
• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field, with training or qualification in quality improvement, project or programme management, governance, audit or risk management.
ExperienceEssential
• Substantial experience of leading assurance, compliance, governance, quality improvement or service . Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance, quality and risk arrangements. Application, Interview improvement activity within a healthcare setting.
• Experience of developing and maintaining action plans, assurance frameworks, governance reports and evidence systems to support delivery and oversight.
• Experience of preparing high-quality reports, presentations and updates for senior leaders, committees and boards.
• Experience of working with complex qualitative and quantitative information, triangulating evidence and presenting clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Experience of managing competing priorities, working to deadlines and influencing delivery across multidisciplinary teams and organisational boundaries
• Experience of audit, service review, risk management or quality improvement methodology to support assurance and service development.
• Evidence of achieving transformation which has resulted in positive change in the health and/or social care setting
• Management experience to include experience of having undertaken change management.
• Project management at a senior level with evidence of leading and managing improvement projects.
• Experience of analysing complex data with multiple components of information in both qualitative and quantitative formats
• Experience of undertaking audits and using improvement methodology within change projects.
• Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders
• Knowledge of research, audit, data collection and analysis methodologies
• Specialist knowledge, practical application and experience in change management, modernisation, service redesign, facilitation and successful implementation of service improvements at a senior level
• Competent in theory and application of service improvement tools and techniques.
• Ability to manage competing demands, deadlines and a pressured environment.
Desirable
• Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance, quality and risk arrangements.
• Knowledge of national maternity and neonatal policy, recommendations and review programmes relevant to perinatal services
• Understanding of NHS structures, system working and the wider health and care landscape.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS commissioning and benchmarking.
• Knowledge of perinatal services and the NHS national delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services
Communication and relationship skillsEssential
• Highly developed communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to work credibly with senior clinical, operational and corporate leaders.
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information clearly and appropriately to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to prepare and present concise, evidence -based written and verbal reports for committees, boards and external stakeholders.
• Ability to present complex and sensitive information to groups of staff from multidisciplinary backgrounds at all levels of the organisation
• Ability to present to large groups including the public as necessary.
Analytical and Judgement skillsEssential
• Strong analytical and problem - solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, identify themes, risks and gaps, and develop practical options and recommendations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement on complex and sometimes contentious issues, balancing risk, evidence and organisational priorities.
• Ability to anticipate issues, take a strategic view and respond proactively to emerging requirements.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options and solutions.
• Takes decisions on contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
• Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
SkillsEssential
• Strong skills in project coordination, report writing, data interpretation, stakeholder engagement and the use of governance, audit and quality improvement tools to support delivery, oversight and service improvement.
Planning and organisation skillsEssential
• Demonstrable ability to plan and organise work programmes over the short, medium and long term, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Ability to coordinate complex work across teams and organisations, ensuring actions, risks, evidence and reporting requirements are delivered in a timely way
Equality, Diversity and InclusionEssential
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to treating all individuals with dignity and respect, supporting equitable access, inclusive practice and culturally sensitive care
Other requirements specific to the roleEssential
• Ability to travel across UHL and UHN sites and work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality, professional credibility and a high standard of accuracy in all assurance and compliance work
Desirable
• Experience of working across more than one site, organisation or system footprint
• Knowledge of perinatal services across maternity and neonatal pathways.
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.

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030). We have four primary goals:
• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities. Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.