Job overview
The Head of Information Governance will provide the Trust with leadership in Information Governance (IG) and the wider Information Assurance framework, to be the prime source of expert advice in all IG matters. The postholder will lead policy development, create and maintain high level awareness, raising the profile and understanding of the strategic and practical importance of IG, and provide assurance to the Trust Board that it is meeting its statutory and legal obligations.
The post-holder will head the Information Governance Department to provide a single point of knowledge and expertise to advise the Trust on statutory and legal requirements in relation to Information Governance, and will be responsible for ensuring compliance with these.
Main duties of the job
As the Head of Information Governance, the post holder will also be expected to lead the development of the following areas into a comprehensive and co-ordinated work programme that is in place, and fully embedded at the local level, in divisions across the Trust.
- Confidentiality
- Data Protection
- Information Assurance
- Caldicott
- IT Governance
- Information Sharing
- Access control mechanisms (Registration Authority)
- Freedom of Information
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- In this role, the post holder will also:
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of Information Governance in the implementation of the Trust’s new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, ensuring full compliance with statutory, regulatory and NHS information governance requirements while enabling safe, lawful and effective use of patient data.
- Lead the Trust’s Information Governance team to ensure that the Trust’s Information Governance Agenda is evolving to support the changes in care pathways and delivery of the NHS 10 year plan.
- Ensure that the Trust’s systems and information collection processes are aligned to the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (CAF), ISO 27001/2 and compliant with the Data
Protection Act 2018 as well as other regulatory frameworks in the aspects of confidentiality and data protection.
- Lead on the provision of expert advice to the Trust on Data Protection and Information Assurance.
- Co-ordinate the agenda setting and draft papers for the Trust’s Information Governance and Security Steering Group (IGSSG).
- Attend local, regional and national information governance meetings on behalf of the Trusts and report back any relevant developments and issues to the wider team.
- Lead on ensuring that the Trust complies with all DSPT/CAF standards and ensure resulting action plans are robustly articulated, monitored, appropriately escalating and prioritising areas of risk.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience in Information governance or related field to include experience at a senior level
- Practical implementation of GDPR/DPA and Information Governance Assurance
- Experience of implementing organisation wide information governance strategies, policies and procedures
- Experience of cross-team and cross-discipline working
- Experience of completion and submission of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit/CAF
Desirable
- Registration Authority experience.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Detailed specialist knowledge of ISO27001/2, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Data Protection Act 2018 and Information Governance
- Ability to lead a team
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels in a complex, multi-disciplinary environment, both orally and in writing.
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
- Understanding and knowledge of confidentiality guidance.
- Understanding of the role of the Caldicott Guardian in the NHS
- Proven ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and decision making.
- Ability to prioritise between competing demands and allocate resources accordingly.
- Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with complex policy, and diverse interest groups, and common sense in knowing when to brief “up the line”.
Desirable
- Understanding and knowledge of records management guidance (e.g. ‘For the Record’)
- Understanding and knowledge of the Human Rights Act.
- Understanding and knowledge of Health Informatics
- Understanding of Public Records Act 1958/67
- Understanding of Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
- In possession of advanced keyboard skills and proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and complex project planning and management tools, such as MS Project and Visio.
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Masters or equivalent
- IT Security qualification
- Prince2 or equivalent project management experience
Desirable
- CISSP
- ITIL Foundation
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Head of Information Governance and Assurance with Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 role. The advertised salary is £79,504 - £91,609 per annum plus HCAS. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Jun 2026.
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