Job vacancy: Risk Practitioner, Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust, Worthing

Job summary

Main area: Administration
Grade: NHS AFC: Band 8a
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 354-CO-21660

Employer: Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Portland House
Town: Worthing
Salary: £53,755 - £60,504 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 20/06/2025 23:59
Interview date: 27/06/2025

Risk Practitioner

NHS AFC: Band 8a

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Risk Management Framework, Processes, and Systems

Corporate Risk Register: Oversee and implement the Trust’s Corporate Risk Register and risk escalation framework.
System Fitness: Ensure systems/processes for risk identification, assessment, and mitigation are effective, and recommend improvements as needed.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and refine risk management processes, incorporating best practices and national standards.
Communication: Maintain effective communication channels for risk management and share timely updates, including content for the Trust’s intranet.
Reporting: Generate periodic risk management reports for the Board, Committees, and other stakeholders. Address findings from internal audits.
Guidance and Feedback: Provide support to divisions in recording and analysing risks, maintaining risk registers, and ensuring appropriate escalations.
Data Analysis: Analyse risk data to identify trends, themes, and connections with other indicators.
Governance Integration: Collaborate with the Clinical Governance Team to manage clinical risks effectively.
Escalation: Align risks with the Trust’s Risk Management Framework, escalating appropriately to the Corporate Risk Register.
Strategic Reporting: Develop reports, including Divisional and Governance reports, to inform risk mitigation and decision-making.

Risk Management Support and Training

Training Program: Develop and deliver a comprehensive risk management training program to build competence and a positive risk culture.
Expert Advice: Guide Board members on risk appetite and tolerance and advise staff on risk management processes and tools.
Risk Entry Quality: Support Divisions in assessing complex risks, scoring entries, and maintaining accurate risk registers.
Knowledge Sharing: Cascade lessons learned to improve risk management practices Trust-wide.

Communication and Relationships

Engagement: Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, using effective communication to simplify complex risk terms and promote understanding.
Collaboration: Work with senior leaders and external bodies (e.g., CQC, ICS) to manage significant risks and maintain compliance.
Negotiation and Persuasion: Employ negotiation skills to achieve cooperative outcomes and meet deadlines.
Technical Proficiency: Utilise advanced tools (e.g., Ulysses) for risk management and reporting.

Financial and Physical Resources

Software Management: Lead procurement and development of risk management software.
Budget Responsibility: Manage departmental budgets, approve expenditures, and ensure value for money in operations.

Information Management

Data Security: Maintain confidentiality and adhere to Information Governance policies.
Database Development: Support creation and maintenance of databases for reporting and monitoring.
Analysis and Reporting: Conduct timely analyses of risk data to inform decision-making.

Planning and Organisation

Meetings Coordination: Organise and facilitate multidisciplinary meetings.
Task Management: Act as the main point of contact for risk management tasks and reporting.

Policy and Service Development

Policy Enhancement: Develop and propose changes to the Risk Management Framework and improvement strategies.
Guideline Development: Create guidelines for staff to independently generate risk reports.
Strategic Contribution: Participate in the strategic planning and development of governance frameworks and improvement initiatives.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Relationships: Build and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external parties.
Working Groups: Represent the Trust in projects and initiatives, providing analytical advice on risks and dependencies.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Educated to Master’s degree level or equivalent professional qualification or ability to demonstrate equivalent level of experience in risk management or a relevant field

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of risk management gained from working in a large, complex organisation; preferably within a healthcare setting.
Experience of supporting Services, Departments and Divisions in undertaking risk assessments, reviewing risk registers etc
Experience of the Ulysses risk management system.
Demonstrable track record of achievement in a relevant role
Experience of maintaining databases to store complex information
Experience of undertaking analysis of data, correlating multiple sources of data and producing informative reports.
Experience of writing clear and concise reports, to inform policy and provide information and assurance.
Experience of developing and delivering training packages using excellent presentation skills

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children’s social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.