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Job summary

Main area
Independent Advisors
Grade
£250 per session (half day)
Contract
Bank: 12 months (Employed For Tax Purposes (EFTP) until 31st October 2026)
Hours
  • Part time
  • Other
3 hours per week (max 15 days per annum, exact hours to be claimed via our expenses system)
Job ref
990-CFO-16547-E
Employer
NHS England
Employer type
NHS
Site
Wellington House
Town
London
Salary
£250 per session (half day)
Closing
24/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

NHS England logo

Independent Security Advisor to National Oversight Group

£250 per session (half day)

Our Organisation

The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play.

As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.

As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

We are an accredited Living Wage Employer which means that every colleague working for our organisation and third-party contractors will earn a real Living Wage.  We are one of over 15,000 organisations, who voluntarily chose to pay the real Living Wage.

Job overview

The purpose of the National Oversight Group (NOG) is to provide assurance and support to NHS England (NHSE) as the commissioner of the services, and acting on behalf of Secretary of State, in discharging the functions set out in section 16 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

NOG is supported by a triumvirate of independent advisors, namely the independent chair, independent security advisor and independent clinical advisor.

NOG meets in person on a quarterly basis, including an assurance visit as part of the oversight of provision, and has one recognised subgroup, the Clinical Secure Practice Forum (CSPF) group.

The independent security advisor serves on the National Oversight Group (NOG) for High Secure Mental Health Services and the Clinical Secure Practice Forum (CSPF), providing independent advice on matters relating to security for high secure hospitals. The postholder provides independent advice on security matters to the Chair of the National Oversight Group for High Secure Services and the Clinical Secure Practice Forum.

The tenure of the role is usually for 3 years, but due to the pending  organisational changes for NHSE and DHSC, the post is initially being offered on a fixed term basis through to 31st October 2026.

Main duties of the job

  • independent advice to NOG on matters relating to security for the High Secure Hospitals.3.
  • independent security advice for matters being discussed at the Clinical Secure Practice Forum (CSPF)
  • advice to NOG in relation to matters being discussed at the Clinical Secure Practice Forum (CSPF) in relation to security
  • assurance of the development and oversight of the external audit processes of the High Secure Hospitals and that it is in keeping with the requirements as identified through any risk assessments. Making recommendations to NOG of any follow-on actions, and the process for overseeing these actions until their conclusion
  • independent advice to the Department of Health for matters relating to security of the High Secure Hospitals as discharged through the ‘Directions.’
  • support to develop conceptual security thinking in relation to physical, procedural, and relational security
  • support to enhance a culture of openness to facilitate equitable contributions, debate, constructive relations. Effective consensus and/or timely decision making

Working for our organisation

The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:

  • Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
  • Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
  • Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
  • Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
  • Delivering value for money.

If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.

If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including; statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement.  You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The independent security advisor serves on the National Oversight Group (NOG) for High Secure Mental Health Services and the Clinical Secure Practice Forum (CSPF), providing independent advice on matters relating to security for high secure hospitals. The postholder provides independent advice on security matters to the Chair of the National Oversight Group for High Secure Services and the Clinical Secure Practice Forum.

See role descriptor for details

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree in Security Management or equivalent experience in the management of secure services

Experience

Desirable criteria
  • Development of security policy and practice

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria
  • Extensive knowledge of secure health services and/or secure services
  • Partnership working with other agencies and ability to work across all levels
  • Political acumen
  • Ability to communicate directly and challenge effectively

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident committedStep into healthAccredited Living Wage Employer

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sarah Warmington
Job title
Deputy Director of Specialised MHLDA
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07568 431734
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