Compliance Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compliance Officer

Reports To: Compliance Lead
Hours: Full-time – 38 hours per week

Salary: £29,000 - £35,000 depending on experience
Location: Hybrid working, with regular travel across Trust services and sites as required
Contract: 6 months

 

Purpose of the Role

The Compliance Officer will support the Compliance Lead in maintaining an effective compliance, governance and assurance framework across the Trust.

The role will provide practical compliance support to managers and departments, helping to ensure the Trust meets its obligations under Charity Commission requirements, Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations, health and safety legislation, safeguarding duties, data protection legislation and other statutory and contractual requirements.

The postholder will act as a trusted business partner to operational teams, supporting audits, inspections, governance processes, policy management and improvement activity, while promoting a positive culture of accountability, continuous improvement and regulatory compliance across the organisation.

 

Key Responsibilities

Compliance Monitoring

• Support the implementation and maintenance of the Trust's compliance framework.
• Maintain compliance registers, trackers and monitoring systems.
• Monitor key statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Support managers to understand and meet compliance obligations.
• Escalate compliance concerns and risks to the Compliance Lead.
• Assist in maintaining the Trust-wide compliance calendar.

 

Audits and Assurance

• Undertake internal compliance audits across services and departments.
• Collect and verify evidence against regulatory standards.
• Assist in preparing services for regulatory inspections and external audits.
• Monitor and track completion of audit actions and improvement plans.
• Support thematic reviews and quality assurance exercises.
• Produce audit reports and compliance summaries.

 

Governance Support

• Assist in the administration of governance processes.
• Maintain governance records, registers and documentation.
• Support policy review programmes and version control systems.
• Coordinate actions arising from governance meetings and committees.
• Assist with preparation of Board and Committee reports.
• Maintain evidence repositories for assurance reporting.

 

Risk Management

• Support maintenance of the Corporate Risk Register.
• Assist departments in identifying and recording risks.
• Monitor progress against risk mitigation actions.
• Support review of business continuity arrangements.
• Ensure risk information remains accurate and up to date.

 

Information Governance and Data Protection

• Support compliance with UK GDPR and Data Protection legislation.
• Assist with Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
• Maintain records relating to information governance activity.
• Support Information Asset Owners across the Trust.
• Assist with management of data breaches and information governance incidents.
• Monitor compliance with information handling procedures.

 

Safeguarding and Quality Assurance

• Maintain safeguarding compliance records and reporting systems.
• Support monitoring of incidents, complaints and safeguarding concerns.
• Assist with investigations and learning reviews where appropriate.
• Monitor implementation of corrective actions and service improvements.
• Support organisational learning from incidents and audit findings.

 

Reporting and Data Management

• Produce routine compliance reports and dashboards.
• Maintain accurate compliance records and evidence files.
• Support performance reporting to managers and committees.
• Analyse compliance data and identify emerging trends.
• Assist with preparation of organisational assurance reports.

 

General Responsibilities

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Develop positive working relationships across all Trust departments.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant legislation, regulation and best practice.
• Attend meetings, training and development activities as required.
• Maintain confidentiality and information security at all times.
• Uphold the values and behaviours of the Trust.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the Compliance Lead, CEO, Operations Director or Trust.

 

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• Educated to A-Level standard or equivalent experience.
• Relevant qualification in governance, compliance, business administration or a related field, or willingness to work towards one.

 

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Experience working within a regulated environment.
• Experience maintaining records, databases or compliance monitoring systems.
• Experience supporting audits, inspections or quality assurance activities.
• Experience preparing reports and analysing information.
• Understanding of compliance and governance principles.
• Knowledge of risk management processes.
• Understanding of confidentiality and information governance requirements.

 

Desirable Knowledge and Experience

• Experience within a charity, health, social care or housing environment.
• Knowledge of Charity Commission requirements.
• Understanding of CQC regulation and Fundamental Standards.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation.
• Understanding of GDPR and Data Protection legislation.
• Experience supporting Board or Committee governance.

 

Skills and Behaviours

• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships across departments.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to challenge constructively and professionally.
• High levels of integrity and professionalism.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.

 

 

Wilberforce Trust also offers a wide range of benefits including:

• Milestone‑Based enhanced annual leave entitlement
• Benenden Health Care scheme (following successful probation)
• A paid day off to celebrate your birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements where possible
• Paid exceptional leave days
• Blue Light discount card
• Pension scheme
• Life insurance (1 x salary)