Role: Compliance & Estates Officer
Job Type: Full-time
Wages: £29 000/annum
Role Purpose
The Compliance Officer will lead and coordinate estates and premises compliance across Willows Health’s multi-site primary care and pharmacy portfolio, ensuring that the organisation is inspection-ready at all times. The post holder will take day-to-day ownership of CQC estates compliance, health and safety, fire safety, IPC coordination with nursing teams, and statutory compliance programmes including Legionella, PAT and calibration. They will drive systemisation of compliance, moving from paper-based and fragmented evidence to a live, digital compliance framework using Microsoft Teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead estates-related CQC compliance across all GP and pharmacy sites.
- Maintain inspection readiness and prepare sites for inspections and audits.
- Work with nursing teams to maintain IPC compliance.
- Line manage the in-house cleaning team (training, COSHH, rotas, audits).
- Support site managers with Health & Safety Risk Assessments.
- Own Fire Safety compliance and track FRA actions.
- Lead Legionella / water safety compliance.
- Manage PAT testing and equipment calibration.
- Manage landlord compliance, leases and notional rent negotiations.
- Oversee off-site management of physical medical records.
- Ensure appropriate insurance policies are in place and current.
- Maintain policies and SOPs relevant to estates and compliance.
- Digitise compliance processes using MS Teams and digital forms.
- Challenge Practice Managers and escalate risks to Exec/Board when required.
- Provide regular compliance reports to senior leadership.
Success Measures (KPIs)
- Inspection-ready at all times.
- Live, digital compliance system in place.
- Reduced executive involvement in chasing compliance.
- Consistent compliance standards across all sites.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
- Background as a NHS operational leader.
- Strong understanding of CQC estates compliance in primary care.
- Experience managing Health & Safety, Fire Safety, Legionella and statutory compliance.
- Ability to operate independently across multiple sites.
- Confidence to challenge senior staff and influence Practice Managers.
- Strong organisational and digital systems skills (MS Teams).
Desirable
- Experience preparing for CQC inspections.
- Experience managing in-house services such as cleaning teams.
- Experience digitising compliance systems.
Key Behaviours & Attributes
- Structured and methodical approach.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Assertive but collaborative.
- Solutions-focused mindset.
- Ability to pivot between operational detail and strategic oversight.
If you are passionate about making a difference in patient care and possess the necessary skills and qualifications, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Please submit your CV to wh.hr@nhs.net
Willows Health is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.