Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and talented healthcare lawyer to join our dynamic and busy in-house Clinical Legal Services team as the Senior Healthcare Lawyer leading the Trust's Coroners' Inquests team.
You must be a qualified solicitor or barrister registered in England & Wales, experienced in advising the NHS on the wide range of medico-legal issues that arise in a busy acute hospital environment. You will support and work closely with senior managers, clinical and administrative staff, and with key external stakeholders, including Coroners and Coroners' Officers. Patient safety is core to every aspect of the job, which provides a great opportunity for a motivated individual to support improvements in the safety of care.
You will need highly developed communication skills so as to be able to influence and effect change internally and when representing the Trust and supporting clinical staff in Coroners' Courts and other matters.
Main duties of the job
Supporting the Head of Clinical Legal Services in the day to day management of the Trust's portfolio of Coroners' Inquests by leading and managing the Trust's Inquest team, including the Inquest Manager and Paralegal Apprentice.
Taking a leading role in relation to the Trust's Inquests portfolio, including liaising with Coroners, attending pre-inquest review hearings and inquest hearings and undertaking advocacy where appropriate.
To provide general advice to the Trust upon a variety of healthcare issues, often on an urgent/emergency basis, including the management of Court of Protection and Inherent Jurisdiction proceedings.
Ensuring that the Trust's staff are supported in relation to inquests and advisory matters, and to assist in the development and delivery of staff training on medico-legal topics as required.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
Organisational Values:
The post holder will be:
Caring - we put patients first
Ambitious -we innovate and strive for excellence
Inclusive - we respect each other and work collaboratively
Our values and behaviours framework describes what it means for every one of us in the Trust to put our values into action. The framework can be found on our Trust jobs pages and our intranet.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description and Personal Specification for the specific requirements of the post attached.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description and Personal Specification for the specific requirements of the post attached.
Person Specification
Qualifications/ Education
Essential
- Bachelor's degree and qualified solicitor/barrister admitted/called in England & Wales and registered with the Solicitor's Regulation Authority (SRA) / Bar Standards Board (BSB)
- Current SRA or BSB Practising Certificate (following completion of a training contract or pupillage).
- Extensive relevant PQE in Healthcare Law and Litigation, for or on behalf of the NHS and other healthcare organisations
Desirable
- Knowledge of the NHS and interrelated systems
- An in-depth understanding of NHS policy
- Master's degree in Healthcare Law and Ethics
Professional/ Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registration with SRA or BSB
Previous experience
Essential
- Significant post-qualification experience of clinical negligence and personal injury claims, including complex/high-value claims; inquests, including contentious/multi-party cases; Court of Protection cases, including sensitive treatment cases; healthcare advisory matters.
- Experience of appearing in court and representing healthcare professionals or organisations in contentious matters.
- Significant experience of working with and developing solutions for complex problems involving internal and external stakeholders.
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Robust and specialised knowledge of law and practice as it applies in the NHS and healthcare sector.
- Specialist knowledge of the law and practice in relation to clinical negligence, personal injury, inquests, Court of Protection and healthcare law topics.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Knowledge of NHS specific provisions, structures and policies.
- Strong track record of defending clinical negligence claims, including at trial.
- Experience of negotiating external legal advisers' and medical experts' fees.
Analytical and judgmental skills
Essential
- Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills; capable of interpreting and evaluating complex, multi-faceted information; ability to summarise complex information; ability to make judgements and advise on the best course of action.
- Ability to present complex information to a wide range of audiences, with differing levels of understanding, in a suitable format and with appropriate explanation.
- Ability to influence / persuade / motivate others and the ability to present reports / arguments effectively.
- Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions.
- Strong advocacy skills, including the ability to elicit evidence in examination in chief and cross examination and make legal submissions
Person Specification
Qualifications/ Education
Essential
- Bachelor's degree and qualified solicitor/barrister admitted/called in England & Wales and registered with the Solicitor's Regulation Authority (SRA) / Bar Standards Board (BSB)
- Current SRA or BSB Practising Certificate (following completion of a training contract or pupillage).
- Extensive relevant PQE in Healthcare Law and Litigation, for or on behalf of the NHS and other healthcare organisations
Desirable
- Knowledge of the NHS and interrelated systems
- An in-depth understanding of NHS policy
- Master's degree in Healthcare Law and Ethics
Professional/ Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registration with SRA or BSB
Previous experience
Essential
- Significant post-qualification experience of clinical negligence and personal injury claims, including complex/high-value claims; inquests, including contentious/multi-party cases; Court of Protection cases, including sensitive treatment cases; healthcare advisory matters.
- Experience of appearing in court and representing healthcare professionals or organisations in contentious matters.
- Significant experience of working with and developing solutions for complex problems involving internal and external stakeholders.
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Robust and specialised knowledge of law and practice as it applies in the NHS and healthcare sector.
- Specialist knowledge of the law and practice in relation to clinical negligence, personal injury, inquests, Court of Protection and healthcare law topics.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Knowledge of NHS specific provisions, structures and policies.
- Strong track record of defending clinical negligence claims, including at trial.
- Experience of negotiating external legal advisers' and medical experts' fees.
Analytical and judgmental skills
Essential
- Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills; capable of interpreting and evaluating complex, multi-faceted information; ability to summarise complex information; ability to make judgements and advise on the best course of action.
- Ability to present complex information to a wide range of audiences, with differing levels of understanding, in a suitable format and with appropriate explanation.
- Ability to influence / persuade / motivate others and the ability to present reports / arguments effectively.
- Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions.
- Strong advocacy skills, including the ability to elicit evidence in examination in chief and cross examination and make legal submissions
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
