Head of Legal Services

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for the daily management of the Legal Services allocated budget and line management of legal services staff.

Coroners Inquests

Accountable for the effective legal conduct of all inquests involving the Trust, incuding adherence to professional standards of all Legal staff and compliance with evidentiary and Coronial rules by,

• Acting as a confident advocate, including the ability to examine and cross-examine witnesses, present evidence and make submissions to Coroners on relevant law. To understand the medical complexities of each case in conjunction with senior clinicians and recognise potentially problematic areas, both clinically and legally, which may require further investigation and reporting for the purposes of the inquest. To provide advice on the preparation and content of witness statements. To liaise with the Coroner and his/her Officers to meet the requirements of the Court. In exceptional cases to instruct Counsel where necessary.
• Ensuring close liaison with the patient safety team and divisional quality and clinical leads, highlighting areas of risk identified in inquests investigations to ensure that lessons learned in the claims and inquest process are implemented within the Trust.

Legal Advice

To ensure the provision of the highest level of prompt and accurate expert legal advice by:

Providing advice on matters including, but not limited to, patient consent, withholding/withdrawing of life sustaining treatment and end of life decisions, capacity, confidentiality, access to patient information, medical ethics, mental health law, trust law, contract law, criminal law, dealings with the police, child protection, occupiers liability, interpretation of relevant legislation, legal principles and case law.

Participating in and providing legal advice to Trust Working Groups and Committees in the development and implementation of policy, ensuring the Trusts compliance with the relevant legal frameworks.

Person Specification

Skills/Ability/ Knowledge

Essential

• Able to communicate highly contentious, sensitive and complex information (both written and oral) often within an antagonistic atmosphere in order to provide a legal advisory service and associate specialist litigation.
• Able to take evidence from witnesses and submissions in court or tribunal
• Ability to deal confidently with staff at all levels of an organisation
• Well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a range of professionals

Desirable

• Excellent communication skills at all levels, confident when speaking in public and at large meetings
• Developing & delivering training programmes

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Law (or other degree with completion of relevant conversion course)
• Masters level qualification, or demonstrable experience as a senior and expert specialist solicitor or barrister

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience associated with NHS specific legal provisions, structures and social care policies
• Experience of Datix

Experience

Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge within the specialised field of Health Law, including litigation, inquests and general advice on protection of interests of medical staff and organisations
• Inquest Advocacy
• Experience of managing staff and budgets

Desirable

• Experience of using the NHSLA Extranet and Claims Wizard
• Experience of working within the NHS or public sector environment

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

SECamb

Address

Crawley HQ

Crawley

RH10 9BG

Employer's website

https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)