Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an interim Head of Legal Services within East Kent Hospitals.
The post holder shall provide the Trust with expert legal and practical advice in the area of healthcare law requiring excellent time management, prioritisation, professionalism and pragmatism with the ability to clearly communicate highly contentious, highly complex and highly sensitive information in a demanding environment that is frequently emotive, and patient focused.
Main duties of the job
Working across the Trust and with other partner organisations;
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.
Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more details please refer to the job description and personal specification located under 'supporting documents'.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more details please refer to the job description and personal specification located under 'supporting documents'.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Management qualification or previous role in management
- Degree in Law (or other degree with completion of relevant conversion course)
- Post Graduate Masters qualification and/or equivalent experience
- Admission as Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales
Desirable
- Postgraduate degree in Medical Law or Medical Law and Ethics.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of complex healthcare/or other complex organisational environments including across functional boundaries
- Risk Management methodologies
- Communication planning
- Performance management processes
- Financial management
Desirable
- Knowledge of Datix case management system or familiar
Skills
Essential
- Substantial transformation leadership experience
- Inspirational leadership skills - credible, respected and knowledgeable
- Excellent engagement, communication and interpersonal skills with ability to build strong stakeholder relationships - internally and externally
- Excellent negotiating skills with the ability to seek solutions from a multiple range of options which are often complex, sensitive/contentious
- Collaboration and involvement - across the Trust and with external stakeholders
- Strong organisational skills
- Engagement and communication planning skills
- Excellent people management skills including ability to influence and engage non-reporting lines
- Strong decision-making skills, formulating and interpreting policy in practice
- Excellent advocacy skills
- Ability to work independently and under pressure
- High degree of professional integrity, accountability and respect for the sensitive and confidential nature of medical information
Experience
Essential
- Experience preferably in defendant in clinical negligence litigation
- Experience in attending inquests and conducting advocacy
- Experience of healthcare advisory e.g.: consent/ capacity/ confidentiality
- Previous experience of High Court matters
Desirable
- Experience in risk management and working closely with Governance Teams
- Previous experience of working in-house
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Management qualification or previous role in management
- Degree in Law (or other degree with completion of relevant conversion course)
- Post Graduate Masters qualification and/or equivalent experience
- Admission as Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales
Desirable
- Postgraduate degree in Medical Law or Medical Law and Ethics.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of complex healthcare/or other complex organisational environments including across functional boundaries
- Risk Management methodologies
- Communication planning
- Performance management processes
- Financial management
Desirable
- Knowledge of Datix case management system or familiar
Skills
Essential
- Substantial transformation leadership experience
- Inspirational leadership skills - credible, respected and knowledgeable
- Excellent engagement, communication and interpersonal skills with ability to build strong stakeholder relationships - internally and externally
- Excellent negotiating skills with the ability to seek solutions from a multiple range of options which are often complex, sensitive/contentious
- Collaboration and involvement - across the Trust and with external stakeholders
- Strong organisational skills
- Engagement and communication planning skills
- Excellent people management skills including ability to influence and engage non-reporting lines
- Strong decision-making skills, formulating and interpreting policy in practice
- Excellent advocacy skills
- Ability to work independently and under pressure
- High degree of professional integrity, accountability and respect for the sensitive and confidential nature of medical information
Experience
Essential
- Experience preferably in defendant in clinical negligence litigation
- Experience in attending inquests and conducting advocacy
- Experience of healthcare advisory e.g.: consent/ capacity/ confidentiality
- Previous experience of High Court matters
Desirable
- Experience in risk management and working closely with Governance Teams
- Previous experience of working in-house
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).
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).
