Interim Head of Legal Services
Job Description
Job title: Interim Head of Legal Services
Company: NHS
Job description: 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 jobWorking across the Trust and with other partner organisations;To ensure consistent management and professional leadership of the Trust’s dedicated Legal Services department; this will include supervision and line management of the Legal Team.To provide advice and training on specialist litigation issues.
- To work autonomously within delegated levels of authority. Freedom to take action based on own interpretation of professional/relevant policies and law, advising the organisation on how these should be interpreted and implemented.
- Advising the organisation how to interpret law/cases when managing/responding to legal claims. The role is a specialist role which is able to act within broad occupational policies and only seeking advice as necessary from external specialists.
To maintain ones, own high professional standards and actively seek opportunities to develop self and others within the Legal Team.To be professionally responsible for own workload and workload of the Legal Team, including ongoing prioritisation of workload of the whole team.To work within the business standards code of practice for senior managers.To use managerial and judgement skills to analyse highly complex situations and formulate appropriate solutions/responses.To work within Trust policies and proceduresAbout usWe 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.Date posted18 October 2024Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8dSalary£88,168 to £101,677 a year pro rata per annumContractFixed termDuration6 monthsWorking patternFull-timeReference number344-6912CORJob locationsTrustwideCanterburyCT1 3NGJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor more details please refer to the job description and personal specification located under ‘supporting documents’. Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor more details please refer to the job description and personal specification located under ‘supporting documents’.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
- 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.
KnowledgeEssential
- 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
SkillsEssential
- 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
ExperienceEssential
- 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 SpecificationQualificationsEssential
- 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.
KnowledgeEssential
- 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
SkillsEssential
- 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
ExperienceEssential
- 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
Expected salary: £88168 – 101677 per year
Location: Canterbury
