Deputy Head of Legal Services

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced legal professional to join Croydon Health Services NHS Trust as our Deputy Head of Legal Services. We are seeking an enthusiastic, adaptable and personable individual to join a welcoming team.

Working within the Legal Services team, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Head of Legal Services across the full remit of the department which manages inquests, court of protection, clinical negligence and non-clinical claims, and healthcare law advice. You will lead the day-to-day operation of the Trust's inquest function, manage non-clinical claims and support in a caseload of clinical negligence claims along with providing specialist legal advice to clinical teams across a wide range of healthcare law matters.

This is a leadership position so prior demonstrable leadership experience is required, alongside experience of inquest advocacy and direct support to clinical and management teams with complex inquests and claims. It is not required that applicants be a qualified Solicitor, but inquest advocacy experience is essential. It is a hybrid role where an office presence is expected for a minimum of three days per week, but remote working possible on other days.

The postholder will provide some legal advice to the Trust under the guidance of the Head of Legal Services and will support with the collation and sharing of legal data to drive continuous improvement through reporting and triangulation.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the day-to-day management of the Trust's inquest service, ensuring compliance with Coroner and Court deadlines.
• Manage a caseload of inquests, non-clinical claims and a number of clinical negligence claims from receipt through to resolution.
• Represent the Trust as an Interested Person at Coroner's Inquests, including making submissions on relevant matters of Coronial law.
• Provide specialist advice on healthcare law issues, including consent, capacity and best interests matters.
• Liaise with external solicitors, NHS Resolution, Coroners, claimants and internal stakeholders to progress cases effectively.
• Support staff in preparing witness statements and provide guidance and support before court appearances and legal proceedings.
• Identify and escalate patient safety concerns, reputational risks and governance issues arising from claims and inquests.
• Assist in the development of policies, procedures and training programmes relating to claims, inquests and healthcare law.
• Produce reports and present trends, outcomes and learning from cases to governance committees and senior Trust groups.
• Deputise for the Head of Legal Services, providing leadership, operational management and support to the wider team as required.
• Provide line management support for the legal services team sitting within your responsibility in the departmental structure.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting document job description and person specification which contain more information about the role.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.