The Head of Legal Services is a new essential role within the Partnership. They will have responsibility for the professional management of Trust claims, inquests, advisory and Court of Protection matters.

The post holder will be a qualified solicitor or barrister with significant experience working in healthcare law, including claims management, conducting inquests and assisting/handling Court of Protection matters.

Candidates will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to supporting the development of excellent health services and a broad interest in patient safety.

Main duties of the job

• To develop and implement a strategic vision for the legal services department.
• To provide a responsive, resolution-focused and effective inquest and legal claims service within the Trust
• To ensure statutory and organisational requirements in respect of legal services are met.
• Lead the legal team to ensure that the Trust management of legal claims and inquests is responsive, timely and effective and staff are supported with legal queries.
• Attend and advocate at high profile inquests where required and ensure external solicitors are instructed if risk to the organisation is high.
• Advise staff on complex legal queries relating to patient treatment in a timely manner or escalate to panel where specialist advice is needed.

About us

The partnership betweenBarnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (BEH)andCamden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (C& I)is going from strength to strength since it was originally established in 2021 forming theNorth London Mental Health Partnership.

In order to meet the needs of the new Partnership services you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Enfield and Harringay Trust and Camden and Islington Trust. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description and person specification by clicking on the JD/PS attachment in the advert.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• UK qualified solicitor or barrister or demonstrable equivalent experience of working as a senior legal advisor on healthcare matters.
• Masters degree level / equivalent experience
• Member of relevant Professional Body e.g. with Practicing Certificate (Solicitors Regulation Authority).

Desirable

• Project Management Training

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Strong commitment to patient safety, quality improvement and quality governance.
• Effective communicator, verbally and written.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Able to manage/supervise complex claims and respond to matters in the best interests of the Trust.
• Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise. Good use of available information sources to enable efficient and effective planning.
• Able to represent the Trust at Pre Inquest Reviews hearings and inquests and support staff accordingly
• Excellent standards of written and verbal communications, with the ability to read and prepare legal documentation and case papers and to clearly communicate complex issues.
• Exercise judgement involving highly complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• Excellent standards of written and verbal communications, with the ability to read and prepare legal documentation and case papers and to clearly communicate complex issues
• Display strong collaborative leadership qualities
• The ability to deliver training and presentations to audience from non-legal backgrounds.

Desirable

• Experience of implementing service change/ reconfiguration and modernising services

Experience

Essential

• Experience of appearing in court and representing clients in contentious matters.
• Detailed understanding of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on the relevant local and national policy
• Significant experience of legal advice on healthcare regulatory matters.
• Experience and good understanding of Court of Protection matters
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge within Health Law, including litigation, inquests and general advice on protection of interests of medical staff and organisations
• A thorough understanding of current law and relevant status relating to clinical negligence.
• Experience of leading teams and delivering excellence through others
• Experience of effective partnership working with a range of agencies and stakeholders

Desirable

• Experience in risk management

Employer details

Employer name

Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

St Ann's Hospital

St Ann's Road

London

N153TH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

306-BEH-2240