Head of Legal Services

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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 13,500 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

Job overview

The Head of Legal Services will have responsibility for the professional management of Trust claims, inquest, advisory and Court of Protection matters as well as assist with the supervision where needed of complex claims, under the management of the Associate Director of Legal.

The post holder will ideally be a qualified solicitor or barrister with significant experience working in healthcare law.

Main duties of the job

• To provide professional management of the Trust claims, inquest, advisory and Court of Protection matters as well as assist with the supervision where needed of complex claims, under the management of the Associate Director of Legal.
• It is expected that the Head of Legal Services will be responsible for allocation of all new matters within the department, providing periodic reports to the Associate Director of Legal as required. It is expected that the Head of Legal Services will deputise for the Associate Director of Legal when necessary.
• The Head of Legal Services will have overall responsibility for the Early Notification Scheme, reporting back any safety issues or learning identified. In addition, they will facilitate any reviews with external legal, experts, NHS Resolution and the Trust senior medical staff, to ensure that there is adequate multi team input into those claims which expose the Trust to the largest risks.
• To represent the Trust at Inquests and Court of Protection matters and advise on healthcare legal matters arising with the assistance of External Legal. The Head of Legal Services will be expected to manage the majority of complex matters within the department and seek assistance from the Associate Director of Legal when necessary.

Working for our organisation

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Legal Advice

• To have final professional and managerial accountability for all advice given with the Department
• To ensure the highest level of prompt and accurate expert legal advice on matters including, but not limited to: patient consent, withholding/withdrawing life sustaining treatment and end of life decisions, capacity, confidentiality, access to patient information, medical ethics, organ retention, mental health law, dealings with the police, child protection, entitlement to NHS services, threatening and/or abusive persons on Trust property, occupiers liability, hospital policy and procedure and interpretation of relevant legislation, legal principles and case law. To report on key issues via the trust's governance structures.
• Accountability for briefing senior management on sensitive legal matters that might have significant operational or financial implications and/or may attract public and media interest.
• To support the Associate Director of Legal with corporate responsibility for major policy implementation and policy development regarding legal issues that impact across the Trust and ensuring compliance

• To provide professional management of the Trust claims, inquest, advisory and Court of Protection matters as well as assist with the supervision where needed of complex claims, under the management of the Associate Director of Legal.
• It is expected that the Head of Legal Services will be responsible for allocation of all new matters within the department, providing periodic reports to the Associate Director of Legal as required. It is expected that the Head of Legal Services will deputise for the Associate Director of Legal when necessary.
• The Head of Legal Services will have overall responsibility for the Early Notification Scheme, reporting back any safety issues or learning identified. In addition, they will facilitate any reviews with external legal, experts, NHS Resolution and the Trust senior medical staff, to ensure that there is adequate multi team input into those claims which expose the Trust to the largest risks.
• To represent the Trust at Inquests and Court of Protection matters and advise on healthcare legal matters arising with the assistance of External Legal. The Head of Legal Services will be expected to manage the majority of complex matters within the department and seek assistance from the Associate Director of Legal when necessary.
• To oversee the management of more junior staff including supervision and audit of files as instructed by the Associate Director of Legal.
• Facilitate and deliver training on issues relevant to healthcare law across the Trust with assistance from External Legal. The Head of Legal Services will be expected to work with key clinical departments, such as Neurosurgery; Obstetrics and Accident & Emergency, to facilitate feedback training sessions on key topics in healthcare law and any learning from claims and inquests.
• The post holder will ideally 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.
• Work with professional leads across the organisation to enable the Trust to demonstrate its compliance with national policies and standards, including those set by the Coroner's Court and CQC.
• It is essential that the post holder is a proven team player who is able to engender trust and respect from colleagues at all levels.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• A qualified solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales or barrister or demonstrable equivalent significant experience of working as a senior legal advisor on healthcare matters.
• Member of relevant Professional Body e.g. with Practicing Certificate (Solicitors Regulation Authority).
• Management qualification or demonstrable experience of staff management in a legal context

Desirable criteria

• Higher Rights of Audience (to be obtained within a reasonable time frame as agreed with line management if not already held at time of appointment).

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of appearing in court and representing clients in contentious matters
• Experience in dealing with complex claims.
• Significant experience in Court of Protection matters.
• Significant experience of legal advice on healthcare regulatory matters

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Able to manage/supervise complex claims and respond to matters in the best interests of the Trust.
• Able to represent the Trust at inquests and support staff accordingly
• Able to understand when there is a need to escalate to Associate Director of Legal for guidance and support on more complex matters
• Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise. Good use of available information sources to enable efficient and effective planning.
• Experience of working on internal and external committees in order to raise Trust profile and bring learning and key development knowledge to the Trust

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Click here to see the range of benefits we offer
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust's criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Due to a high volume of applications, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. It is therefore recommended that you apply promptly

Equality and Diversity Information

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Head of Legal JD (PDF, 448.4KB)
• Denmark Hill Site Map (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Visa and Sponsorship Information (PDF, 352.6KB)