Head of Legal Services

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To establish, develop, review and maintain appropriate claims handling proceduresand policies on behalf of the Trust.
• To establish systems whereby all reported claims are systematically analysed and interrogated to identify trends and produce information for regular feedback to frontline staff and management for review and action.
• To ensure the on-going development and training of Litigation, Claims and Inquests staff.
• To be part of the senior leadership team for the Directorate of Corporate and Legal Affairs.
• To work appropriately with Group colleagues.
• To have excellent keyboard and information management skills.
• To manage budgets in accordance with authority delegated by the Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs and in compliance with the Trust's corporate governance policies including Standing Orders and Standing Financial instructions, and contribute to the Directorate's annual financial and operational planning cycle.
• To undertake the management of specific projects contributing to the corporate objectives of the Trust as directed by the Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs.

please see job description/person specification for full details on the role

Person specification

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to Masters/LPC Level.
• A qualified and practising solicitor or barrister, significant post qualification experience successfully managing a substantial case load, advance specialist knowledge, expertise and experience in the healthcare field (work experience equivalent of doctorate level education)
• Significant additional role related and personal development training and evidence of the SRA-required ongoing continued professional development.
• Awareness of national and local policy, legislation and regulations and the latest developments in healthcare law.

Desirable criteria

• Leadership qualification / training.
• Project management training / qualification.
• Legal knowledge to include clinical negligence, Coroner's inquests, employers' and public liability, statutory /regulatory law and general healthcare advisory.
• Higher Rights of Audience

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of managing, leading and building teams, and delivering across an organisation.
• Significant experience advising at a senior level on the full range of health and/or regulatory law issues.
• Specialist legal knowledge across a wide range of legal disciplines.
• Appreciation of the context of in house NHS legal services regulation and legislation and the context of how they apply within organisations.
• Awareness of the FOI Act 2000 and the EIR 2004.

Desirable criteria

• Be a registered Law Society Training Principal and be responsible for the training
• Experience of working in an in-house legal team in an Acute NHS Trust
• Experience of working in a complex healthcare/NHS environment
• Experience of undertaking advocacy in court and/or at inquests, with rights of audience to allow them to appear before Coroners and Judges

Communication and relationship skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate confidently and effectively on complex legal issues and processes at all levels including to senior clinical and operational staff, handling highly complex, sensitive, emotionally charged and contentious information
• Extensive experience of managing sensitive issues within sometimes hostile or emotional situations.
• Highly effective written communication skills, including excellent report writing skills, policy design and development and executive and board briefings.
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders
• Evidence of resilience and diplomacy to lead and support change within a service.
• Ability to give constructive feedback to support the development of others.
• Ability to apply appropriate judgement when considering options where all the information may not be immediately available

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to provide clear, concise and informative reporting information in relation to the Trust's legal position, cases and risks, for both internal and external audiences.
• Extensive experience of analysing highly complex information and producing reports to tight deadlines. Experience presenting this information within a large, complex organisation.
• Ability to demonstrate strategic vision and awareness.
• Ability to make difficult decisions autonomously when required, with appropriate sensitivity and awareness.

Skills

Essential criteria

• Experience developing and delivering training on a variety of legal topics to a wide range of recipients
• Ability to negotiate on difficult and highly complex and detailed issues, including the handling of challenging court cases or inquests.
• Excellent attention to detail including in terms of procedural requirements and when presenting information internally and externally.
• Proactive, enthusiastic, well-motivated and conscientious. Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• Excellent IT and keyboard skills

Planning and organisation skills

Essential criteria

• Demonstrated capabilities to work under pressure, manage own workload and make informed decisions, working to tight timescales.
• Demonstrable skills in planning over the short, medium and long term, with the ability to constantly assess, adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Ability to manage numerous complex and challenging work streams, whilst still delivering on performance and hitting deadlines.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria

• Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
• All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential criteria

• Awareness of the need for discretion and high levels of confidentiality.

Additional Information

Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid Vaccination Status

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.

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

• Job description - HoLS (PDF, 172.7KB)
• New JD & PS (PDF, 172.7KB)
• Understanding your right to work in the UK (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Employee Benefits (PDF, 578.5KB)