Deputy Head of Legal Services

NHS; West Bromwich; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to join a high-performing team within the Legal Services Department. This role involves providing essential legal advice and services to Trust staff, particularly in healthcare law. You will be responsible for managing a legal team while ensuring compliance with NHS policies and contributing to patient safety initiatives. The position offers a chance to make a significant impact within a supportive and diverse environment that values ambition, respect, and compassion. Join a team dedicated to improving health outcomes and creating a rewarding workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Recognised legal qualification and current professional registration required.
• Experience in healthcare law and legal team management is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-house legal advice on medico-legal issues and claims.
• Deputise for the Head of Legal Services and manage Legal Services staff.

Skills

Healthcare Law

Communication Skills

Line Management

Advocacy

Legal Advice

Education

Qualified Legal Professional

Healthcare Related Legal Qualifications

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a well-established and high-performing team within the Legal Services Department.

You will need to have a recognised legal qualification and current professional registration, combined with recent experience in the field of healthcare law and management of people within a legal team environment. You should be self-motivated and enthusiastic, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, an eye for accuracy and detail, and a desire to ensure high quality care and services to patients, staff, and the public.

You will deputise for the Head of Legal Services in all matters and be responsible for line management of Legal Services staff as required.

You will be responsible for providing legal advice and services to Trust staff across a wide range of matters, including supporting clinical teams in learning from claims and inquests, and contributing to other patient safety initiatives.

An ability to work with minimal supervision and manage day-to-day systems, processes, and teams whilst managing a personal workload is essential.

Main duties of the job

To provide professional in-house legal advice and services across a range of matters, particularly in relation to medico-legal issues; undertake factual investigations of Clinical Negligence, Public Liability, and Employers Liability claims against the Trust in accordance with Trust policies and the requirements of NHS Resolution; liaise with HM Coroner as required, providing appropriate legal representation for the Trust and its staff in the Coroner's Court; contribute to the Trust's Risk Management and Clinical Governance processes; provide medico-legal training for Trust staff; to deputise for the Head of Legal Services in all matters, including line management, leadership, and support.

About us

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) serves Birmingham and the Black Country - one of the country's most culturally diverse areas. It's a friendly and welcoming place - a place where you can belong, and a place where you can grow.

We care for our patients, we care about our population, and we care about our people.

Our values - Ambition, Respect, and Compassion - are at the heart of who we are. They guide us every step of the way; how we work with each other, and how we look after our patients and their families; how we respect and value the rich diversity of our team and our community. Our Trust has always aspired to be more than a hospital, more than a healthcare provider. Our purpose is to "Improve the Life Chances and Health Outcomes of our Population." It is what inspires, drives, and unites us every day. It's what makes us unique.

We want working at SWB to feel like more than just a job. We want our Trust to be a place where you can feel you belong. A place where you feel happy, safe, and rewarded. A place where you can develop your career in whatever way you choose. When we say we're 'with you all the way' we want you to know that we mean it. Visit the SWB website to find out more about our ambitions and people plans.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for details on the main duties and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Experience

• Relevant post-qualification experience as a Solicitor/Barrister/Legal Executive
• Experience in a legal team
• Handling inquests in Coroner's Court, including advocacy
• Handling clinical and non-clinical personal injury claims
• Teaching/training experience on legal topics
• Experience as a line manager/supervisor
• Experience of working in Legal Services in the NHS

Qualifications

• Qualified legal professional with current practising certificate for England & Wales
• Healthcare related legal or clinical qualifications

Knowledge

• Principles and processes of civil litigation, UK Courts and Tribunals, Civil Procedure Rules
• Key medico-legal issues in the NHS/healthcare
• Principles of clinical and corporate governance in the NHS

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.