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Job summary

Main area
Nursing and Midwifery
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Contract
Permanent: cross site working
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
151-FM0001
Employer
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Frimley Park Hospital
Town
Frimley
Salary
£64,337 - £74,415 Per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/01/2025 18:00
Interview date
10/01/2025

Employer heading

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Head of Legal Services

NHS AfC: Band 8b

Job overview

FHFT have an exciting opportunity to lead the Legal Services Team at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. The team works closely with the patient safety and governance as well as the clinical teams.

You will be responsible for managing a caseload of claims and inquests in accordance with national and local policies and procedures. You will liaise with individuals at all levels, including the Trust executive team, solicitors, NHS Resolution, HM Coroner, the police and members of the public.

You will have a detailed understanding of civil law procedures and the principles of negligence. You will be able to work in a high pressure environment and will have excellent communication skills. You will also have the capacity to deal with highly sensitive situations and the ability to work effectively and professionally with colleagues across the Trust and with external agencies

This position is full time cross site role. You will report directly to the Deputy Chief Nurse.

Main duties of the job

  • Leadership and management of Legal Services Team
  • Trust lead for management of inquests
  • Manage the litigation function within the Trust, including all aspects of medico-legal, personal injury and property expense claims
  • Budget holder for NHSR scheme contributions
  • To provide/obtain legal advice on Court of Protection matters and   other matters as required.
  • To identify and progress issues of concern that arise during claims and inquest investigations in order to reduce the instances of poor outcomes, subsequent potential claims  and associated costs
  • To provide legal advice and guidance where required to the Trust

Working for our organisation

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available. 

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • Leadership and management of Legal Services Team
  • Trust lead for management of inquests
  • Manage the litigation function within the Trust, including all aspects of medico-legal, personal injury and property expense claims
  • Budget holder for NHSR scheme contributions
  • To provide/obtain legal advice on Court of Protection matters and   other matters as required.
  • To identify and progress issues of concern that arise during claims and inquest investigations in order to reduce the instances of poor outcomes, subsequent potential claims  and associated costs
  • To provide legal advice and guidance where required to the Trust

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Postgraduate professional legal qualification (Barrister/Solicitor) with current practising certificate, or equivalent master’s degree
  • Advocacy training (or equivalent experience)
  • Risk management/Root cause analysis (or equivalent experience.
Desirable criteria
  • Acute hospital litigation experience.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Significant specialist experience of managing negligence and insurance claims and issues. • Healthcare litigation experience. • NHS Insurance provision. • Experience of leading highly complex negotiations across departmental boundaries in difficult and hostile circumstances where opinions frequently conflict.
Desirable criteria
  • • Acute hospital litigation experience. • Experience of contributing to patient safety and quality initiatives resulting from claims.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • • Able to work autonomously and with discretion within legal and Trust frameworks
  • • Excellent communication skills; ability to negotiate and communicate complex and contentious issues and information, influencing change to senior individuals within and without the organisation
Desirable criteria
  • • Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances. Some occasional exposure to highly distressing/emotional circumstances

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Menopause Friendly EmployerWe offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.We Work Flexibly

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
alison szewczyk
Job title
Deputy Chief Nurse
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
03006134644