Job summary
Employer heading
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.Â
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
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
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