About this role
Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Group Head of Legal to work across the two statutory organisations of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust and Shropshire Community providing expert legal advice.
The successful applicant will require excellent time management, prioritisation, professionalism and pragmatism, with the ability to clearly communicate highly contentious, highly complex and highly sensitive information in a demanding and emotive patient-focussed environment.
As well as managing clinical negligence claims and inquests, the post holder will be in a leadership role, managing staff in the Legal Services Department, providing practical legal advice to staff and management and delivering training/presentations to clinicians. The post holder is also likely to have a leading role in preparing the trust for other relevant judicial processes including court of protection.
This is a challenging role in a new broadened group portfolio managing a busy department but also providing and facilitating expert legal advice across the two statutory organisations of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as part of the Group Model across the two statutory organisations of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust and Shropshire Community and with other partner organisations:
To undertake investigation of clinical and non-clinical claims To attend Court and Coroner's Court and to provide advocacy on behalf of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (SaTH) and Shropshire Community (ShropCom). To ensure consistent management and professional leadership of SaTH's Legal Services Department. This will include supervision and day-to-day line management of the Legal Services Team. To provide advice and training to clinical staff and other staff on specialist litigation issues and attending inquests and other judicial process meetings and hearings. The post holder will be expected to work with all levels of medical, nursing and managerial staff and be confident at delivering highly complex and sensitive information in pressurised situations.
About us
Our Poppy's Promise Commitment
We believe that compassionate care sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team -- clinical or non-clinical -- plays a vital role in ensuring that patients, families, and colleagues are treated with dignity, empathy, and respect at all times.
We expect all staff to demonstrate compassion not only through their words, but through their actions: by listening attentively, communicating clearly and kindly, and recognising individual needs, feelings, and circumstances of those in our care.
Effective communication is central to safe and high-quality healthcare. We value colleagues who take the time to understand others, explain information in a meaningful way, and respond to concerns with patience and understanding.
By joining our team, you are committing to uphold these values -- ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and valued, and that compassion is embedded in every interaction, every day.
Job description Job responsibilities
For full duties and responsibilities please refer to the attached document entitled Job Description.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Legum Baccalaureus (LLB) or Master of Law (LLM)
Desirable
Masters level degree in a relevant area Postgraduate Management qualification Registered Solicitor (Solicitors Regulation Authority) or Barrister (Bar Standards Board)
Knowledge and experience Essential
Extensive knowledge of legal framework for risk management including its role in the whole organisation and links to other aspects of clinical governance. This to have been acquired through a combination of in-depth experience and postgraduate study, such as that obtained through a Master's degree or significant equivalent relevant experience. Significant experience of working at a senior level in the NHS or an organisation of comparable complexity Excellent understanding of required links with relevant external organisations (including Coroners and Police), and the ability to apply this in the context of working in a large healthcare organisation.
Desirable
Knowledge of the patient administration systems Experience of training medical, nursing and/or other healthcare professionals Experience of managing a Legal Services team
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Address The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
RSH Trust HQ
Shrewsbury
SY3 8XQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.sath.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)