Deputy Head of Legal Services

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

The closing date is 09 May 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a well-established team 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, but 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.

Date posted

14 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

381-CO-7066043

Job locations

Sandwell Health Campus

Lyndon

West Bromwich

B71 4HJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • 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

Desirable

  • Experience of working in Legal Services in the NHS

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified legal professional with current practising certificate for England & Wales

Desirable

  • Healthcare related legal or clinical qualifications

Knowledge

Essential

  • 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
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • 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

Desirable

  • Experience of working in Legal Services in the NHS

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified legal professional with current practising certificate for England & Wales

Desirable

  • Healthcare related legal or clinical qualifications

Knowledge

Essential

  • 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.

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Address

Sandwell Health Campus

Lyndon

West Bromwich

B71 4HJ


Employer's website

https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Address

Sandwell Health Campus

Lyndon

West Bromwich

B71 4HJ


Employer's website

https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Legal Services

Conor Lees

conor.lees@nhs.net

01215076418

Date posted

14 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

381-CO-7066043

Job locations

Sandwell Health Campus

Lyndon

West Bromwich

B71 4HJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)