The Senior Inquest Advocate is a senior legal specialist within the Trust's Legal Services Department Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT), responsible for leading the effective management of Inquests and advising on complex healthcare legal matters. Reporting to the Associate Director (AD) of Legal Services, you will plays a key role in supporting the Trust's legal risk management, patient safety learning, and statutory compliance, with a strong emphasis on internal advocacy, expert legal advice, learning and service improvement., You will oversee the day-to-day coordination of Inquests within the Trust, ensuring timely, consistent, and high-quality legal support to clinical and operational teams. This includes guiding staff through Inquest & court processes, supporting statement preparation, & ensure the Trust's legal responses are robust, patient-focused, compliant with relevant legislation, including the Coroners and Justice Act, Mental Capacity Act, & Court of Protection rules.
In addition to legal advocacy, you will play a pivotal role in analysing trends, identify lessons learned, feed insights into the Trust's governance, patient safety & training structures.
Working in this position also carries significant leadership responsibilities, including line management of legal services staff and helping to shape the strategic direction of the in-house Inquests function.
Collaborate closely with clinicians, operational leaders, the executive team, and external stakeholders such as Coroners and legal counsel, to represent the Trust's legal position effectively and ethically.
Independently manage a high-profile and complex caseload, acting as the Trust's advocate at Coroner's Court, and provide specialist support with Court of Protection matters.
Prepare concise reports and briefings for the Trust Board and executive team, translating complex legal issues into accessible information.
Liaise regularly with the clinical divisions, and operational leaders, supporting decision-making processes as required.
As a qualified solicitor or chartered legal executive with extensive Inquest experience, the Senior Inquest Advocate will independently manage a high-profile and complex caseload, acting as the Trust's advocate at Coroner's Court, and provide specialist support with Court of Protection matters. This role demands a confident legal practitioner who can also supervise and develop junior staff, contribute to policy development, and enhance the overall effectiveness and capability of the in-house legal function.
Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.
We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.
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