Head of Legal Services (Band 8b)
Full Time | Permanent – Base: Trust Headquarters, Crawley (with travel across SECAmb sites)
About the Role
South East Coast Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is seeking an experienced legal professional to lead the Legal Services team. The Head of Legal Services will provide expert legal advice across a wide range of healthcare matters, including clinical negligence, coroners’ inquests, personal injury claims and complex ethical issues. The role is pivotal to ensuring legal compliance, improving patient safety, and supporting continuous governance improvements.
Key Responsibilities
* Independently manage and advocate in coroners’ inquests, delivering presentations, examining witnesses and drafting submissions to coroners.
* Provide expert legal advice on healthcare law, patient consent, capacity, confidentiality, life‑sustaining treatment decisions, end‑of‑life care and other related matters.
* Lead the management of clinical negligence and personal injury claims, including funding and litigation strategy.
* Support staff across the Trust with legal guidance, training and policy development.
* Collaborate with governance, safety and clinical teams to embed learning from legal processes and improve practice.
* Line‑manage legal services staff and oversee the department’s budget.
Qualifications & Experience
* Qualified solicitor or barrister.
* Extensive experience in healthcare law, litigation and inquest advocacy.
* Strong leadership, communication and analytical skills.
* Ability to manage complex caseloads and provide clear, strategic legal advice.
* Experience working within the NHS or the public sector is desirable.
Personal and Professional Development
* Option to join NHS pension scheme.
* A minimum of 27 days’ holiday each year, increasing after five years’ service.
* Personal and professional development and training opportunities.
* Salary sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes.
* Access to occupational health and counselling services.
* Access to NHS discounts and well‑being facilities.
Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum. Band 8b. Contract: Permanent. Working pattern: Full‑time.
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