Primary Responsibilities
Deputise for the Head of Legal Services in managing the Legal Services Department and Subject Access Request Team and directly line‑manage the Claims and Inquest Officers.
Provide cross‑cover for the duties of the Deputy Head of Legal Services – Claims, as required.
Act as a role model and provide positive, professional and accountable leadership to the legal team.
Role and Leadership
The post involves deputising for the Head of Legal Services, managing the Legal Services Department and Subject Access Request Team, and directly line managing Claims and Inquest Officers, providing accountable leadership to the legal team.
Inquest Management
The role requires independently conducting a portfolio of complex coroner’s inquests, acting as legal advocate in court, liaising with coroners, instructing external legal representation, and preparing responses to Regulation 28 reports to ensure compliance and organisational learning.
Patient Safety and Communication
Identify and escalated patient safety risks from claims or inquests, and provide non‑clinical information to patients and their relatives about legal claims and inquest processes.
Policy, Training, and Development
Advise on clinical and non‑clinical policies, assist in legal training development and delivery for staff, research legal developments, lead inquest case management meetings, and support continuous professional development.
Healthcare Legal Advice
Provide expert legal advice on healthcare law including patient consent, capacity, confidentiality, safeguarding, and regulatory matters, and brief senior management on sensitive legal issues with potential operational or reputational impact.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
Liaise with safeguarding leads on care proceedings, provide advice on disclosure and statements, support staff giving evidence in family courts, and advise on complex legal issues related to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
Police and Criminal Cases
Deputise in managing police requests for healthcare records and statements, ensure compliance with GDPR and confidentiality, liaise with police and security, and advise on legal actions to protect patients and staff during violent or threatening incidents.
Reporting and Administration
Assist in preparing claims reports, manage inquest data audits, attend committees, support complaint and incident report reviews, and develop operational procedures for efficient inquest management.
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