As Head of Legal Services, the post holder will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of EKHUFT's legal Services Department, ensuring that there is a high performing, effective legal service that delivers best practice Trust wide and when engaging with external organisations. They will provide strategic leadership and direction for the team to maximise learning and quality improvement in line with the Trust’s long-term strategy. They will have overarching responsibility and accountability for all work carried out in the Legal Services Department. The post holder will ensure the provision of a dedicated legal service within the Trust, developing and expanding the service to meet the Trust’s changing strategic needs. This role is open to development opportunities for band's between 8a & 8d Legal Advice To provide expert legal and practical advice on contentious, complex and sensitive clinical issues that arises within the Trust including sharing the emergency on-call advisory service. To provide legal and ethical advice to the Trust Ethics Committee as required. Court Applications (High Court/Court of Protection) To provide expert legal advice as to when an application to Court is required by the law. To advise, support and keep updated Trust clinicians involved in legal proceedings. Coroners Inquests To provide expert legal advice on contentious inquests. To identify potential issues for the Trust and obtain clinical witness statements. To advise, prepare and support Trust clinicians required to attend inquests. To maintain good working relationships with the Coroners and Coroners Officers. To communicate to relevant staff the outcome of an Inquest and, where appropriate, to prepare any formal response to PFD Reports. Clinical Negligence Claims To provide expert legal advice on negligence claims made against the Trust We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day. Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above. For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Khaleel Desai Job title: Director of Corporate Governance Email address: khaleel.desai@nhs.net