Group Head of Healthcare Legal Services

Company Description

Working as a partnership, both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust have a shared vision for excellence in care for our patients and communities; with a set of strategic aims underpinning how we will achieve this. 

The single corporate service is delivered across both organisation.  You may be based at either IWT or PHU and individuals may be required to undertake business travel between sites. For leaders managing staff across multi-site locations, you will need to be visible and provide in person leadership. The arrangements and frequency will be agreed locally

Job Description

Band 8b | Corporate Governance Directorate

Are you an experienced healthcare legal professional ready to take on a strategic leadership role across a dynamic NHS Group?

We are seeking a Group Head of Healthcare Legal Services to lead and shape our legal function across Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust. Reporting to the Group Director of Corporate Governance, you will play a critical role in ensuring both organisations meet their legal and regulatory obligations while supporting high-quality, safe patient care.

This is an exciting opportunity to:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of healthcare legal services across the Group
• Lead and develop a high-performing legal team, supporting complex litigation, inquests and advisory work
• Act as the Group’s senior expert in healthcare law, representing the Trusts in high-profile and complex cases 
• Work closely with senior stakeholders, influencing decision-making at the highest level

You’ll bring substantial leadership skills and the confidence to manage complex, sensitive matters while driving continuous improvement.

This is a visible, impactful leadership role, with a strong on-site presence across our locations and the opportunity to truly make a difference to patient safety and organisational assurance.

Join us and help shape the future of healthcare legal services across our Group.

Please see enclosed Job Description for further details. 

Qualifications

Essential 

• Masters degree in Law and Legal practice (or equivalent level)

Desirable 

• Qualified practising Solicitor/Barrister/Legal Executive.

Experience 

Essential

• More than 5 years’ experience working in a senior role in relation to Medico-legal work.
• Knowledge and experience associated with NHS specific provisions, structures and social care policies.
• Experience of oversight and supervision of junior lawyers.
• Line management responsibilities at a senior level.
• Team Management.
• Excellent organisational and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, including letter writing, in often challenging and complex situations.
• Expert in influencing, negotiating and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyse and interpret data and information at an advanced level.
• Ability to write complex reports at a senior level, including Board level.
• Strategic skills and experience of application, to support with design and implementation of legal services strategy.

Desirable

• Court of Protection expertise
• Expertise in another legal discipline outside of healthcare law

Knowledge 

Essential 

• Extensive knowledge and experience of the application of law in the medico legal framework.
• Expert knowledge of systems and processes relating to the management of the Coronial process, litigation and claims management.
• Expert awareness and application of Data protection and confidentiality, Human Rights Act, Mental Health Act and Health and Safety Law.

Additional Information

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.