Deputy Head of Legal Services (Solicitor) | Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen for a full time Deputy Head of Legal Services to join the legal team at YAS. The Legal Services Department is a small, but extremely busy function within the wider Deputy Chief Executive Directorate and Corporate Services sub-directorate. The Legal Services Department manages a number of workstreams including inquests, claims and data protection, and provides legal knowledge and expertise to the organisation. The work is varied and fast paced. The post holder will predominately support the Head of Legal Services in managing the complex caseload of inquests and claims, attending court as necessary. The department has a focus on staff development, within legal or managerial specialisms and embodies the YAS vision and values. We have a flexible approach to working, with continual improvement and digital-by-default being the main drivers. As the Deputy Head of Legal Services you will be a qualified solicitor, or in the advanced stages of training towards this. The post holder will work within a dedicated in-house legal team covering healthcare litigation, including clinical negligence, public and employer's liability, inquests, and healthcare advice and will have expertise in these areas. The role will have a focus on inquests and claims and ad hoc legal advice, managing a complex caseload and undertaking advocacy on behalf of the Trust. A large proportion of time will be spent preparing for and attending court across Yorkshire and beyond. The post holder will support the Legal Services Manager in their management of the workstreams in the legal portfolio ensuring that the Trust meets its statutory responsibilities.,

• Reporting to and being supervised by the Head of Legal Services/Trust Solicitor, the post holder will work within a dedicated in-house legal team covering healthcare litigation, including clinical negligence, public and employer's liability, inquests, and healthcare advice and will have expertise in these areas.
• Under the direction of the Head of Legal Services/Trust Solicitor, the postholder will manage a portfolio of clinical claims and inquests providing expert legal advice and support to witnesses.
• The individual will have conduct of their own caseload, acting autonomously in making case management decisions and in their day-to-day work.
• To undertake advocacy at inquests, achieving significant cost savings for the Trust and minimising financial, reputational and other risks to the Trust, advising on and managing exposure to liability. Dynamic and reactive advocacy will be required, again acting autonomously in decision making.
• To provide supervision and support to the Trust's Legal Services team with the management of clinical negligence claims ensuring compliance with the relevant protocols, legislation and NHS Resolution guidelines.
• To provide specialist advice and guidance on management of complex cases arising from the legal services team workstreams.
• To provide high quality data analysis and feedback ensuring that learning and areas for improvements are identified, with actions taken as a result of claims and inquest findings.
• To manage and support the Legal Services Manager and relevant functions, enabling the team to deliver its statutory responsibilities and meet objectives as agreed with the Head of Legal Services/Trust Solicitor.
• To support the Head of Legal Services/Trust Solicitor in the running and development of the in-house legal team to contribute towards outstanding healthcare and patient experience.
• As a leader in the Trust, to be a role model to others, demonstrating Trust Values and using an inclusive leadership approach.
  
  Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) NHS Trust geographically covers nearly 6,000 square miles of varied terrain, from isolated moors and dales to urban areas, coastline and inner cities.
We serve a population of over five million people across Yorkshire and the Humber and strive to ensure that patients receive the right response to their care needs as quickly as possible, wherever they live. We employ more than 7,100 staff, who together with over 1,300 volunteers, enable us to provide a vital 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, emergency and healthcare service. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice, and we are continuously working across our partnership to improve our collective offer to staff in areas like health and wellbeing, benefits and flexible working incl. hybrid working.


• Flexible working including part-time hours, job shares and flexible hours, agile working (role dependent)
• 27 days annual leave, increasing to 33 with service.
• Contributory Pension.
• NHS Discounts including shops, restaurants, gyms etc.
• Car lease and other salary sacrifice schemes (salary dependent)
• Dedicated employee assistance and counselling service.
• Opportunities for research participation, career progression and ongoing development.
• Well respected, committed and supported staff networks for our workforce.
Check out our YAS One Team Simulation! https://www.nwyhelearning.nhs.uk/elearning/yorksandhumber/yas/yasoneteam/index.html