Head of Legal Services

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

NHFT is looking for a solicitor or legal professional to become the Trust's first Head of Legal Services. This is an important and influencial leadership role for the organisation, as we respond to a recently expanded portfolio of services in Northamptonshire and across the Midlands region.

The team's primary areas of focus are inquests and claims (e.g., clinical negligence), though the Head of Legal Services will be responsible for reshaping the delivery of legal services more broadly across the organisation. There will be an opportunity to influence the development of legal services across the Trust's partnerships including with its Group Model partner Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

The post holder will provide and manage a dedicated legal service including but not limited to attendance at and management of inquests, clinical and non-clinical claim oversight and management. The post holder will work closely with instructed solicitors/barristers and NHS Resolution, liaise with HM Coroners and their officers in the management of inquests, deal with the more complex police enquiries providing support and legal advice to staff, assist in the drafting of documents for legal purposes, respond to other general enquires advising where external legal advice may be appropriate and provide regular information to the relevant meetings and Executive team.

The post holder will ensure that organisational learning from inquests, claims and other relevant processes is shared Trust wide, working closely with colleagues in the Patient Safety Team and Care Delivery Pathways to triangulate information to improve our services.

The post holder will also support the wider activities of the Trust in pursuit of the quality improvement agenda, working closely with clinical and corporate services and provide training in relation to inquests and other legal processes.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the duties of this job.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details about the main responsibilities for this role.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

St Mary's Hospital

Kettering

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

10 November 2026

Agenda for change

Band 7

Permanent

Full-time

St Mary's Hospital

Kettering