Job Description

55,690 - 62,682 per annum
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.
Across the Black Country we provide:

• Adult and older adult mental health services
• Specialist learning disability services
• Mental health services for children and young people
• Community healthcare services for children, young people and families in Dudley

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, with the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.
We currently employ over 4,000 people and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Whatever your role, working in a NHS Foundation Trust, like ours, is a demanding and extremely rewarding experience. Knowing that every day you can help to make a positive difference to someone's life is a very powerful feeling. We know that our Trust runs on this desire to help and support people, and our Trust vision expresses this. Our vision is to improve health and wellbeing for everyone, especially our colleagues to achieve the best possible work/life balance.
We proudly offer supportive, inclusive and family friendly employment and flexible working policies. We have a wide range of professional services and employee networks to help our colleagues be at their best - and find support if they need it. To find more about our staff benefits, please visit our website: blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk.
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and ethnic minority candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Black Country Healthcare we recognise and value all forms of knowledge and expertise, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification or criteria in the job description/person specification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
For further supporting information to help you apply for this role please see documents attached under 'Additional documents'.
Job overview An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and support the development of an in-house Legal Affairs Team.
You will need to have a recognised legal qualification and current professional registration, combined with recent experience in the field of healthcare law, social care law, information governance law as well as clinical negligence.
You should be self-motivated and enthusiastic, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, an eye for accuracy and detail, and a desire to ensure high quality care and services to patients, staff and the public.
You will be responsible for providing legal advice and services to Trust staff across a wide range of matters, including supporting clinical teams in learning from claims and inquests, and contributing to other patient safety initiatives.
An ability to work with minimal supervision and manage day to day systems, processes and teams whilst managing a personal workload is essential.
In return we offer a market leading pension scheme, Flexible working patterns and flexible work locations as well as genuine work-life balance along with a host of benefits including salary sacrifice schemes for cars.
Main Duties/Responsibilities
Inquests: * Liaise with the Coroner's office and obtain reports/witness statements, identifying relevant clinicians following review of clinical records.

• Identify and provide advice to the Trust Board on complex cases and those where there is potential for an adverse outcome.
• Provide representation and advocacy in the Coroner's Court.
• Provide appropriate support to Trust staff in relation to the Inquest process.

Legal Advice: * To provide professional in-house legal advice and services across a range of matters, but particularly in relation to medico-legal issues;

• To provide professional in-house legal advice in relation to all matters pertaining to Mental Capacity Act 2005, especially serious medical treatment, deprivation of liberty, place of residence and care arrangements.
• To provide advice to Trust's Mental Health Law Team on all matters related to application of Mental Health Act and related frameworks.

Litigation: * Assist in the management of litigation claims against the Trust for clinical negligence and employer and public liability claims, in accordance with pre-action protocols, civil procedure rules and NHS Resolution reporting requirements.

• To undertake factual investigations of clinical negligence, public liability and employers' liability claims against the Trust in accordance with Trust policies and the requirements of NHS Resolution;

Working for our organisation We're a Trust that's big enough to make an impact, but small enough to feel personal. We care deeply about our people - both those we support in the community and those who work with us. As our Trust Solicitor you'll play a key role in shaping our future, improving our culture, driving excellence, and helping us deliver compassionate, high-quality care every day.
This is your chance to make a lasting impact. To help us do our best for the Black Country, and for everyone who calls it home.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country. Across the whole of the region, we provide:

• Adult and older adult mental health services
• Specialist learning disability services
• CAMHS

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.
As a public body, we are accountable to the people we serve. The Trust Board is responsible for determining the strategy and overall direction of the Trust in an open, honest, and transparent manner.
We reserve the right to bring the closing date forward for this vacancy at any time should we receive an overwhelming response of applications. We therefore encourage applicants to apply early if you wish to be considered for this post.
If you do not hear from the Recruitment team within the advertised closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful at the shortlisting stage. Please ensure that you check your emails on a regular basis for any recruitment updates regarding this vacancy. If you are not successful at the shortlisting stage and would like feedback, please contact the Recruitment Team directly for feedback.
The salary range quoted is as per NHS Agenda for Change pay structures where applicable. This is based on the number of years' working directly within the NHS at the advertised pay band. Experience gained with other NHS Trusts will apply, but candidates without prior experience working direct for the NHS would normally be appointed at the lowest point unless they can demonstrate the equivalent experience and then be eligible for incremental increases in future years.
Closing date: 24 October 2025 @ 23:59
In the first instance please send your details to Simon Pownall by clicking on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below who will be in touch about next steps

Skills Required