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Director of Central Legal Office and Legal Advisor to NHS Scotland
This role is integral in providing the provision of a high quality legal service to the Scottish Health Boards, the National Health Boards, the Scottish Government and other Non-Department Public Bodies. Central Legal Office (CLO) provides legal advice and support to all the 22 NHS Boards in Scotland on all legal matters including litigation, employment and property and procurement contracts, and plays a significant role in our responses to Public Inquiries.
National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re-invested into essential services.
This role is responsible for providing leadership and direction for circa 132 staff, leading and directing a team of specialist experts in the provision of complex legal advice to the clients of CLO. The team also provides expert services in Data Protection Law and Practice.
The postholder will personally provide legal advice in certain complex and sensitive cases involving very senior NHS staff. In addition, the postholder is accountable to the Court of Session for all NHS litigation.
The role reports to the Chief Executive of NHS NSS and will be a member of the Executive Management Team, providing leadership, support and guidance across all functions of the organisation. The postholder has budgetary responsibility of c£6m.
This is a very challenging but highly rewarding position which will require the successful candidate to have outstanding leadership and influencing skills. The ability to engage with multiple stakeholders and communicate your vision and ideas in a clear and concise manner is essential. You must be highly results–oriented but achieve those results working in partnership and with a keen eye for political sensitivity and the need to work as a team.
It is vital that you espouse the values of NSS with openness, integrity, respect and care being at the heart of those values.
Qualifications & Experience Required
• Law Degree and Law Society Practicing Certificate
• Significant post qualifying experience in practising law, preferably in litigation with demonstrable Court of Session experience.
• Experience of leading and managing a significant fee earning law practice, ensuring quality of client service, managing competing workloads and priorities, and delivering commercial return through services and activities while managing risks.
• Extensive leadership ability at a senior/executive level in a multidisciplinary environment over a significant number of years. This should include experience of working in an organisation of considerable scale and complexity.
It is essential that the postholder undertakes sufficient training and self-development to meet the requirements laid down by the Law Society of Scotland in terms of Continuous Professional Development.
For an informal discussion on the role please contact Jacqui Jones, Director of HR & Workforce Development on Jacqui.Jones@nhs.scot to arrange an appointment.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo a PVG Scheme Disclosure/Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who has worked overseas for more than 3 months will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits.
Further information on NSS is available from: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/
Closing date for completed applications is Monday 14th February 2022
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies”