Legal Counsel (Home based) in Uxbridge

CareTech Community Services, established in 1993, is a national provider of support for people with complex and challenging behaviours associated with autism, learning disabilities, mental health illness, and neurological conditions. We support people to live as independently as possible within their own homes and in residential care. We are committed to providing the highest levels of care to our residents. To enable us to do this, we need caring and dedicated professionals to deliver first-class care.

CareTech is one of the largest and most reputable specialist social care and special education needs providers across the UK, providing a range of services across over 600 sites and with over 11,000 employees. CareTech has grown rapidly over the last 30 years and remains ambitious, exploring new opportunities to grow and improve the services offered. This has led to the business developing and selling a technology business, investing in and growing other technology-based businesses which complement the services offered, and expanding to the Middle East.

The Senior Legal Counsel will be responsible for supporting the business on all commercial legal matters and report directly to the Group Head of Legal. In this role, the Senior Legal Counsel will work closely with the Procurement team and Senior Leadership team in negotiating revenue-generating contracts, managing supplier arrangements across the business, and identifying and implementing initiatives to increase efficiencies across the business with a particular focus on how the business can better utilise technology and AI.

This hire is focused on adding someone who can engage confidently with senior stakeholders and bring a strategic perspective to complex projects. The Senior Legal Counsel will be responsible for a wide and complex array of matters in the context of an ambitious and large-scale operation. This role will suit a candidate who likes broader commercial legal work, who wants to operate as a business partner, and has the ambition to make an impact within a leading business.

The Senior Legal Counsel will need to have a good understanding of multiple areas of law and be able to quickly upskill if needed. Given the breadth of issues the Legal team supports, this role also offers a great opportunity to someone who is interested in gaining more experience in other areas of law from leasing to copyright, to environmental law to medical regulation.

• Lead on commercial contract negotiations, particularly across technology, IT, and outsourcing.
• Possess a creative approach to solving business and legal problems, show meticulous attention to detail and accuracy, and demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Advise senior stakeholders on risk, liability, indemnities, and commercial structuring.
• Apply a regulatory and governance-aware lens to commercial decision-making.
• Act as a trusted advisor, balancing legal risk with practical business outcomes.
• Lead on commercial legal matters on behalf of the Legal team while operating under the general management and direction of the Head of Legal.
• Communicate clearly with stakeholders and provide training to senior members of the business on key provisions in commercial contracts.
• Quickly understand the aims of the business, identify legal risks, and how Legal can support the business.
• Demonstrate good organisational skills and support in maintaining an accurate record of CareTech’s commercial agreements.
• Attend meetings with senior leadership and the Board to articulate the legal risks associated with commercial arrangements.
• Manage external law firms including all associated costs.
• Provide cross-functional assistance by partnering closely with Risk and Compliance.
• Support key transformation and digital programmes.
• Refine processes that make legal workflows dramatically more efficient and user-friendly for our business partners.
• Contribute to the development and upkeep of contract templates, playbooks, escalation guides, and other legal team resources.
• Provide clear and pragmatic legal advice both verbally and in writing.
• Be solutions-focused and support the business to achieve its aims while articulating the legal risks.
• Strong organisation and management of legal documentation and contract records.
• Ensure that governance processes are complied with and legal risks are clearly articulated.
• Stay up to date on changes in legislation, regulations, and case law which are relevant.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and ensure their involvement in commercial projects.
• Raise your profile and that of the Legal team.
• Implement or improve efficiencies within the Legal team.
• Prior experience negotiating, drafting, and guiding implementation of commercial agreements.
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to clearly communicate legal and commercial terms, business strategy, and compliance risk to stakeholders at all levels.
• An ability to build and leverage relevant networks inside and outside the organisation.
• Willingness to learn and develop within the legal field.

If you have all of the required skills and experience and are interested in joining one of the largest and most reputable specialist social care and special education needs providers in the UK, please send your application.