Healthcare Legal Services Legal Manager (Inquests & Advisory)

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Wythenshawe; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS organization in the UK seeks a Healthcare Legal Services Legal Manager to oversee legal advice concerning inquests and advisory matters. The role requires leading a team, managing relations with HM Coroner, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. An ideal candidate will have a degree, extensive NHS experience, and a robust understanding of healthcare policies. This permanent, full-time position offers a salary of £47,810 to £54,710 per annum, along with flexible working options.

Qualifications

• Education to Degree level or equivalent plus further management experience.
• Expert understanding of health and social care policies.
• Extensive experience of litigation/inquests in the NHS.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice for the Advisory & Inquests team.
• Liaise with HM Coroner to meet court requirements.
• Prepare staff for their roles as witnesses during inquests.

Skills

Expert understanding of legal policy

Statistical knowledge and data-handling

Clinical governance

Education

Degree level education

Post-graduate diploma or equivalent

Job description

Healthcare Legal Services Legal Manager (Inquests & Advisory)

The closing date is 20 January 2026

Reporting to the Healthcare Legal Services Lead (Inquests & Advisory) and Senior Legal Manager (Inquests & Advisory) and working under their own initiative at a senior level, the Healthcare Legal Services Legal Manager will:

• Be responsible for the management and provision of expert legal advice across all sites for the designated Speciality Team (Advisory & Inquests).
• Be responsible for ensuring staff across all services and sites are adequately advised and supported.
• Assist in the management of the t‑day-to-day running of the designated Speciality Team, including support of the Legal Admin Team and the Legal Administrative Team Leader.
• Jointly lead on the critical evaluation of the Trust's policies and practice to interpret whether these provide assurance and promote the Trust's patient safety and patient‑centred values.
• Assist in preparing board reports and briefs on high‑profile matters.
• Jointly lead on triangulation and identification of relevant incidents, inquests, claims, advisory and complaints.

Be responsible for the instruction and management of out‑sourced legal services; ensuring the efficient and effective management of all advice on a broad range of legal matters.

Main duties of the job

• Liaise with HM Coroner and his/her Officers to meet the requirements of the Coroner's Court.
• Ensure the Trust is compliant with the requirements under the Coroner's and Justice Act 2009 and the Coroners Rules 2013.
• Provide expert advice and support on procedures for inquests.
• Ensure statements are requested and received in a timely fashion. Provide expert review of witness statements, ensuring all witness statements are quality checked prior to disclosure.
• Support and adequately prepare staff for the role of witness before, throughout and after the inquest.
• Obtain statements and any other information which the Coroner requires.
• Arrange and manage de‑brief sessions for staff, during and following inquests, as required.
• Provide expert ongoing analysis of the case to ensure appropriate representation is in place for the hearing, including applications to the NHSR for funding where appropriate.
• Support on ensuring the communications team are aware of any potential media interest relating to an inquest.

About us

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - what better place to shape and develop your leadership career. We deliver care to over 1 million patients & users each year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. Our 30,000+ strong workforce is central to our success and innovation. You will play a pivotal part in supporting our operational excellence and strategic ambitions. You'll work collaboratively with clinical and non‑clinical teams, driving improvements that enhance patient experience, staff wellbeing, and service efficiency across the Trust. MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, ideas, and expertise are valued. You'll have access to professional development, digital tools and opportunities to contribute to transformational projects that shape the future of healthcare delivery. We are committed to supporting your growth and wellbeing, recognising the vital role you play in our organisation's success.

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application – especially personal statements and responses to role‑specific questions – is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone. We look forward to receiving your application.

Person Specification

Knowledge and qualifications

• Education to Degree level or equivalent plus further management experience or training to post‑graduate diploma level or equivalent.
• Expert understanding of the legal policy, and inspection framework.
• Statistical knowledge, data‑handling and research skills.
• Expert knowledge of the CPR.
• Evidence of CPD.
• High level of knowledge of the MCA 2005.
• Sound understanding of health and social care.

Experience

• Extensive experience of litigation/inquests in the NHS.
• Advocacy experience.
• Substantial experience in the preparation of reports including analysis of themes and benchmarking data.
• Experience of clinical and/or corporate governance.
• Experience of delivering and delivering training or workshops.
• Experience of writing reports, delivering presentations and training to all levels within the organisation.
• Experience of policy development and implementation across complex organisations.
• Experience of successful project delivery.
• Experience of teaching.
• Post‑qualification experience as a practising in‑house legal expert within an NHS environment.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full‑time, Flexible working, Compressed hours