Inquest Manager

NHS; Blackpool; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Blackpool seeks an Inquest Manager to establish an in-house legal department. The role involves managing inquests, providing legal guidance, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, thereby improving patient safety within the Trust.

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent.
• Legal professional qualification at post-graduate level.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of inquests ensuring compliance with relevant laws.
• Provide legal advice on healthcare related matters.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Data analysis

Interpersonal skills

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Legal professional qualification at post-graduate level

Job description

Go back Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Inquest Manager

The closing date is 08 July 2025

The trust is looking for an Inquest Manager to create a fully established in-house legal department. The department is currently 80% outsourced and a new department is being developed.

The post holder will be responsible for supporting management of inquests from inception to conclusion.

The post holder will work closely with key internal and external stakeholders and identify areas of improvements in patient safety and governance for the benefit of patients and staff.

The post holder will be required to manage a case load of inquests and provide advice and guidance on Trust policies relevant to Coronial law and, where appropriate, on healthcare related legal matters or escalate as appropriate under the direction of the Legal Services Manager.The post holder will ensure inquests are dealt with efficiently and appropriately and, where identified, patient safety learning lessons are learnt and shared with clinical governance colleagues for the benefit of future patients and staff.The post holder is responsible for ensuring the Trust is compliant with Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) and HM Coroner Rules & Regulations.The post holder will liaise with NHS Resolution (NHSR), HM Coroner and their officers, police and external solicitors instructed to represent the Trust and/or panel solicitors.The post holder will also provide cross cover in the absence of the Claims Officer.

Please note that the proposed interview date may change.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to manage a case load of inquests and provide advice and guidance on Trust policies relevant to Coronial law and, where appropriate, on healthcare related legal matters or escalate as appropriate under the direction of the Legal Services Manager.The post holder will ensure inquests are dealt with efficiently and appropriately and, where identified, patient safety learning lessons are learnt and shared with clinical governance colleagues for the benefit of future patients and staff.The post holder is responsible for ensuring the Trust is compliant with Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) and HM Coroner Rules & Regulations.The post holder will liaise with NHS Resolution (NHSR), HM Coroner and their officers, police and external solicitors instructed to represent the Trust and/or panel solicitors.The post holder will also provide cross cover in the absence of the Claims Officer.

About us

Vision - to improve the lives of people who live, work and volunteer on the Fylde Coast and beyond.

Values - The Trust's values "Caring, Safe and Respectful" help to represent the culture of the Trust and to communicate who the Trust is and how they do things. They also play an important part in encouraging people to come and work and be part of the Trust themselves.

In January 2022 we invited staff, patients, carers, the local community, and key partners to be involved in the development of our 2022-2027 strategy.

Following this engagement, we developed the strategy to clearly indicate our vision - to improve the lives of people who live, work and volunteer on the Fylde Coast and beyond. The approach we took to do this was key and shows that we are committed to listening to our staff and actively engaging patients in how we deliver safe, effective, sustainable care for everyone, every day.

Together, our engagement community told us what's important to them:

• Being an employer of choice.
• Recruiting and retaining staff, especially from local areas.
• Growing excellence through training, education, research and innovation.
• Health promotion and prevention.
• Improving our impact on the environment.
• Creating safe, healthy environments to work and receive care in.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be required to manage a case load of inquests and provide adviceand guidance on Trust policies relevant to Coronial law and, where appropriate, on healthcare related legal matters or escalate as appropriate under the direction of the Legal Services Manager.The post holder will ensure inquests are dealt with efficiently and appropriately and, where identified, patient safety learning lessons are learnt and shared with clinical governance colleagues for the benefit of future patients and staff.The post holder is responsible for ensuring the Trust is compliant with Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) and HM Coroner Rules & Regulations.The post holder will liaise with NHS Resolution (NHSR), HM Coroner and their officers, police and external solicitors instructed to represent the Trust and/or panel solicitors.The post holder will also provide cross cover in the absence of the Claims Officer.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To manage and coordinate a caseload of all inquests in accordance with Civil Procedure Rules. To manage a portfolio of Inquest cases in compliance with Trust internalprocess and the requirements of the relevant HM Coroner and Coronial law. Liaising closely with the Bereavement/Medical Examiner Office (internal) and Coroners Office to facilitate full engagement with the Coronial process including obtaining relevant reports and witness statements, identifying relevant clinicians through review of relevant medical records. Ensure the Trust complies with its duties as set out in relevant legislation, Coronial Rules and Practice Directions. Reviewing all relevant reports and witness evidence and escalating asnecessary to the Legal Services Manager and Senior Clinical Management team as appropriate. Ensure the smooth organisation of complex inquests involving all relevant Trust departments including risk, patient services and communications. Considering and facilitating when appropriate the instruction of external legal advice/representation following consultation with the Legal Services Manager To escalate any concerns arising from your investigation to the Legal Services Manager which may identify risk of an adverse outcome/public interest and/or require further investigation through the investigations team. To liaise with the Clinical Governance team and appropriate divisional colleagues to ensure remedial actions are properly identified, implemented and monitored. Providing in-house support and guidance for Trust staff attending inquests. Contribute to the formulation and revision of policies and procedures. To closely review cases to identify and escalate risk issues arising from their investigation To provide specialist legal advice in relation to the clinical care ofpatients/clients, liaising directly with the treating medical and nursing teams thereby contributing directly to patient care. Advising medical/nursing staff with regard to issues affecting patient care and general health care such as the law relating to consent, capacity, best interests (non-exhaustive) as appropriate and escalating complex issues as appropriate to the Legal Services Manager with the aim of contributing to and informing treatment plans and clinical decisions regarding ongoing care. To liaise with the PALS/complaints team on complex or contentious complaints cases as necessary where there is the potential for subsequent litigation or where a legal opinion is required. To assist in the monitoring of incidents to identify and act on Trust-wide risk issues arising from their investigation and proceeding with a focus on identifying aspects of learning and patient safety improvement The post holder may deputise for the Legal Services Manager as required and directed. The post holder will be responsible to cross for the Claims Officer in their absence.

Person Specification

Education and Qualification

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent or relevant experience
• Legal professional qualification at post-graduate level

Education and Qualification

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent or relevant experience
• Legal professional qualification at post-graduate level

Experience and Knowledge

• Proven ability to work to tight deadlines
• Able to demonstrate a clear understanding of CPR, the claims process and HMC Rules & Regulations
• Strong technical knowledge in areas relevant to legal healthcare practice
• Good understanding of the principles of investigation management, root cause analysis techniques and Clinical Governance
• Previous clinical negligence/employer/public liability claims experience
• Experience of quality management processes and quality improvement methodologies.

Skills and Ability

• Strong problem-solving ability and capacity to recognise alternative solutions where necessary
• Ability to interpret national policy and guidance, identify local implications and apply implementation to a local setting
• Critical appraisal of wide-ranging documents to facilitate assessment of risk and to ensure appropriate and sensitive communication/management of claims/inquests
• Critical appraisal of wide-ranging documents to facilitate assessment of risk and to ensure appropriate and sensitive communication/management of claims/inquests
• Ability to manage, prioritise and deliver a number of projects and work programmes within timescales
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Good standard of computer literacy including word processing, spreadsheets and databases
• Competent with gathering, collating and analysing data and information from a variety of sources effectively
• Data manipulation including identification, accessing and downloading of data, design set up and development of data entry systems including automation as appropriate
• Makes clear recommendations indicating benefits/consequences and identify risks
• Analyses and uses complex information from a variety of sources and formats and undertakes information analysis
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Good communicator at all levels
• Experience of drafting letters and technical reports with clarity and awareness. Excellent writing skills. Ability to prepare written material presenting complex matters in a logical way using the appropriate style, content, and language for the audience
• Communicate clearly with appropriate groups. Information is clear, concise, and accurate and given in a helpful and professional manner. Express opinions confidently and constructively
• Clear ability to listen and absorb complex information.
• Ability to lead and supervise teams and work in a collegiate manner where necessary
• Ability to implement decisions
• Displays a high standard of personal integrity
• Actively seeks ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of own performance
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal management
• Flexible and adaptable to changing workloads/priorities
• Experience of trends analysis
• Ability to assess and advise on the appropriateness and suitability of investigation techniques and standards

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.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust