Legal Officer, Band 7

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bradley Stoke; In loco; GBP 49.000 - 57.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Legal Officer at Band 7 to support the Legal Services team across in-house services within the NHS framework. The role focuses on managing clinical negligence and third-party claims, aiding inquests, and offering healthcare legal guidance to clinical and non-clinical staff.

The candidate will join a dedicated team, handle disclosure requests, contribute to reporting, and deliver training while aligning with NHS values and the Trust's

Competenze

• Law degree or equivalent required.
• Experience managing claims and/or inquests.
• Experience in a legal environment (e.g. solicitors, local authority, insurance).
• Experience in the NHS or healthcare context is preferred.
• Experience supervising junior team members.

Mansioni

• Clinical negligence and third-party claims management.
• Support inquests and Coroner's Court representations.
• Provide healthcare legal advice for clinical and non-clinical matters.
• Assist with disclosure requests to courts and agencies.
• Work on other court cases as required.
• Produce regular reporting on activity and outcomes.
• Deliver internal and external training on core areas.

Conoscenze

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Team collaboration

Resilience

Formazione

Law degree or equivalent

Master's Degree or LPC

Admission to Law Society or equivalent

Experience in NHS

Descrizione del lavoro

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Legal Officer, Band 7

The closing date is 19 November 2026

The role of the Legal Officer is to support the Legal Services team in the provision of a dedicated in-house legal service which includes the following core areas:

• Claims – management of clinical negligence and third-party claims, in line with NHSR's schemes. To work closely with clinicians and Trust Divisions to robustly defend claims and protect the interests of the Trust
• Inquests – support and representation of staff in the Coroner's Court, working closely with local Coroner's Officers on a large portfolio of inquests
• Healthcare advice – including advice for clinical and non-clinical situations
• Disclosure requests – assisting the Coroner, Police, Local Authority, and any other authorized third party as required.
• Training – providing internal and external training on core work areas.

We are looking for a Legal Officer who shares our passion to support staff in the delivery of outstanding healthcare and demonstrates the Trust's values to achieve that aim.

We recognise that working in-house is a niche role and would be keen to hear from candidates with relevant experience who have an interest in developing a fulfilling career in the NHS. We pride ourselves on providing all our advice and inquest representation in-house where possible, being accessible to all Trust staff for advice and support, and for our ability to get the best outcome on claims.

The proposed interview date is: 4th December

Main duties of the job

• Clinical Negligence Claims
• Third Party Claims
• Inquests
• Disclosure requests
• Other Court cases
• Reporting
• Training
• To assist with any other reasonable request by the Head of Legal Services, as appropriate

About us

We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one or both of our innovative hospitals.

As well as generous annual leave allowance, you will have access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Job responsibilities

Please see Job Description and person specification for full description of role and main responsibilities.

Caroline Pennels (Head of Legal Services)

0300 422 3555 or 0300 422 3160

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Law degree or equivalent
• Experience managing claims
• Experience of working in a legal environment (e.g solicitors, local authority, insurance
• Master's Degree or completion of LPC
• Admission to Law Society or equivalent professional/regulatory body
• Experience of working in the NHS
• Experience in at least one of the team's core values

Knowledge

• Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders and provide pragmatic advice
• Excellent written, verbal, communication and negotiation skills, including the ability to draft legal correspondence and explain complex legal issue to lay people sensitively
• Ability to work collaboratively within an in-house legal team working across sites
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a stressful environment, displaying resilience
• Be a reliable point of contact for clinicians who require support
• Display initiative, flexibility and a keenness to learn

Experience

• Experience in at least one of the team's core areas of work
• Experience managing claims
• Experience in preparing for inquests and other court cases
• Experience of providing healthcare legal advice clinic and/or non-clinical
• Ability to supervise junior team members
• Experience of working in-house for a large NHS organisation

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.

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£49,387 to £56,515 a year(pa, pro rata if part-time)