Legal Services Manager

NHS; Blackpool; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS seeks an experienced Legal Services Manager to oversee the transition of a legal department from outsourced to in-house. The role involves managing clinical negligence cases, working with key stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with NHS legal guidelines. An excellent opportunity for proactive candidates with a strong legal background.

Qualifications

• Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience within the NHS.
• Experience of working within legal services in a healthcare environment.
• Ability to co-ordinate, lead and participate in local investigation resolution meetings.

Responsibilities

• Managing the transition to an in-house legal team.
• Conducting advocacy at inquests and advising on healthcare law.
• Establishing processes to ensure the Trust's statutory obligations are met.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Education

Law Degree

Post graduate diploma in legal practice

Evidence of continuing professional development

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job summary

The Trust is seeking an experienced qualified solicitor who can manage this busy and developing legal department. The team is undergoing a restructure and the Legal Services Manager will be responsible for overseeing this, and ensuring a smooth transition from an 80% out sourced service to a fully resourced in-house team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants experience in setting up a department, implementing streamline processes and building good relationships.

The department manages all healthcare law related matters and the successful applicant will need to have sound knowledge of an NHS legal setting and be experienced in working cohesively with key internal stakeholders (executives, staff and governance departments) and external stakeholders (NHS Resolution, panel, coroners).

In addition to managing the transition to an in house team, the post holder will be expected to conduct advocacy at straight-forward inquests, independently advise the trust on healthcare law related matters (e.g. consent, court of protection matters), and effectively oversee clinical negligence and non-clinical claims in conjunction with panel and NHSR.

Triangulation of working with complaints and the patient safety/governance teams is essential, and the successful applicant will be expected to drive this forward to ensure cohesive working and early identification of incidents that may also have a legal element.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Quality Governance this post forms part of the Legal Services team to support the delivery of the Trust's vision to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality services, that ensure the people who use our services, their families, carers and visitors receive a positive experience.The post holder will be responsible for:o Providing efficient and effective legal services to minimise clinical, financial, operational, and legal risks, including inquests, clinical claims, court of protection and all aspects of clinical legal advice, training, and support.o Attending court on behalf of the Trust.o Establishing processes and procedures that meet the Trust's statutoryobligations and leading the management of healthcare legal services relating to clinical negligence, employer's liability, personal injury, and coroner related work, contributing to and implementing policies.o Facilitating a culture that improves quality through leading from legal issues, including Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) guidance on learning from claims, whilst ensuring we act in line with Government Legislation, Regulations, Policy Guidance, and good practice.o Ensuring the timely and effective collation of information required for claims, litigation and coroners' inquests ensuring all internal due diligence is completed.

About us

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

Mission - To deliver safe, effective, sustainable care for everyone, every day.

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.

Our Five-Year Strategy 2022-2027

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.

Details Date posted

17 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

382-COR03-25

Job locations

Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR

Job description Job responsibilities

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Quality Governance this post forms part of the Legal Services team to support the delivery of the Trusts vision to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality services, that ensure the people who use our services, their families, carers and visitors receive a positive experience.The post holder will be responsible for: Providing efficient and effective legal services to minimise clinical, financial, operational, and legal risks, including inquests, clinical claims, court of protection and all aspects of clinical legal advice, training, and support. Attending court on behalf of the Trust. Establishing processes and procedures that meet the Trusts statutoryobligations and leading the management of healthcare legal services relating to clinical negligence, employers liability, personal injury, and coroner related work, contributing to and implementing policies. Facilitating a culture that improves quality through leading from legal issues, including Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) guidance on learning from claims, whilst ensuring we act in line with Government Legislation, Regulations, Policy Guidance, and good practice. Ensuring the timely and effective collation of information required for claims, litigation and coroners inquests ensuring all internal due diligence is completed.

Job description Job responsibilities

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Quality Governance this post forms part of the Legal Services team to support the delivery of the Trusts vision to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality services, that ensure the people who use our services, their families, carers and visitors receive a positive experience.The post holder will be responsible for: Providing efficient and effective legal services to minimise clinical, financial, operational, and legal risks, including inquests, clinical claims, court of protection and all aspects of clinical legal advice, training, and support. Attending court on behalf of the Trust. Establishing processes and procedures that meet the Trusts statutoryobligations and leading the management of healthcare legal services relating to clinical negligence, employers liability, personal injury, and coroner related work, contributing to and implementing policies. Facilitating a culture that improves quality through leading from legal issues, including Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) guidance on learning from claims, whilst ensuring we act in line with Government Legislation, Regulations, Policy Guidance, and good practice. Ensuring the timely and effective collation of information required for claims, litigation and coroners inquests ensuring all internal due diligence is completed.

Person Specification Education and Qualification Essential

• Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience within the NHS
• Post graduate diploma in legal practice
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Law Degree, with a further 2 years traineeship to master's level

Desirable

• Incident Investigation training
• Management / Leadership qualification
• Quality Improvement qualification

Experience and Knowledge Essential

• In-depth and significant knowledge of legal services within the healthcare setting
• Knowledge of the NHS National Investigations Framework
• Knowledge and understanding of statutory and regulatory, guidance and best practice frameworks requirements for Legal Services
• Demonstrates up to date, evidenced based knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
• Full understanding of investigations and methodology and evidence of production of quality reports and QA abilities
• Understanding of quality assurance mechanisms and frameworks is desirable
• Experience of working within legal services in a healthcare environment, including working within the NHS Resolution systems and processes that underpin legal services.
• Experience of taking detailed notes of evidence in court (including oral evidence) for wider circulation and briefing.
• Experience of gathering and interpreting data and implementing measurable improvement plans.
• Experience of managing resources across multiple teams and specialties.
• Experience of audit and other benchmarking strategies, using the result of interim change and improvement.
• Experience of working across professional teams and organisational boundaries
• Experience and working knowledge of the Ullyses reporting management system is desirable
• Experience of regulatory preparation /planning and the PIR process

Skills and Ability Essential

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to write reports at Board level.
• Ability to deliver presentations and communicate effectively with colleagues and people who use our services, their families, and carers
• Ability to co-ordinate, lead and participate in local investigation resolution meetings.
• Analytical skills, able to lead and support investigations
• Ability to produce/interpret information that supports quality improvement
• Competent in using Microsoft Office (including Access) & Excel and the internet for the purpose of researching, monitoring activity, effectively communicating and producing reports and training materials.
• A clear understanding and application of the principles of professional accountability and confidentiality
• Ability to recognise and analyse complex situations and or deviation from normal and act upon it.
• A comprehensive understanding of own development and others training needs
• Ability to lead, motivate and influence individuals both within and external to the organisation
• Able to appropriately convey complex ideas and information to audiences, at all levels across an organisation and to stakeholders, through a range of media
• Able to negotiate with senior stakeholders on contentious issues
• Able to chair, co-ordinate and facilitate meetings
• Able to plan and organise across a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans as required.
• Understands the delivery of safe patient care raising and escalating concerns as appropriate
• Able to take responsibility for policy implementation and service development.
• Proven track record of ability to co-ordinate the work of the multidisciplinary team and lead on any actions required.
• Proven ability to support nursing management in maintaining an environment conducive to the delivery of excellence in care in safeguarding vulnerable adults
• Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, and contentious information.

Desirable

• Project management skills

Person Specification Education and Qualification Essential

• Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience within the NHS
• Post graduate diploma in legal practice
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Law Degree, with a further 2 years traineeship to master's level

Desirable

• Incident Investigation training
• Management / Leadership qualification
• Quality Improvement qualification

Experience and Knowledge Essential

• In-depth and significant knowledge of legal services within the healthcare setting
• Knowledge of the NHS National Investigations Framework
• Knowledge and understanding of statutory and regulatory, guidance and best practice frameworks requirements for Legal Services
• Demonstrates up to date, evidenced based knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
• Full understanding of investigations and methodology and evidence of production of quality reports and QA abilities
• Understanding of quality assurance mechanisms and frameworks is desirable
• Experience of working within legal services in a healthcare environment, including working within the NHS Resolution systems and processes that underpin legal services.
• Experience of taking detailed notes of evidence in court (including oral evidence) for wider circulation and briefing.
• Experience of gathering and interpreting data and implementing measurable improvement plans.
• Experience of managing resources across multiple teams and specialties.
• Experience of audit and other benchmarking strategies, using the result of interim change and improvement.
• Experience of working across professional teams and organisational boundaries
• Experience and working knowledge of the Ullyses reporting management system is desirable
• Experience of regulatory preparation /planning and the PIR process

Skills and Ability Essential

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to write reports at Board level.
• Ability to deliver presentations and communicate effectively with colleagues and people who use our services, their families, and carers
• Ability to co-ordinate, lead and participate in local investigation resolution meetings.
• Analytical skills, able to lead and support investigations
• Ability to produce/interpret information that supports quality improvement
• Competent in using Microsoft Office (including Access) & Excel and the internet for the purpose of researching, monitoring activity, effectively communicating and producing reports and training materials.
• A clear understanding and application of the principles of professional accountability and confidentiality
• Ability to recognise and analyse complex situations and or deviation from normal and act upon it.
• A comprehensive understanding of own development and others training needs
• Ability to lead, motivate and influence individuals both within and external to the organisation
• Able to appropriately convey complex ideas and information to audiences, at all levels across an organisation and to stakeholders, through a range of media
• Able to negotiate with senior stakeholders on contentious issues
• Able to chair, co-ordinate and facilitate meetings
• Able to plan and organise across a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans as required.
• Understands the delivery of safe patient care raising and escalating concerns as appropriate
• Able to take responsibility for policy implementation and service development.
• Proven track record of ability to co-ordinate the work of the multidisciplinary team and lead on any actions required.
• Proven ability to support nursing management in maintaining an environment conducive to the delivery of excellence in care in safeguarding vulnerable adults
• Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, and contentious information.

Desirable

• Project management skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR

Employer's website

https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR

Employer's website

https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)