Legal Services Manager

Whittington Health NHS Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Greater London is seeking a Legal Services Manager responsible for managing claims against the Trust and responding to inquests. The role demands a strong understanding of clinical claims management, legal processes, and NHS legislation. Key responsibilities include overseeing litigation and inquests, ensuring staff receive appropriate legal advice, and effectively managing resources. The position requires excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a dynamic environment. This is not a fully remote role, necessitating physical presence at the hospital.

Qualifications

• Experience as a law clerk, paralegal, Legal Executive, or equivalent.
• Understanding of NHS governance processes and claims management.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and NHS guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Manage clinical claims and legal responses for the Trust.
• Lead on inquests and liaise with external stakeholders.
• Provide legal advice and support to staff as necessary.

Skills

Management of clinical claims

Legal knowledge

Communication skills

Organizational awareness

Analytical skills

Education

Degree level education or equivalent professional qualification

Job description

Job overview

The Legal Services Manager will be responsible for the effective and proactive management of claims against the Trust and our responses to inquests into deaths of individuals who have used our service. A good level of knowledge of the processes and procedures associated with the management of clinical claims, coronial law, consent and Duty of Candour legislation is essential for this role. They will ensure that staff have access to clear relevant and up-to-date legal advice, acting as a gatekeeper to the utilisation of the external legal advice as necessary building a good relationship with NHS Resolution as well as external law firms, representing both the Trust and other parties.

The Legal Services Manager will ensure the Trust develops an ability to learn from claims, HM Coroners inquests, NHSLA negligence trends and themes, with the aim of reducing both harm to patients and litigation costs.

This is a dynamic environment where the ability to adjust plans and prioritise effectively is critical to the role. The role is not fully remote and necessitates a physical presence at the hospital.

Main duties of the job

The main responsibilities of this role will be

• Litigation
• Inquests
• Legal Advice
• Education / training
• Updating policies
• Updating legal database
• Budget management
• Line management of staff within the team
• Liaison Manager with external stakeholders
• Quarterly litigation reports

This is not an exhaustive list but intended as an example of work.

Further details can be found in the Job Description.

Working for our organisation

We have an excellent reputation for being innovative, responsive and flexible to the changing clinical needs of the local population. We are treating more patients than ever before and are dedicated to improving services to deliver the best for our patients.

Our mission

Helping local people live longer, healthier lives.

Our vision

Provide safe, personal, co-ordinated care for the community we serve.

Our goals

We have developed six key strategic goals to make sure we continue to support people to live longer, healthier lives.

• To secure the best possible health and wellbeing for all our community
• To integrate and coordinate care in person-centred teams
• To deliver consistent, high quality, safe services
• To support our patients and users in being active partners in their care
• To be recognised as a leader in the fields of medical and multi-professional education, and population-based clinical research
• To innovate and continuously improve the quality of our services to deliver the best outcomes for our local population.

Our values

Our values underpin everything we do. Our staff are committed to delivering the following values in everything they do.

Our ICARE values have been created by our staff and are embedded in our appraisal and planning processes and form part of our staff excellence awards.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Responsibilities: Litigation

1. To lead on the management and handling of all clinical claims made against the Trust in accordance with relevant pre-action protocols, civil procedure rules and NHS Resolution reporting requirements, performing all functions as required.
2. To be the nominated Trust contact for the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA).
3. To oversee the reporting of new legal claims including timely provision of documents and statements against the Trust promptly, and in accordance with NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) reporting guidelines.
4. To liaise with trust employees and external organisations, including the NHS Litigation Authority, solicitors, litigants in person, HM Coroner, clinical experts and other NHS organisations in order to facilitate the effectiveness and efficiency of the trust's claims function.
5. Review statements and reports from witnesses and response letters, suggesting re-drafts where warranted and requesting formal legal review from Trust solicitors when necessary.
6. To oversee the initial investigation into allegations of clinical negligence made by the claimant / claimant's solicitors.
7. Communicate highly contentious, sensitive information to patients, claimants and staff.
8. Attend case conferences, court hearings, round table meetings and mediations on behalf of the Trust with the support of Counsel where necessary.
9. Provide face to face and telephone advice to staff who are to write reports or are called as witnesses and to facilitate formal support via Trust solicitors when required.
10. Advise the Head of Patient Safety & Legal Services, Medical Director, Chief Nurse, Deputy Chief Nurse and Associate Director for Quality Governance of any incidents, potential risks or recommendations discovered through clinical claims which may impact on the risk management policy trust wide.
11. To answer basic queries, instructing Trust solicitors where formal advice is needed in accordance with the Trust Protocol for Accessing Legal Services.

Responsibilities: Inquests

1. To lead on the management of inquests involving the Trust and attend inquests to support staff and represent the Trust as required.
2. To identify those inquests which may require legal representation and to instruct solicitors via NHS Resolution as required.
3. To lead on the management of requests from HM Coroners, to gather and provide relevant information and identify witnesses in respect of inquests.
4. Scrutinise medical records to identify the relevant consultants and clinicians involved in the care of the deceased patient, obtaining necessary reports for disclosure to HM Coroner, as well as identifying potential claims from the circumstances leading to the death.
5. Liaise with the Head of Patient Safety & Legal Services, Lead for Learning from Deaths, and Complaints Manager to ensure any investigations or complaints are linked to the inquest and all reports are collated.
6. Act as the point of contact with the coroner’s offices in relation to inquests in which the Trust is involved, ensuring that the relevant Trust teams receive timely notifications of death, that requests for statements are actioned and requirements to attend are dealt with.
7. Ensure all staff called to give evidence are supported, including giving advice on writing statements and giving evidence.
8. Coordinate and attend pre-inquest meetings with witnesses and solicitors (if appointed).
9. Advise and assist the Head of Communications with drafting press statements ahead of inquests which may result in media interest.
10. Update Executives on any high-risk inquests.
11. Ensure the Trust complies with its duties in relation to the coronial legislation.
12. Provide a summary from the outcomes of all inquests to senior teams and those involved, in a sensitive and timely manner.
13. Work with the Trust’s appointed solicitors to commission training for all relevant staff on key aspects of coronial law.

Responsibilities: Legal Advice

1. To commission legal advice as required on a variety of issues.
2. To assist in the appointment of Trust solicitors.
3. To act as the principal point of contact for staff wishing to obtain legal advice in appropriate areas.
4. Assist in the review of or drafting and advice on Trust policies, draft contracts and other legal documents.

Responsibilities: Education

1. To assist in the development and delivery of educational programmes related to patient legal issues at all levels across the organisation.

Responsibilities: General

1. To ensure that claims and inquest policies are up-to-date and maintained.
2. To maintain the Datix legal database module (for claims and inquests) to ensure that it meets the requirements of the NHS Litigation Authority.
3. Act as liaison manager with police authorities for serious criminal investigations and to provide help and assistance to staff with statement writing and court appearances.
4. To effectively manage resources, ensuring legal costs are proportionate to the particular case matter.
5. To appraise and develop staff within the department and support them with appropriate training.
6. To produce quarterly litigation reports for corporate committees.

Person specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level and / or equivalent professional qualification.
• Specialist training diploma, or theoretical and practical experience e of claims management and inquests.

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

• Experience as a law clerk, paralegal, Legal Executive or equivalent in public or private practice.
• Understanding of governance processes within the NHS.
• Good understanding of the function of NHS Resolution, its reporting process, and the claims management process.
• Detailed knowledge of the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) and the Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS).
• Good understanding of legislation that applies to the NHS such as the Data Protection Act 1998 the Access to Health Records Act 1990, the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Desirable criteria

• Experience as a Legal Services Manager in the NHS or a practising solicitor in medical negligence, or similar relevant experience.

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

• Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and contentious information. Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff.
• Good networking and organisational awareness.
• Ability to analyse complex medical cases / claims and draw out conclusions.
• Tact and negotiating skills.
• Knowledge of PSII and other learning response processes in line with PSIRF.
• Ability to present training materials to large groups of staff at all levels.
• Dynamic investigation and inquisitive enquiry skills.

Other

Essential criteria

• Accustomed to working in a busy environment.
• Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty.
• Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions.
• Professional calm and efficient manner.
• Effective organiser / prioritisation skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Highly motivated with the ability to influence and inspire others.
• Ability to work independently but to maintain links with the team and to seek assistance as required.
• Able to maintain discretion regarding sensitive issues.
• Flexible approach to the working day.

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

• Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
• Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
• Participate in required training and supervision.
• Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct.

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.