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Job summary

Main area
Legal Services
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - hours per week
Job ref
193-7456695COR
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust
Town
Reading
Salary
£47,810 - £54,710 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Legal Services Manager

NHS AfC: Band 7

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic, confident and efficient Legal Services Manager join our Legal Services Department. This role provides comprehensive support to the Head of Legal Services in the day to day management of all Legal aspects within the organisation. The role will involves working closely with both staff within the Trust, and also with external organisations such as Solicitors, Coroner’s office staff, Police and Local authorities.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing a caseload of inquests, police requests, Employer’s Liability and Public Liability claims and CNST (clinical negligence) claims. Providing assistance and support to the Head of Legal Services to ensure that contentious inquests and claims (including employer’s liability, public liability, clinical negligence and low value property claims) are managed effectively.

Liaising with staff at all levels and keeping them informed of claim file developments and ensuring that investigations are undertaken thoroughly is an important aspect of the role. Working within agreed timeframes crucial for this role.

Assisting the Head of Legal Services in the provision of the management of reports regarding issues arising from claims is also part of the role.

If you think that you are a good match to the description above please complete the application form. For more information, or to visit the department please contact Karolyn Baker: [email protected] 

Main duties of the job

This is a key role providing healthcare law expertise to ensure the successful running of the Trust’s busy Legal Services Department. To be responsible for managing a caseload of inquests, police requests, Employer’s Liability and Public Liability claims and clinical negligence claims. To lead on claims management within the Legal Services portfolio. To provide specialist advice and guidance on all aspects of the inquest process, claims and Healthcare law. This will be based on knowledge and experience, legislation and case law, national and local guidelines, and best practice. To assist the junior team members with their work in a supervisory capacity, and to support their personal and professional development. To deputise for the Head of Legal Services as required. The post holder will be expected to work with autonomy and under their own initiative as a specialist in the area. The post holder will be expected to plan their workload in accordance with the demands of the job.

Working for our organisation

Diversity makes us interesting… Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a key role providing healthcare law expertise to ensure the successful running of the Trust’s busy Legal Services Department.

Details can be found in the job description. 

Person specification

Written

Essential criteria
  • CILEX / equivalent professional qualification; or Law degree (LLB) with relevant experience of medico-legal research and/or work
  • Experience in healthcare law i.e. Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury and Coronial law. Experience of complex caseload management.
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply the following guidelines, protocols and statutes in a healthcare setting: • Coronial Law including the Coroners and Justice Act • Data Protection Act / Access to Health Records Act / Freedom of Information Act • Pre Action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims • Pre-Action Protocol for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes • Mental Health Act / Mental Capacity Act • Human Rights Act • Relevant NHSR Reporting Guidelines and requirements • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Good oral and written communication skills, with an excellent grasp of the English language and be able to communicate confidently and effectively at all levels.
Desirable criteria
  • Post graduate / masters level law degree (LLM) Qualification in management/leadership/coaching Clinical Risk & Claims Management Diploma
  • Line management experience Experience in a position of seniority within a team. Experience of working in an in-house legal department within the NHS/ alternative healthcare setting.
  • Presentation skills. Legal research skills. Knowledge of local and national policies. Familiar with DATIX risk/claims management system or similar Familiar with NHS Resolution Extranet

Written

Essential criteria
  • CILEX / equivalent professional qualification; or Law degree (LLB) with relevant experience of medico-legal research and/or work Specialist experience of assisting and leading in the management of clinical negligence, personal injury, and inquest caseloads. Relevant legal experience of working within the NHS or with NHS Resolution.
  • Experience in healthcare law i.e. Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury and Coronial law. Experience of complex caseload management. Experience of attending inquests and preparing witnesses to do so. Advocacy experience in an inquest setting (or similar). Experience of handling and engaging with complex, sensitive, and confidential information. Experience of working autonomously and to tight deadlines, within a busy environment. Experience of using electronic filing / case management systems. Experience of reviewing and understanding medical records
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply the following guidelines, protocols and statutes in a healthcare setting: • Coronial Law including the Coroners and Justice Act • Data Protection Act / Access to Health Records Act / Freedom of Information Act • Pre Action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims • Pre-Action Protocol for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes • Mental Health Act / Mental Capacity Act • Human Rights Act • Relevant NHSR Reporting Guidelines and requirements • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Good oral and written communication skills, with an excellent grasp of the English language and be able to communicate confidently and effectively at all levels. Ability to communicate with all disciplines of staff, including (but not limited to) Board Directors, the Patient Safety, Complaints and PALS teams, individual members of staff involved in potential litigation or Coroner’s inquests, Consultants, staff and Managers of all levels. Ability to communicate with external stakeholders including (but not limited to) the NHSR, Panel and external solicitors, the Coroner and Coroners’ Officers, members of the public, patients/Claimants and their solicitors, the police. Ability to communicate potentially complex legal principles and concepts to lay people. Ability to negotiate with and influence staff at all levels of an organisation. Ability to empathise and communicate well with emotionally distressed individuals. Ability to prioritise own workload and work to deadlines Ability to work under own initiative with autonomy. Strategic thinking with the ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise. Ability to take on, interpret, and assess new information quickly particularly in relation to medico-legal topics. Experience of working in an environment with conflicting pressures and changing workload. Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills. Understanding of basic medical terminology. Fully computer literate. Excellent attention to detail.
Desirable criteria
  • Post graduate / masters level law degree (LLM) Qualification in management/leadership/coaching Clinical Risk & Claims Management Diploma Demonstrable interest in medico-legal matters, and evidence of continued professional development in this discipline
  • Line management experience Experience in a position of seniority within a team. Experience of working in an in-house legal department within the NHS/ alternative healthcare setting. Competence in managing Court of Protection matters
  • Presentation skills. Legal research skills. Knowledge of local and national policies. Familiar with DATIX risk/claims management system or similar Familiar with NHS Resolution Extranet Ability to encourage and empower others to develop and learn.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.National Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024Florence Nightingale Foundation

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Karolyn Baker
Job title
Associate Chief Nurse
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07714095235
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