Job summary
As Legal Services Manager, you will oversee a caseload of NHS Resolution claims and Coroners' inquests; you will provide expert legal advice, manage sensitive and complex cases, and support staff through challenging legal processes. This is a pivotal role in ensuring legal compliance, minimising risk, and embedding learning across the Trust.
We are looking for someone with extensive experience in managing healthcare-related legal cases with:
- A strong understanding of NHS Resolution processes and Coroners' legislation.
- Excellent communication and advocacy skills, with the ability to provide compassionate support.
- A proven ability to manage complex, sensitive, and high-profile legal matters.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the role are:
- To lead and manage the Legal Services Team, including line management and caseload oversight.
- Handle legal claims and inquests from initial notification to resolution, ensuring compliance with NHS Resolution and Coroners' legislation.
- Provide expert legal advice and support to senior clinicians, managers, and directors.
- Represent the Trust in Coroner's Court and liaise with external legal bodies.
- Analyse legal data and produce reports to inform governance and learning.
- Deliver training on legal processes to senior staff across the Trust.
About us
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest providers of integrated hospital and community-based healthcare providing a comprehensive range of local and tertiary services.
You'll be part of an integrated Quality Governance Department committed to enhancing patient and staff safety.
This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term contract basis for a period of a maximum of twelve months due to maternity leave of the substantive post holder. The fixed term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed term contracts and statutory maternity provisions.
Please also note any secondment must first be agreed with your current line manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Master's degree or equivalent level qualification and/or equivalent level of recent relevant experience.
Desirable
- Qualified solicitor
- NHS leadership or management qualification
Experience
Essential
- Substantial, proven experience within the field of healthcare law, including managing litigation and inquests, for or on behalf of the NHS.
- Experience of the inquest process including supporting clinicians, providing representation and liaising with HM Coroner and officers including managing and maintaining relationships
- Experience in the management of litigation claims including the autonomous management of a litigation caseload
- Experience of managing staff, including recruitment and management of HR issues.
- Experience of negotiating with and influencing at all levels of seniority
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Expertise in healthcare law, including litigation and inquests
- Ability to analyse complex information from a range of sources
- Understanding of the internal and external context within which NHS bodies operate, with particular reference to healthcare law
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to provide leadership and work with senior leaders
- Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships across an organisation and with external partner
- Credibility and enthusiasm for healthcare law
- Ability to be self-motivated and self-directed
- Enthusiasm and interest in ensuring others are trained and developed in healthcare law.
- Values diversity and difference; able to operate with integrity and openness
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Master's degree or equivalent level qualification and/or equivalent level of recent relevant experience.
Desirable
- Qualified solicitor
- NHS leadership or management qualification
Experience
Essential
- Substantial, proven experience within the field of healthcare law, including managing litigation and inquests, for or on behalf of the NHS.
- Experience of the inquest process including supporting clinicians, providing representation and liaising with HM Coroner and officers including managing and maintaining relationships
- Experience in the management of litigation claims including the autonomous management of a litigation caseload
- Experience of managing staff, including recruitment and management of HR issues.
- Experience of negotiating with and influencing at all levels of seniority
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Expertise in healthcare law, including litigation and inquests
- Ability to analyse complex information from a range of sources
- Understanding of the internal and external context within which NHS bodies operate, with particular reference to healthcare law
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to provide leadership and work with senior leaders
- Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships across an organisation and with external partner
- Credibility and enthusiasm for healthcare law
- Ability to be self-motivated and self-directed
- Enthusiasm and interest in ensuring others are trained and developed in healthcare law.
- Values diversity and difference; able to operate with integrity and openness
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.
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).
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.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Royal Hallamshire Hospital
21 Claremont Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2TA
Employer's website
https://www.sth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
