• Job Description

  Req#: C9358-26-0156?language=en&page=1157&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  For this senior role reporting to the Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs, we are seeking an experienced legal professional to lead a dedicated, high-performing legal service, inquests, and claims management function for the Trust.

  The postholder will provide strategic and operational management for the UHL Legal Services Team. The post holder will ensure that expert, highly-specialised legal advice is available to Trust clinicians and senior managers as required on a range of on complex and sensitive legal issues. They will identify trends for Trust-wide learning from claims and inquests and requirements for improvement, working closely with other senior Trust leaders. The post holder will also be involved in Freedom of Information Act work.

  Main duties of the job

  • To be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the Legal Services function, ensuring that there is a dedicated, high-performing, effective legal service that delivers best practice Trust-wide and when engaging with external organisations.

  • To provide strategic leadership and direction for the team to maximise learning and quality improvement, and have overarching responsibility and accountability for all work carried out in the Legal Services Department.

  • To ensure that expert, highly specialist legal advice is available to clinicians, senior managers and members of the Trust Board on a broad range of highly complex, confidential and sensitive legal matters, including the provision of general advice relating to healthcare matters, and the application of legal services legislation and regulation Trust-wide.

  • To manage and monitor all claims and inquests, and identify any trends for Trust-wide learning. To provide detailed reports on legal services trends and performance.

  • To undertake internal reviews of FOI responses when requested in line with the Trust's FOI Policy, providing an independent judgement on legal and procedural FOIA compliance and reviewing any relevant judgements or regulatory decisions from the Information Commissioner's Office.

  About us

  Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

  We have four primary goals:

  • high-quality care for all,
  • being a great place to work,
  • partnerships for impact, and
  • research and education excellence

  And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

  Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

  • we are compassionate,
  • we are proud,
  • we are inclusive, and
  • we are one team

  This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

  About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk

  Details

  Date posted

  04 March 2026

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 8c

  Salary

  £76,965 to £88,682 a year per annum

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  358-783006-COR

  Job locations

  LGH Site

  Gwendolen Road

  Leicester

  LE5 4PW

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  • To establish, develop, review and maintain appropriate claims handling proceduresand policies on behalf of the Trust.

  • To establish systems whereby all reported claims are systematically analysed and interrogated to identify trends and produce information for regular feedback to frontline staff and management for review and action.

  • To ensure the on-going development and training of Litigation, Claims and Inquestsstaff.

  • To be part of the senior leadership team for the Directorate of Corporate and Legal Affairs.

  • To work appropriately with Group colleagues.

  • To have excellent keyboard and information management skills.

  • To manage budgets in accordance with authority delegated by the Director ofCorporate and Legal Affairs and in compliance with the Trusts corporate governancepolicies including Standing Orders and Standing Financial instructions, and contributeto the Directorates annual financial and operational planning cycle.

  • To undertake the management of specific projects contributing to the corporate objectives of the Trust as directed by the Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs.

  please see job description/person specification for full details on the role

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  • To establish, develop, review and maintain appropriate claims handling proceduresand policies on behalf of the Trust.

  • To establish systems whereby all reported claims are systematically analysed and interrogated to identify trends and produce information for regular feedback to frontline staff and management for review and action.

  • To ensure the on-going development and training of Litigation, Claims and Inquestsstaff.

  • To be part of the senior leadership team for the Directorate of Corporate and Legal Affairs.

  • To work appropriately with Group colleagues.

  • To have excellent keyboard and information management skills.

  • To manage budgets in accordance with authority delegated by the Director ofCorporate and Legal Affairs and in compliance with the Trusts corporate governancepolicies including Standing Orders and Standing Financial instructions, and contributeto the Directorates annual financial and operational planning cycle.

  • To undertake the management of specific projects contributing to the corporate objectives of the Trust as directed by the Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs.

  please see job description/person specification for full details on the role

  Person Specification

  Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

  Essential

  • Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours

  Training & Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to Masters/LPC Level.
  • A qualified and practising solicitor or barrister, significant post qualification experience successfully managing a substantial case load, advance specialist knowledge, expertise and experience in the healthcare field (work experience equivalent of doctorate level education)
  • Significant additional role related and personal development training and evidence of the SRA-required ongoing continued professional development.
  • Awareness of national and local policy, legislation and regulations and the latest developments in healthcare law.

  Desirable

  • Leadership qualification / training.
  • Project management training / qualification.
  • Legal knowledge to include clinical negligence, Coroner's inquests, employers' and public liability, statutory /regulatory law and general healthcare advisory.
  • Higher Rights of Audience

  Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of managing, leading and building teams, and delivering across an organisation.
  • Significant experience advising at a senior level on the full range of health and/or regulatory law issues.
  • Specialist legal knowledge across a wide range of legal disciplines.
  • Appreciation of the context of in house NHS legal services regulation and legislation and the context of how they apply within organisations.
  • Awareness of the FOI Act 2000 and the EIR 2004.

  Desirable

  • Be a registered Law Society Training Principal and be responsible for the training
  • Experience of working in an in-house legal team in an Acute NHS Trust
  • Experience of working in a complex healthcare/NHS environment
  • Experience of undertaking advocacy in court and/or at inquests, with rights of audience to allow them to appear before Coroners and Judges

  Communication and relationship skills

  Essential

  • Ability to communicate confidently and effectively on complex legal issues and processes at all levels including to senior clinical and operational staff, handling highly complex, sensitive, emotionally charged and contentious information
  • Extensive experience of managing sensitive issues within sometimes hostile or emotional situations.
  • Highly effective written communication skills, including excellent report writing skills, policy design and development and executive and board briefings.
  • Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders
  • Evidence of resilience and diplomacy to lead and support change within a service.
  • Ability to give constructive feedback to support the development of others.
  • Ability to apply appropriate judgement when considering options where all the information may not be immediately available

  Analytical and Judgement skills

  Essential

  • Ability to provide clear, concise and informative reporting information in relation to the Trust's legal position, cases and risks, for both internal and external audiences.
  • Extensive experience of analysing highly complex information and producing reports to tight deadlines. Experience presenting this information within a large, complex organisation.
  • Ability to demonstrate strategic vision and awareness.
  • Ability to make difficult decisions autonomously when required, with appropriate sensitivity and awareness.

  Skills

  Essential

  • Experience developing and delivering training on a variety of legal topics to a wide range of recipients
  • Ability to negotiate on difficult and highly complex and detailed issues, including the handling of challenging court cases or inquests.
  • Excellent attention to detail including in terms of procedural requirements and when presenting information internally and externally.
  • Proactive, enthusiastic, well-motivated and conscientious. Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
  • Excellent IT and keyboard skills

  Planning and organisation skills

  Essential

  • Demonstrated capabilities to work under pressure, manage own workload and make informed decisions, working to tight timescales.
  • Demonstrable skills in planning over the short, medium and long term, with the ability to constantly assess, adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
  • Ability to manage numerous complex and challenging work streams, whilst still delivering on performance and hitting deadlines.

  Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

  Essential

  • Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
  • All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others

  Other requirements specific to the role

  Essential

  • Awareness of the need for discretion and high levels of confidentiality.

  Person Specification

  Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

  Essential

  • Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours

  Training & Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to Masters/LPC Level.
  • A qualified and practising solicitor or barrister, significant post qualification experience successfully managing a substantial case load, advance specialist knowledge, expertise and experience in the healthcare field (work experience equivalent of doctorate level education)
  • Significant additional role related and personal development training and evidence of the SRA-required ongoing continued professional development.
  • Awareness of national and local policy, legislation and regulations and the latest developments in healthcare law.

  Desirable

  • Leadership qualification / training.
  • Project management training / qualification.
  • Legal knowledge to include clinical negligence, Coroner's inquests, employers' and public liability, statutory /regulatory law and general healthcare advisory.
  • Higher Rights of Audience

  Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of managing, leading and building teams, and delivering across an organisation.
  • Significant experience advising at a senior level on the full range of health and/or regulatory law issues.
  • Specialist legal knowledge across a wide range of legal disciplines.
  • Appreciation of the context of in house NHS legal services regulation and legislation and the context of how they apply within organisations.
  • Awareness of the FOI Act 2000 and the EIR 2004.

  Desirable

  • Be a registered Law Society Training Principal and be responsible for the training
  • Experience of working in an in-house legal team in an Acute NHS Trust
  • Experience of working in a complex healthcare/NHS environment
  • Experience of undertaking advocacy in court and/or at inquests, with rights of audience to allow them to appear before Coroners and Judges

  Communication and relationship skills

  Essential

  • Ability to communicate confidently and effectively on complex legal issues and processes at all levels including to senior clinical and operational staff, handling highly complex, sensitive, emotionally charged and contentious information
  • Extensive experience of managing sensitive issues within sometimes hostile or emotional situations.
  • Highly effective written communication skills, including excellent report writing skills, policy design and development and executive and board briefings.
  • Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders
  • Evidence of resilience and diplomacy to lead and support change within a service.
  • Ability to give constructive feedback to support the development of others.
  • Ability to apply appropriate judgement when considering options where all the information may not be immediately available

  Analytical and Judgement skills

  Essential

  • Ability to provide clear, concise and informative reporting information in relation to the Trust's legal position, cases and risks, for both internal and external audiences.
  • Extensive experience of analysing highly complex information and producing reports to tight deadlines. Experience presenting this information within a large, complex organisation.
  • Ability to demonstrate strategic vision and awareness.
  • Ability to make difficult decisions autonomously when required, with appropriate sensitivity and awareness.

  Skills

  Essential

  • Experience developing and delivering training on a variety of legal topics to a wide range of recipients
  • Ability to negotiate on difficult and highly complex and detailed issues, including the handling of challenging court cases or inquests.
  • Excellent attention to detail including in terms of procedural requirements and when presenting information internally and externally.
  • Proactive, enthusiastic, well-motivated and conscientious. Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
  • Excellent IT and keyboard skills

  Planning and organisation skills

  Essential

  • Demonstrated capabilities to work under pressure, manage own workload and make informed decisions, working to tight timescales.
  • Demonstrable skills in planning over the short, medium and long term, with the ability to constantly assess, adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
  • Ability to manage numerous complex and challenging work streams, whilst still delivering on performance and hitting deadlines.

  Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

  Essential

  • Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
  • All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others

  Other requirements specific to the role

  Essential

  • Awareness of the need for discretion and high levels of confidentiality.

  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

  University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

  Address

  LGH Site

  Gwendolen Road

  Leicester

  LE5 4PW

  
  

  Employer's website

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

  Employer details

  Employer name

  University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

  Address

  LGH Site

  Gwendolen Road

  Leicester

  LE5 4PW

  
  

  Employer's website

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

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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