Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Legal Services Officer

The closing date is 29 August 2025

Job summary

Closing Date: 29.08.25

Shortlisting to take place after closing date: commencing 30.08.25

Interview expected to take place in the week following shortlisting: commencing 16.09.25

Responsible for managing a portfolio of inquests in line with current guidelines/policies and procedures and liaising with HM Coroners officers from the point of request to inquest conclusion. Accountable for managing a portfolio of claims in line with current guidelines/policies and procedures and liaising with Claimant's solicitors, NHS Resolution and Trust solicitors.

This will include the disclosure of statements and information for inquest and claims; identifying all relevant records pertaining to the case; assigning work to and requesting evidential reports/statements from all appropriate Clinicians ensuring that these are provided within the deadlines to prevent any unnecessary delays to the process.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will manage a caseload of clinical negligence claims, inquests, employers' liability and public liability claims. They will also have responsibility for handling some general advice legal matters on an ad hoc basis.

The post holder will assist the Head of Legal Services to deliver expert legal advice on complex, contentious, and sensitive clinical issues. This includes advising services on regulatory and statutory compliance, offering general legal advice to protect the Trust's interests and minimise litigation risks, and safeguarding the Trust from unlawful conduct, negligence, professional misconduct, or reputational damage.

About us

Our People Charter outlines the behaviours we can expect from one another and what you can expect from Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust:

  • We value people
  • We are one team
  • We care

We're keen to meet people who share these values and are passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.

Details

Date posted

15 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year na

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

389-25-7421106

Job locations

Bradford Royal Infirmary

Duckworth Ln

Bradford

BD9 6RJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will manage a caseload of clinical negligence claims, inquests, employers liability and public liability claims. They will also have responsibility for handling some general advice legal matters on an ad hoc basis.

The post holder will assist the Head of Legal Services to deliver expert legal advice on complex, contentious, and sensitive clinical issues. This includes advising services on regulatory and statutory compliance, offering general legal advice to protect the Trusts interests and minimise litigation risks, and safeguarding the Trust from unlawful conduct, negligence, professional misconduct, or reputational damage.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will manage a caseload of clinical negligence claims, inquests, employers liability and public liability claims. They will also have responsibility for handling some general advice legal matters on an ad hoc basis.

The post holder will assist the Head of Legal Services to deliver expert legal advice on complex, contentious, and sensitive clinical issues. This includes advising services on regulatory and statutory compliance, offering general legal advice to protect the Trusts interests and minimise litigation risks, and safeguarding the Trust from unlawful conduct, negligence, professional misconduct, or reputational damage.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE English (A* - C) and high level of literacy
  • Degree in law or a related subject or equivalent experience in law (in law or related subjects)

Desirable

  • Post graduate qualification in LPC or LLM or equivalent experience in law.
  • Legal qualification
  • Claims handling qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant proven experience in office administration
  • Experience in a fast paced, high-volume environment, working to deadlines
  • Experience in claims, complaints and inquest management
  • Experience of investigating a large caseload of clinical negligence/ personal injury and/ or public liability claims
  • Experience of supporting colleagues in claims and inquests
  • Writing formal reports and briefings to a wide and varied audience
  • Experience of risk management systems or other case management systems
  • Dealing with emotional, sensitive and sympathetic situations

Desirable

  • Previous NHS experience

Skills

Essential

  • Good understanding of healthcare law and medical terminology
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Excellent organisational skills, ability to prioritise own workload and meet strict deadlines
  • Ability to work independently within a defined set of parameters escalating/referring when necessary
  • High levels of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail
  • Ability to collaborate and build relationships with a variety of stakeholders
  • Computer literate- experience of working with IT systems/databases including Excel and reporting systems
  • Analytical and proof-reading skills to interpret medical records, clinician and expert reports, complaint, and incident documentation in relation to inquests and claims
  • Ability to work well within a team
  • Excellent negotiation and persuasion skills
  • Ability to represent the legal service team in a professional manner at all times
  • Ability to handle sensitive information and patient confidentiality within current guidelines
  • Conscientious, confident, flexible and professional approach

Desirable

  • Experience of using incident and risk management databases

Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to analyse complex and sensitive information and draw out conclusions.
  • Ability to assess, analyse complex and sensitive information relating to claims and legal matters accurately identifying trends and potential risks.
  • Understanding of clinical negligence, employer's and public liability and mental capacity.
  • Proficiency in maintaining and updating case management systems
  • Sound knowledge of the Coronial system

Desirable

  • Understanding of Risk Management processes
  • Knowledge of Serious Untoward Incidents

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Essential

  • Ability to be able to travel either via private or public transport to Coroner Inquests, Pre-Inquest Review meetings and other external meetings. All reasonable travel costs will be paid by the Trust
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE English (A* - C) and high level of literacy
  • Degree in law or a related subject or equivalent experience in law (in law or related subjects)

Desirable

  • Post graduate qualification in LPC or LLM or equivalent experience in law.
  • Legal qualification
  • Claims handling qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant proven experience in office administration
  • Experience in a fast paced, high-volume environment, working to deadlines
  • Experience in claims, complaints and inquest management
  • Experience of investigating a large caseload of clinical negligence/ personal injury and/ or public liability claims
  • Experience of supporting colleagues in claims and inquests
  • Writing formal reports and briefings to a wide and varied audience
  • Experience of risk management systems or other case management systems
  • Dealing with emotional, sensitive and sympathetic situations

Desirable

  • Previous NHS experience

Skills

Essential

  • Good understanding of healthcare law and medical terminology
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Excellent organisational skills, ability to prioritise own workload and meet strict deadlines
  • Ability to work independently within a defined set of parameters escalating/referring when necessary
  • High levels of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail
  • Ability to collaborate and build relationships with a variety of stakeholders
  • Computer literate- experience of working with IT systems/databases including Excel and reporting systems
  • Analytical and proof-reading skills to interpret medical records, clinician and expert reports, complaint, and incident documentation in relation to inquests and claims
  • Ability to work well within a team
  • Excellent negotiation and persuasion skills
  • Ability to represent the legal service team in a professional manner at all times
  • Ability to handle sensitive information and patient confidentiality within current guidelines
  • Conscientious, confident, flexible and professional approach

Desirable

  • Experience of using incident and risk management databases

Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to analyse complex and sensitive information and draw out conclusions.
  • Ability to assess, analyse complex and sensitive information relating to claims and legal matters accurately identifying trends and potential risks.
  • Understanding of clinical negligence, employer's and public liability and mental capacity.
  • Proficiency in maintaining and updating case management systems
  • Sound knowledge of the Coronial system

Desirable

  • Understanding of Risk Management processes
  • Knowledge of Serious Untoward Incidents

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Essential

  • Ability to be able to travel either via private or public transport to Coroner Inquests, Pre-Inquest Review meetings and other external meetings. All reasonable travel costs will be paid by the Trust

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bradford Royal Infirmary

Duckworth Ln

Bradford

BD9 6RJ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bradford Royal Infirmary

Duckworth Ln

Bradford

BD9 6RJ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Legal Services

Lauren Steele

lauren.steele@bthft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

15 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year na

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

389-25-7421106

Job locations

Bradford Royal Infirmary

Duckworth Ln

Bradford

BD9 6RJ


Supporting documents

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