Job Description

• To deputise for the Head of Legal Services in the management of the Legal Services Department and Subject Access Request Team and to directly line manager the Claims and Inquest Officers;
• To provide cross-cover for the duties of the Deputy Head of Legal Services -Claims, as required;
• To act as a role model and provide positive, professional and accountable leadership to the legal team;

Main duties of the job
*Role and Leadership: The post involves deputising for the Head of Legal Services, managing the Legal Services Department and Subject Access Request Team, and directly line managing Claims and Inquest Officers, providing accountable leadership to the legal team.
*Inquest Management: The role requires independently conducting a portfolio of complex coroner's inquests, acting as legal advocate in court, liaising with coroners, instructing external legal representation, and preparing responses to Regulation 28 reports to ensure compliance and organisational learning.
*Patient Safety and Communication: Identifying and escalating patient safety risks from claims or inquests, and providing non-clinical information to patients and relatives about legal claims and inquest processes.
*Policy, Training, and Development: Advising on clinical and non-clinical policies, assisting in legal training development and delivery for staff, researching legal developments, leading inquest case management meetings, and supporting continuous professional development.
About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
Details
Date posted
18 November 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
55,690 to 62,682 a year per annum pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
321-CORP-7601732-B8a
Job locations
Legal Services, 1st Floor Stable Block
JR Hospital, Osler Road, Headington
Oxford
OX3 9RP
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Healthcare Legal Advice: Providing expert legal advice on healthcare law including patient consent, capacity, confidentiality, safeguarding, and regulatory matters, and briefing senior management on sensitive legal issues with potential operational or reputational impact.
*Safeguarding Responsibilities: Liaising with safeguarding leads on care proceedings, providing advice on disclosure and statements, supporting staff giving evidence in family courts, and advising on complex legal issues related to Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
*Police and Criminal Cases: Deputising in managing police requests for healthcare records and statements, ensuring compliance with GDPR and confidentiality, liaising with police and security, and advising on legal actions to protect patients and staff during violent or threatening incidents.
*Reporting and Administration: Assisting in preparing claims reports, managing inquest data audits, attending committees, and supporting complaint and incident report reviews, alongside developing operational procedures for efficient inquest management.
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Healthcare Legal Advice: Providing expert legal advice on healthcare law including patient consent, capacity, confidentiality, safeguarding, and regulatory matters, and briefing senior management on sensitive legal issues with potential operational or reputational impact.
*Safeguarding Responsibilities: Liaising with safeguarding leads on care proceedings, providing advice on disclosure and statements, supporting staff giving evidence in family courts, and advising on complex legal issues related to Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
*Police and Criminal Cases: Deputising in managing police requests for healthcare records and statements, ensuring compliance with GDPR and confidentiality, liaising with police and security, and advising on legal actions to protect patients and staff during violent or threatening incidents.
*Reporting and Administration: Assisting in preparing claims reports, managing inquest data audits, attending committees, and supporting complaint and incident report reviews, alongside developing operational procedures for efficient inquest management.
Person Specification
Professional Qualification & Specialist Experience in Inquests
Essential

• oMust be a qualified solicitor, Legal Executive, or Barrister admitted to practice in England and Wales, with relevant post-qualification experience.
• oEducated to degree level with the LPC or equivalent qualification.
• oSignificant specialist work experience in inquest management within an NHS Trust or similar environment.
• oSignificant leadership experience, with excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• oAbility to communicate with a wide range of audiences and establish credibility quickly.
• oAbility to analyse and process highly complex facts and information in respect to clinical negligence claims and devise appropriate management strategies.

Desirable

• oPrevious experience working in health and social care law, beyond the essential NHS claims and inquest management background.
• oExperience working in a public sector, legal, or insurance environment, especially at a senior level in a large, complex, and dynamic organisation.
• oDemonstrated experience in staff management, training, teaching, setting objectives, and performance management, including holding people to account.
• oKnowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act, and other associated general advice matters.

Person Specification
Professional Qualification & Specialist Experience in Inquests
Essential

• oMust be a qualified solicitor, Legal Executive, or Barrister admitted to practice in England and Wales, with relevant post-qualification experience.
• oEducated to degree level with the LPC or equivalent qualification.
• oSignificant specialist work experience in inquest management within an NHS Trust or similar environment.
• oSignificant leadership experience, with excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• oAbility to communicate with a wide range of audiences and establish credibility quickly.
• oAbility to analyse and process highly complex facts and information in respect to clinical negligence claims and devise appropriate management strategies.

Desirable

• oPrevious experience working in health and social care law, beyond the essential NHS claims and inquest management background.
• oExperience working in a public sector, legal, or insurance environment, especially at a senior level in a large, complex, and dynamic organisation.
• oDemonstrated experience in staff management, training, teaching, setting objectives, and performance management, including holding people to account.
• oKnowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act, and other associated general advice matters.

Skills Required