Deputy Head of Legal Services

We are looking for a legal professional with management experience to support and deputise for the Head of Legal Services. This is a rare opportunity, with potential to develop. The postholder will, along with the rest of the Legal Services team, contribute to the provision of a comprehensive inquest and claims management service and an effective legal advice service to staff.

This post is pending job evaluation confirmation

Main duties of the job

This is a management role, and the post-holder will supervise other team members and deputise for the Head of Legal Services. They will also have their own caseload of inquests and clinical claims and contribute to a legal advice service to members of staff, on a variety of topics. Applicants will require legal qualifications and relevant knowledge and experience.

About us

We operatefrom three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, andUlverstonCommunity Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies,daycase and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Our Community Service for adults are provided in people's homes, community centres, clinics, GP Practices, community hospitals. Our aim is to work with people to help them remain independent , improve their health and manage their conditions through high quality care , advice and support.

Details

Date posted

12 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year

pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

331-8250029-UHMB

Job locations

WGH

Kendal

LA9 7RG

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities attached but main duties are:

• Provide support to the Head of Legal Services and assist with the management of the legal team.
• Manage and co-ordinate a caseload of clinical negligence claims.
• Provide appropriate support to colleagues who are witnesses or persons able to assist with potential or actual litigation.
• Manage and co-ordinate a caseload of inquests.
• Review reports/statements for accuracy, professionalism and provide guidance to ensure reports are fit for purpose.
• Recognise and ensure the smooth organisation of complex and contentious inquests, involving all relevant Trust departments.
• Monitor Coroners cases and claims, to recognise risks identified from their investigation and, ensure remedial actions are properly implemented.
• Attend mediation, RTMs and conferences with counsel for own caseload, and in the absence of the Head of Legal Services.
• Arrange and conduct pre-inquest meetings, ensuring that witnesses are supported and prepared for giving evidence.
• Attend Court and represent the Trust at pre-inquest reviews and hearings, taking detailed notes of evidence and supporting the witnesses.
• Act as an expert resource for legal team members and wider staff in relation to inquest and claim investigations and legal advice. Provide support and supervision to legal team colleagues.
• Provide support to the Head of Legal Services and assist with the management of the team.

Job responsibilities attached but main duties are:

• Provide support to the Head of Legal Services and assist with the management of the legal team.
• Manage and co-ordinate a caseload of clinical negligence claims.
• Provide appropriate support to colleagues who are witnesses or persons able to assist with potential or actual litigation.
• Manage and co-ordinate a caseload of inquests.
• Review reports/statements for accuracy, professionalism and provide guidance to ensure reports are fit for purpose.
• Recognise and ensure the smooth organisation of complex and contentious inquests, involving all relevant Trust departments.
• Monitor Coroners cases and claims, to recognise risks identified from their investigation and, ensure remedial actions are properly implemented.
• Attend mediation, RTMs and conferences with counsel for own caseload, and in the absence of the Head of Legal Services.
• Arrange and conduct pre-inquest meetings, ensuring that witnesses are supported and prepared for giving evidence.
• Attend Court and represent the Trust at pre-inquest reviews and hearings, taking detailed notes of evidence and supporting the witnesses.
• Act as an expert resource for legal team members and wider staff in relation to inquest and claim investigations and legal advice. Provide support and supervision to legal team colleagues.
• Provide support to the Head of Legal Services and assist with the management of the team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Law degree or equivalent
• Legal Practice Certificate

Desirable

• Claims handling qualification
• Management qualification
• Practicing certificate

Experience

Essential

• Inquest management and representation
• Claims handling experience
• Management experience

Desirable

• NHS legal experience
• Teaching/training experience

Knowledge

Essential

• Healthcare law, including inquests and claims management
• Computer literate - Microsoft Office
• Communication skills
• Ability to analyse, evaluate and summarise complex data
• Ability to work with people in stressful and distressing situations,
• Good time management skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of NHSR guidance on clinical negligence claims
• Ulysses
• Lorenzo

Personal attributes

Essential

• Attention to detail
• Calm
• Organised
• Tenacious
• Tactful
• Supportive

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Law degree or equivalent
• Legal Practice Certificate

Desirable

• Claims handling qualification
• Management qualification
• Practicing certificate

Experience

Essential

• Inquest management and representation
• Claims handling experience
• Management experience

Desirable

• NHS legal experience
• Teaching/training experience

Knowledge

Essential

• Healthcare law, including inquests and claims management
• Computer literate - Microsoft Office
• Communication skills
• Ability to analyse, evaluate and summarise complex data
• Ability to work with people in stressful and distressing situations,
• Good time management skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of NHSR guidance on clinical negligence claims
• Ulysses
• Lorenzo

Personal attributes

Essential

• Attention to detail
• Calm
• Organised
• Tenacious
• Tactful
• Supportive

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel

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).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust

Address

WGH

Kendal

LA9 7RG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust

Address

WGH

Kendal

LA9 7RG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Job responsibilities attached but main duties are:

• Provide support to the Head of Legal Services and assist with the management of the legal team.
• Manage and co-ordinate a caseload of clinical negligence claims.
• Provide appropriate support to colleagues who are witnesses or persons able to assist with potential or actual litigation.
• Manage and co-ordinate a caseload of inquests.
• Review reports/statements for accuracy, professionalism and provide guidance to ensure reports are fit for purpose.
• Recognise and ensure the smooth organisation of complex and contentious inquests, involving all relevant Trust departments.
• Monitor Coroners cases and claims, to recognise risks identified from their investigation and, ensure remedial actions are properly implemented.
• Attend mediation, RTMs and conferences with counsel for own caseload, and in the absence of the Head of Legal Services.
• Arrange and conduct pre-inquest meetings, ensuring that witnesses are supported and prepared for giving evidence.
• Attend Court and represent the Trust at pre-inquest reviews and hearings, taking detailed notes of evidence and supporting the witnesses.
• Act as an expert resource for legal team members and wider staff in relation to inquest and claim investigations and legal advice. Provide support and supervision to legal team colleagues.
• Provide support to the Head of Legal Services and assist with the management of the team.

Qualifications

Essential

• Law degree or equivalent
• Legal Practice Certificate

Desirable

• Claims handling qualification
• Management qualification
• Practicing certificate

Experience

Essential

• Inquest management and representation
• Claims handling experience
• Management experience

Desirable

• NHS legal experience
• Teaching/training experience

Knowledge

Essential

• Healthcare law, including inquests and claims management
• Computer literate - Microsoft Office
• Communication skills
• Ability to analyse, evaluate and summarise complex data
• Ability to work with people in stressful and distressing situations,
• Good time management skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of NHSR guidance on clinical negligence claims
• Ulysses
• Lorenzo

Personal attributes

Essential

• Attention to detail
• Calm
• Organised
• Tenacious
• Tactful
• Supportive

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel