Leadership o Develop an annual Delivery Plan for the Legal Services Team with priorities and deliverables which support the achievement of the Quality Governance team and Trust objectives. o Be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Legal Services Team including the delegated/shared management of legal services budget. o Manage the performance of the Legal Services Team staff and ensure appropriate arrangements are made for their development supporting their continued learning and performance improvement. o Undertaken performance management of team members in line with Trust policies and procedures. o Responsibility for policy development and advice in relation to legal issues o Deputise for managers in the Quality Governance team as appropriate in times of planned and unplanned absences. o Attend all appropriate Quality Governance, Divisional and Corporate meetings contributing effectively to those Committees and Groups of which the post holder is a member. o Undertake audits to demonstrate the effectiveness of the policy and management of claims developing action plans to ensure that there is continual improvement in the performance of the Legal Services Team o Support the development of inquest and claims management in response to challenge and changes in best practice. Claims o Handle a caseload of high value claims ( £1m) o Authorise claim documentation within delegated limits. o Ensure that claim documents and files are retained and disposed of in line with Trust policies and procedures. Inquests o Handle a caseload of red RAG rated inquests which represent the biggest risk to the Trust financially and reputationally. o Liaise with the Coroners and Coroners Officers to meet the requirements of the Coroners Court providing advice and support in the preparation and content of witness statements and preparing staff for their role as witness to the Court. o Ensure appropriate attendance is in place for the Trust at inquests and the attendance of Legal Service Team members to support staff giving evidence. o Ensure effective arrangements for the reporting of outcomes and learning from inquests. o Ensure effective responses and action plans are developed and implemented in response to Regulation 28/Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) notices. o Ensure that inquest documents and files are retained and disposed of in line with Trust policies and procedures. o Liaise with the deceaseds relatives at inquest to ensure they are supported and receive appropriate information and apologies on behalf of the Trust.