Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and highly motivated person to take on the role of Legal Services Manager within the Corporate Governance Team at The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
Reporting to the Director of Corporate Governance, the post holder will be responsible for the effective and proactive management of claims against the Trust and our responses to inquests into deaths of individuals who have used our services.
A good level of knowledge of the processes and procedures associated with the management of clinical and non-clinical claims, Coronial law, consent, and Duty of Candour legislation is essential for this role.
Among other duties, the successful candidate will have day-to-day oversight of claims and inquests involving the Trust and will manage the relationship with NHS Resolution as well as external law firms, representing both the Trust and other parties.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will act as the focal point where external support is required and will have a key role in commissioning and disseminating such support in response to identified need. The post holder will maintain a legal database to avoid duplication in requests for legal advice. They should ideally have a proven track record of managing staff and working well with internal and external colleagues. They will also be skilled in producing, analysing and presenting claims data, to inform organisational learning, improve patient safety and provide assurance to the Board of Directors as to the management of the Trust's legal risk.
About us
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health trust with a focus on training and education alongside a full range of mental health services and psychological therapies for children and their families, young people and adults.
We are committed to improving mental health and emotional wellbeing, believing that high quality mental health services should be available for all who need them. We bring a distinctive contribution based on the importance we attach to social experience at all stages of people's lives, and our focus on psychological and developmental approaches to the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of mental ill health
We contribute to the pool of ideas through our own research and development, but are also committed to bringing together the best ideas of the time, old and new, from inside and out, together with the most gifted and able professionals in our fields of endeavour. We aim to share our ideas and practice through as many routes as possible.
As a Trust we aim constantly to be evolving in nature and form in relation to the environment in which we work, to ensure that our contribution remains relevant.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level and / or equivalent professional qualification; or Specialist training diploma, or theoretical and practical experience of claims management and inquests.
Desirable
- Degree in Law (LLB); or Master's in healthcare law or equivalent
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience as a law clerk, paralegal, Legal Executive or equivalent in public or private practice
- Good understanding of the function of NHS Resolution, its reporting process, the claims management process.
- Good understanding of the association between claims / complaints / PALS / clinical and non-clinical risk
- Good understanding of legislation that applies to the NHS such as the Data Protection Act 1998, the Access to Health Records Act 1990, the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Detailed knowledge of the law in relation to consent and confidentiality.
Desirable
- Experience as a Legal Services Manager in the NHS or a practising solicitor in medical negligence, or similar relevant experience.
- Understanding of governance processes within the NHS.
- Detailed knowledge of the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) and the Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS)
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and contentious information. Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff.
- Good networking and organisational awareness.
- Ability to analyse complex medical cases/claims and draw out conclusions
- Tact and negotiating skills.
- Knowledge of root cause analysis investigation processes
- Ability to present training materials to large groups of staff
- Dynamic investigative and inquisitive enquiry skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level and / or equivalent professional qualification; or Specialist training diploma, or theoretical and practical experience of claims management and inquests.
Desirable
- Degree in Law (LLB); or Master's in healthcare law or equivalent
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience as a law clerk, paralegal, Legal Executive or equivalent in public or private practice
- Good understanding of the function of NHS Resolution, its reporting process, the claims management process.
- Good understanding of the association between claims / complaints / PALS / clinical and non-clinical risk
- Good understanding of legislation that applies to the NHS such as the Data Protection Act 1998, the Access to Health Records Act 1990, the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Detailed knowledge of the law in relation to consent and confidentiality.
Desirable
- Experience as a Legal Services Manager in the NHS or a practising solicitor in medical negligence, or similar relevant experience.
- Understanding of governance processes within the NHS.
- Detailed knowledge of the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) and the Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS)
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and contentious information. Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff.
- Good networking and organisational awareness.
- Ability to analyse complex medical cases/claims and draw out conclusions
- Tact and negotiating skills.
- Knowledge of root cause analysis investigation processes
- Ability to present training materials to large groups of staff
- Dynamic investigative and inquisitive enquiry skills
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.
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
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).
