Job summary
The Legal & Committee Services Department is seeking to recruit an experienced and dynamic individual for the position of Legal & Committee Services Manager on a fixed term 12 month contract. Secondments are welcome. The successful candidate will work closely with and deputise for the Legal & Committee Services Lead in their absence, in the day to day management of all litigation, inquests and providing legal advice to the Trust on a wide range of issues.
- Interview Date 1 July 2022
- 30 hours/week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Newcastle Hospitals encourages all staff and volunteers who are appointed to join the Trust to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Main duties of the job
You will be required to provide highly specialist medico-legal advice on a wide range of matters to the Trust and ensure that all clinical negligence and personal injury claims are managed in accordance with Civil Procedure Rules and NHS Resolution requirements. You will be required to assist on the management of inquests, including providing some advocacy services where appropriate at both inquests and pre-inquest reviews along with providing legal advice to staff during the inquest process therefore, an understanding of Coronial law / procedure is essential. You will also be required to assist with high level committee work including taking minutes.
The successful candidate should have theoretical and practical knowledge and experience within the field of healthcare law, including litigation, inquests, legal procedures and legal legislation of the NHS to Masters Level or equivalent experience. They will also have excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate both complex and sensitive information to a wide range of people. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the ability to manage and prioritise work streams and have the capability to balance competing priorities and meet strict deadlines.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
Rated 'Outstanding' by theCQC for the second consecutive time in 2019, we have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assist the Head of Legal & Committee Services in providing highly specialist medico-legal advice on a wide range of matters to the Trust requiring the highest level of analytical and judgement skills with the ability to clearly communicate highly contentious, highly complex and highly sensitive information.
- To work autonomously to ensure that all clinical negligence, employer and public liability claims are managed in accordance with legislation, NHSR requirements and relevant Trust policies and procedures with a view to minimising costs and maximising learning.
- To assist in the management of all Trust inquests to ensure efficiency, support and preparation of staff and ensure that the Trusts interests are protected.
- Establishment of risk management issues arising from litigation and Inquests and to analyse these in order to promote learning and improving patient safety.
- The provision of a timely and efficient service to support high level Trust committees
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assist the Head of Legal & Committee Services in providing highly specialist medico-legal advice on a wide range of matters to the Trust requiring the highest level of analytical and judgement skills with the ability to clearly communicate highly contentious, highly complex and highly sensitive information.
- To work autonomously to ensure that all clinical negligence, employer and public liability claims are managed in accordance with legislation, NHSR requirements and relevant Trust policies and procedures with a view to minimising costs and maximising learning.
- To assist in the management of all Trust inquests to ensure efficiency, support and preparation of staff and ensure that the Trusts interests are protected.
- Establishment of risk management issues arising from litigation and Inquests and to analyse these in order to promote learning and improving patient safety.
- The provision of a timely and efficient service to support high level Trust committees
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Qualified solicitor or barrister (on the roll of solicitors or holds a practising certificate) or knowledge of law and legal practice, acquired through degree, post graduate diploma in legal practice or masters level equivalent and additional knowledge in specialist field of NHS Law e.g. Clinical negligence, personal injury, healthcare law.
- Extensive theoretical and practical knowledge and experience within the field of healthcare law, including litigation, inquests, legal procedures and legal legislation of the NHS to Masters Level or equivalent experience
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience in supporting Trust Committees in all elements of committee services.
- Experience in the autonomous management of litigation claims including the management of a litigation caseload, including some advocacy as appropriate or representing the Trust in mediation and other court proceedings
- Detailed knowledge of the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trust (CNST) and Liability to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS)
- Experience in liaising with the Coroner and officers
- Experience in attending inquests and where appropriate, conducting advocacy
- Practical experience in the management of staff
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS policies and procedures
- Specialist knowledge of NHS Resolution including an ability to understand and interpret current national legal/NHS Resolution framework arrangements relating to clinical negligence relevant to the Trust
- Experience of current generation IT systems
- Knowledge of Datix System
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to liaise and discuss complex, sensitive and contentious issues and legal concepts with staff from all disciplines including senior clinicians, nursing staff and senior managers.
- Advanced written skills with ability to draft complex reports, policies and legal documents
- Leadership and communication skills
- Organisational and self-motivational skills
- Facilitation and negotiation skills
- Ability to keep to strict deadlines
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Qualified solicitor or barrister (on the roll of solicitors or holds a practising certificate) or knowledge of law and legal practice, acquired through degree, post graduate diploma in legal practice or masters level equivalent and additional knowledge in specialist field of NHS Law e.g. Clinical negligence, personal injury, healthcare law.
- Extensive theoretical and practical knowledge and experience within the field of healthcare law, including litigation, inquests, legal procedures and legal legislation of the NHS to Masters Level or equivalent experience
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience in supporting Trust Committees in all elements of committee services.
- Experience in the autonomous management of litigation claims including the management of a litigation caseload, including some advocacy as appropriate or representing the Trust in mediation and other court proceedings
- Detailed knowledge of the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trust (CNST) and Liability to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS)
- Experience in liaising with the Coroner and officers
- Experience in attending inquests and where appropriate, conducting advocacy
- Practical experience in the management of staff
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS policies and procedures
- Specialist knowledge of NHS Resolution including an ability to understand and interpret current national legal/NHS Resolution framework arrangements relating to clinical negligence relevant to the Trust
- Experience of current generation IT systems
- Knowledge of Datix System
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to liaise and discuss complex, sensitive and contentious issues and legal concepts with staff from all disciplines including senior clinicians, nursing staff and senior managers.
- Advanced written skills with ability to draft complex reports, policies and legal documents
- Leadership and communication skills
- Organisational and self-motivational skills
- Facilitation and negotiation skills
- Ability to keep to strict deadlines
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).
