Job summary
The Legal & Committee Services Department is seeking to recruit an experienced and dynamic Legal & Committee Services Lead (Band 8a) on a permanent contract.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the day to day leadership and management of all litigation, inquests whilst providing senior legal advice to the Trust on a wide range of issues as well as providing support to committees.
- Interview Date 02/06/2023
- 32 Hours 30 Minutes/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.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be required to provide highly specialist medico-legal advice on a wide range of matters 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 lead the management the Legal and Committee Services Team including inquests, with some advocacy where appropriate at both inquests and pre-inquest reviews. The post holder will provide legal advice to staff during the inquest process therefore, an understanding of Coronial law / procedure is essential.
The successful candidate should have 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. 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
Head of Department for the litigation function which encompasses:
- The management of all medical negligence, public and employer liability claims against the Trust.
- The management of all Inquests across the Trust.
- To offer advice and also act as principal point of contact for staff wishing to obtain legal advice.
- Establishment of risk management issues arising from litigation andInquests.
- The provision of a timely and efficient service to support high level Trust committees.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
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 months pay.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Head of Department for the litigation function which encompasses:
- The management of all medical negligence, public and employer liability claims against the Trust.
- The management of all Inquests across the Trust.
- To offer advice and also act as principal point of contact for staff wishing to obtain legal advice.
- Establishment of risk management issues arising from litigation andInquests.
- The provision of a timely and efficient service to support high level Trust committees.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
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 months pay.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Educated to first degree level or equivalent level of skill
Desirable
- Master's degree in legal/Health related subject.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of health service management and legal procedures (master's level equivalent).
- Proven ability to represent the Trust at Inquests.
- Ability to use extensive knowledge and experience to determine the settlement of claims
- Ability to lead on all aspects of the litigation functions
- Detailed knowledge of the NHS Resolution standards and processes
- Detailed knowledge of Risk Management issues
Desirable
- Extensive experience in liaising with the coroner and her officers
- Experience in corporate leadership role
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to liaise and discuss sensitive issues with senior clinicians and managers
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Organisational skills
- Self-motivation
- Staff management skills
- Ability to keep to strict deadlines
Desirable
- Experience in supporting Trust Committees in all elements of committee services
- IT skills
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Educated to first degree level or equivalent level of skill
Desirable
- Master's degree in legal/Health related subject.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of health service management and legal procedures (master's level equivalent).
- Proven ability to represent the Trust at Inquests.
- Ability to use extensive knowledge and experience to determine the settlement of claims
- Ability to lead on all aspects of the litigation functions
- Detailed knowledge of the NHS Resolution standards and processes
- Detailed knowledge of Risk Management issues
Desirable
- Extensive experience in liaising with the coroner and her officers
- Experience in corporate leadership role
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to liaise and discuss sensitive issues with senior clinicians and managers
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Organisational skills
- Self-motivation
- Staff management skills
- Ability to keep to strict deadlines
Desirable
- Experience in supporting Trust Committees in all elements of committee services
- IT 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
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).
