Consultant Solicitor

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

To deputise for the Deputy Head of Legal Services (Solicitor and Head of Clinical Claims) in the management of the CNST claims book (pre-action and in litigation) with the Trust's Legal Services Team (set out above), in DHoL's absence and as required.

Main duties of the job

To deputise for the DHoL, by:
provide day to day management, supervision, training, and Solicitor Grade support of the Claims team (as listed above).
act as the direct line manager and supervisor for all the Claims & Inquest Officers and NQ Solicitor(s), as required.
in the management of the Trust's CNST caseload, with the Legal Services Department administration team, Trainee (NQ) Solicitor and (Trainee) Claims & Inquest Officers.
To provide specialist legal advice and investigation on a portfolio of clinical negligence claims
To instruct Panel Solicitors to amend and draft legal documentation, as required (pleadings, witness statements, disclosure lists), to ensure consistency and accuracy and to best present the Trust's position.
to develop and maintain external and internal stakeholder working relationships and to assist in the delivery of bespoke internal legal training programme (selection and circulation of free Panel Solicitors/Barristers/NHSRE webinars and other sources of free medico-legal learning opportunities) for clinical and nursing staff and for the internal Legal team, (as required)
To work closely with clinical risk, clinical governance, assurance, clinical divisional and directorate operational teams, corporate teams, and staff at all levels in the organisation.

About us

This is an essential role working alongside the Deputy Head of Legal Services to provide on-going support to the Claims & Inquest Officers team in the day to day management of CNST claims.

Date posted

16 October 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£50,952 to £57,349 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

321-CORP-5641474-B8a-INT

Job locations

Legal Services, Stable Block

John Radcliffe Hospital, Osler Road

Oxford

OX3 9RP

Job description

Job responsibilities

To thoroughly investigate and determine whether clinical negligence claims should be defended to Trial or settled, making optimal use of the experienced, focussed, high quality overview and guidance, which is provided by our staff.
To independently investigate, manage, review, supervise working alongside OUHFT staff witnesses, legal teams (outlined above), and provide direction and apply own authorised decision making authority (tiered as outlined in the Delegated Authority Matrix above) in the conduct clinical negligence claims (directly managed by DHoL, NQ Solicitor and CIOs) made against the Trust and to provide expert legal advice on all aspects of such claims, ensuring compliance with the Claims Management Policy, Court pre-action protocols, legislation and NHS Resolution guidelines .
To attend case conferences and Court hearings on behalf of the Trust, with the delegated decision-making authority (outlined above) in support of the legal team (as above), OUHFT staff witnesses, NHSRe Panel Solicitors and Counsel where necessary.
To provide support and advice to members of staff who are involved in claims investigations or who are required to participate in the litigation process and give evidence in court.
With the DHoL, and NQ Solicitor(s) to supervise, instruct, monitor, and train the Claims & Inquest Officers in the conduct of their divisional portfolio(s) of clinical negligence claims.
To report on a weekly basis to the Director of Regulatory Compliance & Assurance (Corporate) a summary of actions required on Claims by the Deputy Head of Legal Services (copy to DHoL).
To record the progress of claims on the Legal Services claims management database and to report claims to the relevant Clinical Directors and Executive Directors, as required, on the claims profile in the Trust.
To ensure that relevant senior management and executive leads are informed, subject to the supervision of the Deputy Head of Legal Services and/or the Director of Regulatory Compliance & Assurance (as outlined above) liaison with Trust Safeguarding Leads, when:

serious cases likely to attract media attention where Trust staff are giving evidence in Court and/or where a proposed negotiated settlement might attract media attention.
and/or require the issue of an apology from the Chief Medical Officer/Chief Executive.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To thoroughly investigate and determine whether clinical negligence claims should be defended to Trial or settled, making optimal use of the experienced, focussed, high quality overview and guidance, which is provided by our staff.
To independently investigate, manage, review, supervise working alongside OUHFT staff witnesses, legal teams (outlined above), and provide direction and apply own authorised decision making authority (tiered as outlined in the Delegated Authority Matrix above) in the conduct clinical negligence claims (directly managed by DHoL, NQ Solicitor and CIOs) made against the Trust and to provide expert legal advice on all aspects of such claims, ensuring compliance with the Claims Management Policy, Court pre-action protocols, legislation and NHS Resolution guidelines .
To attend case conferences and Court hearings on behalf of the Trust, with the delegated decision-making authority (outlined above) in support of the legal team (as above), OUHFT staff witnesses, NHSRe Panel Solicitors and Counsel where necessary.
To provide support and advice to members of staff who are involved in claims investigations or who are required to participate in the litigation process and give evidence in court.
With the DHoL, and NQ Solicitor(s) to supervise, instruct, monitor, and train the Claims & Inquest Officers in the conduct of their divisional portfolio(s) of clinical negligence claims.
To report on a weekly basis to the Director of Regulatory Compliance & Assurance (Corporate) a summary of actions required on Claims by the Deputy Head of Legal Services (copy to DHoL).
To record the progress of claims on the Legal Services claims management database and to report claims to the relevant Clinical Directors and Executive Directors, as required, on the claims profile in the Trust.
To ensure that relevant senior management and executive leads are informed, subject to the supervision of the Deputy Head of Legal Services and/or the Director of Regulatory Compliance & Assurance (as outlined above) liaison with Trust Safeguarding Leads, when:

serious cases likely to attract media attention where Trust staff are giving evidence in Court and/or where a proposed negotiated settlement might attract media attention.
and/or require the issue of an apology from the Chief Medical Officer/Chief Executive.

Person Specification

Shortlist Offline

Essential

Add "2" for interview, "0" for rejected

Person Specification

Shortlist Offline

Essential

Add "2" for interview, "0" for rejected

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).