Job summary
The Employment Risk Domain is a dynamic, growing and supportive team of in-house lawyers. We use our skills, knowledge and experience to ensure that NHS England receives professional, pragmatic employment law advice and support.
The team's work is impactful, and varied and includes:
- providing, supervising and/or securing the provision of expert employment law advice to support colleagues across the organisation, particularly those in the HR and OD team, to manage employee and employment related risks;
- managing all external employment law advice and Employment Tribunal support provided to NHS England. This includes commissioning advice from external legal advisors and overseeing outsourced work to ensure that it is carried out in a timely and cost-effective manner, is in line with NHS England's strategic aims and organisational values and meets client requirements;
- supporting effective decision making and corporate governance, and all employment related operational activities as needed.
All lawyers within the Employment Risk team provide advice, often to senior decision makers, personally and at pace. The team handles a fantastic range of interesting and challenging work in an environment where there is a good balance of autonomy and support. The focus of the team is on building relationships, understanding the organisation and quality of output rather than time recorded or hours billed, which means there are plenty of opportunities to develop professionally.
Main duties of the job
The Employment Risk Lawyer is a key member of the Employment team, reporting into the Head of Employment Risk. The role of the Employment Risk Lawyer is to ensure NHSE is a legally compliant organisation, in all internal and external undertakings, to advise upon and manage all aspects of legal risk and to make sure NHSE makes the most effective use of its legal powers for the benefit of patients.
You will advise on the underpinning legislation for NHSE, to senior decision makers often personally and at pace, as well as maintaining and improving an agile advice service for others in the organisation. This frequently means having a fast, solution focus that is able to articulate risk and opportunity to facilitate informed and efficient decision making.
Candidates will also need a high degree of resilience, the ability to deal with ambiguity, and excellent communication skills. You will need to have or rapidly build good relationships for this network to support good decision making and risk management.
The NHS is committed to building an inclusive personal, fair and diverse health and care system and a workplace where belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion are treasured. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Please see the job description for more information.
About us
NHS England leads the NHS in England to deliver high quality care for all. We support NHS organisations to deliver better outcomes for our patients and communities, work to get the best possible value for taxpayers, and drive improvement across the NHS. From April 2023, NHS England, Health Education England and NHS Digital became a single organisation, putting workforce, data, digital and technology at the heart of our plans to transform the NHS. Following the integration of those organisations the new NHS England is transforming how it works and this is an exciting time to join the Legal Team as an Employment Risk Lawyer of Legalwithin the NHS England Legal Team. For more information about this role please review the Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Our Employment Risk Lawyers play a critical role in ensuring that the organisation receives effective, strategic advice in relation to all of its contentious and non- contentious employment law related matters.
The role holder will report into the Head of Employment Risk and will work collaboratively with colleagues in the Employment Risk team, the Legal team, the HR and OD team and across NHS Englands various Directorates and Regions.
This is an exciting, fast paced role so the role holder will need keen prioritisation skills, resilience, the ability to deal with ambiguity and have excellent communication skills. They will need to rapidly build and maintain good relationships with colleagues at all levels and provide legally sound, pragmatic, solutions focused advice within the context of NHSEs duties and functions as a public body. The role holder will need to be aware of the highly political and sensitive nature of the work undertaken by the Domain and the wider team and will need to maintain the highest levels of compassion, discretion and confidentiality.
In addition to the provision of legal advice the role holder will be involved in a variety of activities to assist with the work of the Employment Risk Domain and the wider Legal Team more generally, including supporting:
- team operations and complying with key processes and procedures;
- delivery of all necessary business and reporting returns;
- organisational change and uptake of initiatives that support excellence in legal practice;
- implementation of systems to ensure information is properly managed and best practice is shared across the Domain and wider team;
- participating in the provision of training and development; and
- ensuring best value and managing quality of external support services
The NHS is committed to building an inclusive personal, fair and diverse health and care system and a workplace where belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion are treasured. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds
You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Salary Progression Applicants will commence at the bottom of Band 8b with a full-time starting salary of £58,972, with a pay step increase after 5 years service. For posts based in Inner London, the above salaries will include the additional supplement of 20% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £5,132 per annum and a maximum payment of £7,746 per annum. This is offered in accordance with NHS Terms and Conditions and is based on office location.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Our Employment Risk Lawyers play a critical role in ensuring that the organisation receives effective, strategic advice in relation to all of its contentious and non- contentious employment law related matters.
The role holder will report into the Head of Employment Risk and will work collaboratively with colleagues in the Employment Risk team, the Legal team, the HR and OD team and across NHS Englands various Directorates and Regions.
This is an exciting, fast paced role so the role holder will need keen prioritisation skills, resilience, the ability to deal with ambiguity and have excellent communication skills. They will need to rapidly build and maintain good relationships with colleagues at all levels and provide legally sound, pragmatic, solutions focused advice within the context of NHSEs duties and functions as a public body. The role holder will need to be aware of the highly political and sensitive nature of the work undertaken by the Domain and the wider team and will need to maintain the highest levels of compassion, discretion and confidentiality.
In addition to the provision of legal advice the role holder will be involved in a variety of activities to assist with the work of the Employment Risk Domain and the wider Legal Team more generally, including supporting:
- team operations and complying with key processes and procedures;
- delivery of all necessary business and reporting returns;
- organisational change and uptake of initiatives that support excellence in legal practice;
- implementation of systems to ensure information is properly managed and best practice is shared across the Domain and wider team;
- participating in the provision of training and development; and
- ensuring best value and managing quality of external support services
The NHS is committed to building an inclusive personal, fair and diverse health and care system and a workplace where belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion are treasured. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds
You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Salary Progression Applicants will commence at the bottom of Band 8b with a full-time starting salary of £58,972, with a pay step increase after 5 years service. For posts based in Inner London, the above salaries will include the additional supplement of 20% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £5,132 per annum and a maximum payment of £7,746 per annum. This is offered in accordance with NHS Terms and Conditions and is based on office location.
Person Specification
Qualifications/ registration
Essential
- Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with extensive post-qualification experience, legally qualified to practice Law in England and Wales
Skills
Essential
- In depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a period of time in relevant area of legal practice (employment)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing employment legal services to complex organisations such as those within the NHS or other public bodies
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing employment legal services on issues specific to the NHS or public sector
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of working with HR professionals in the delivery of employment legal services including employee relations
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with Trade Unions
Person Specification
Qualifications/ registration
Essential
- Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with extensive post-qualification experience, legally qualified to practice Law in England and Wales
Skills
Essential
- In depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a period of time in relevant area of legal practice (employment)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing employment legal services to complex organisations such as those within the NHS or other public bodies
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing employment legal services on issues specific to the NHS or public sector
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of working with HR professionals in the delivery of employment legal services including employee relations
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with Trade Unions
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
