Job summary
We
have an exciting opportunity for a qualified solicitor or barrister to lead and
develop our ever-expanding Medico-Legal Reports Service.
The
role would also be suitable for a job share between a doctor of at least 5
years PQE and a qualified solicitor or barrister.
Our
MLR service assists men, women and children who have survived the physical and
psychological trauma of torture. Our specialist and highly trained doctors
provide independent evidence of torture for survivors seeking protection in the
UK.
We
develop and deliver training on the forensic examination of the effects of
torture to health care professionals both internally and externally and provide
external legal training Proving Torture - the use of medical evidence in
protection claims.
Our
evidence-base is used to support strategic opportunities for change and
research.
Main duties of the job
You will be
responsible for developing the strategic direction of the MLR service, ensuring
the efficient production of excellent high-quality reports and, providing compassionate
leadership to the large and multidisciplinary team, with direct management
responsibility for 4 Lead Doctors, 3 Senior Legal Officers, Researcher and
Administration Manager. If the role was a job share, the direct reports would
be split. You will maintain overall responsibility for the entire team.
With the ever-shifting legal and socio-political landscape
you will be responsible for devising and implementing new forms of medical
evidence to meet the needs of our clients and advising the Senior Management
Team on the impact of legislative and policy changes for survivors of torture.
You will contribute to decisions relating to
strategic litigation, alongside the Head of our Legal and Welfare Service and Policy
and Advocacy Team. You will be responsible for identifying and developing
research opportunities, both legal and clinical.
In addition, you will be responsible for devising
and delivering internal and external training.
About us
Freedom
from Torture is dedicated to healing and protecting people who have survived
torture. We provide therapies to improve physical and mental health, we
medically document torture, we provide health assessments and liaise with GPs, and
we provide legal and welfare help. We expose torture globally, we fight to hold
torturing states to account and we campaign for fairer treatment of torture
survivors in the UK.
We
campaign for national and global change, using evidence from our services and
survivor voices to protect and promote survivors' rights and hold torturing
states to account. We are proud to play a significant role in the global
anti-torture movement. Survivors, active and empowered, are at the centre of
all of our work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To
provide direct line management to senior legal officers, lead doctors,
administrative manager and data analyst, as well as managing the legal
contractors and overseeing the management of volunteer and contractor
doctors.
To
provide support and advice to
colleagues throughout the service involved in the MLR process and to retain
responsibility and accountability for all decisions.
To
identify potential areas for research and assist the national Director of
Clinical Services in applying for funding and maintaining oversight of any
research projects.
To
foster constructive working relationships with internal FFT departments,
particularly the Policy Dept. in identifying and supporting submissions and strategic
litigation opportunities.
To
foster constructive working relationships with internal as well as external
stakeholders including legal firms, the immigration judiciary and the Home
Office
To
manage the department budget and ensure agreed fees for reports are received
in liaison with the Finance Department
Job description
Job responsibilities
To
provide direct line management to senior legal officers, lead doctors,
administrative manager and data analyst, as well as managing the legal
contractors and overseeing the management of volunteer and contractor
doctors.
To
provide support and advice to
colleagues throughout the service involved in the MLR process and to retain
responsibility and accountability for all decisions.
To
identify potential areas for research and assist the national Director of
Clinical Services in applying for funding and maintaining oversight of any
research projects.
To
foster constructive working relationships with internal FFT departments,
particularly the Policy Dept. in identifying and supporting submissions and strategic
litigation opportunities.
To
foster constructive working relationships with internal as well as external
stakeholders including legal firms, the immigration judiciary and the Home
Office
To
manage the department budget and ensure agreed fees for reports are received
in liaison with the Finance Department
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience in the development, management and implementation of systems for the delivery of a complex national service involving both clinical and legal professionals.
- Proven experience in managing large multi-disciplinary teams, proven experience in managing volunteers as well as experience in managing services across multiple sites.
Desirable
- Previous experience in research
- Previous experience in training
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a practising certificate from either the Law Society of England and Wales, the Bar Council, the Law Society of Scotland or the Faculty of Advocates.
- If a job share: a doctor of at least 5 years PQE, registered with the GMC.
- Expert knowledge of UK and European asylum, immigration and human rights law and procedure or, if a job share, previous experience of working with asylum seekers and refugees
Desirable
- Knowledge of welfare and community care law
- Knowledge of specific UKVI policies and case law relating to survivors of torture and the use of use of expert medical evidence in asylum claims
Skills
Essential
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Ability to represent an organisation at senior levels
- Ability to participate in organisational Risk Management.
- Must be able to demonstrate good negotiating and strong people skills.
- Experience in the production of medical and clinical evidence for asylum proceedings.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience in the development, management and implementation of systems for the delivery of a complex national service involving both clinical and legal professionals.
- Proven experience in managing large multi-disciplinary teams, proven experience in managing volunteers as well as experience in managing services across multiple sites.
Desirable
- Previous experience in research
- Previous experience in training
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a practising certificate from either the Law Society of England and Wales, the Bar Council, the Law Society of Scotland or the Faculty of Advocates.
- If a job share: a doctor of at least 5 years PQE, registered with the GMC.
- Expert knowledge of UK and European asylum, immigration and human rights law and procedure or, if a job share, previous experience of working with asylum seekers and refugees
Desirable
- Knowledge of welfare and community care law
- Knowledge of specific UKVI policies and case law relating to survivors of torture and the use of use of expert medical evidence in asylum claims
Skills
Essential
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Ability to represent an organisation at senior levels
- Ability to participate in organisational Risk Management.
- Must be able to demonstrate good negotiating and strong people skills.
- Experience in the production of medical and clinical evidence for asylum proceedings.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
