Job summary
Great Ormond Street Hospital is seeking a full-time Associate Trust Lawyer (Solicitor or Barrister) to join the in-house Legal Team on a permanent basis.
The role lends itself to someone who is good at spotting issues on the ground and is keen to try to use their expertise to improve situations for the future.
The successful post-holder will be able to work efficiently, accurately and flexibly across a range of legal areas relating to paediatric healthcare (e.g. inquests, DOLS/LPS, MCA, MHA, data protection, consent, safeguarding).
They will enjoy sharing their technical expertise, in an accessible manner, with staff across a range of backgrounds. In particular, the post-holder will take a lead in relation to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards/Liberty Protection Safeguards and the Mental Capacity Act.
The position is based at the hospital in central London but can involve some hybrid working.
Main duties of the job
- To support in a case load of varied healthcare legal cases within the Trust, including High Court cases, Court of Protection cases, and Family Court cases, seeking support from the Trust Solicitor and Trust Barrister, and their deputies.
- Keeping up to date on changes in law and practice and take a role to develop policies and understanding within the Trust to ensure compliance, develop wider knowledge and plug gaps.
- Identify learning opportunities that will arise from claims or other findings in courts; persuade, motivate and influence senior professionals to use these opportunities to develop and improve practice where necessary.
- Take the lead on identifying and bring to the attention of clinical managers any immediate concerns about activity of individual staff, including where action may be needed to retrain or otherwise ensure the continuing safety of patients and others.
- Manage staff, with support, within the Legal Team, including: staff development, appraisal, performance management; identification of training requirements; sickness, absence, grievance and disciplinary procedures.
- Line manage, with support, one or more of the following: the DPA Team, Inquests and Criminal Case Co-ordinator, the Claims Manager and paralegals.
About us
GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.
We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.
We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.
We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women's staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust's mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential
- Professional legal qualification as a solicitor or barrister.
- Professional registration with the Law Society or the Bar Standards Board (or the ability to obtain such registration).
- For Associate Trust Barristers, authorisation by the Bar Standards Board to conduct litigation in employment (or the ability to obtain such authorisation).
Desirable
- Higher Rights of Audience (Civil)
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills
- Experience of maintaining high concentration and focus for extended periods (e.g. multiple hours over multiple consecutive days)
Desirable
- Experience of advising in children law.
- Law of consent (including parental responsibility and mental capacity); inquests (including advocacy at inquests and pre-inquest hearings); childcare law (public); clinical negligence and NHSR claims management; confidentiality; documentation (staff record keeping in theory and practice)
- Deprivation of liberty; Data Protection; Freedom of Information; criminal procedure; Judicial Review;
- Experience of providing legal services to the NHS or other public bodies
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to prioritise work timescales and to work autonomously, even under pressure
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to problem solve and use initiative
- Flexible
- Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working
- Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
- Able to demonstrate emotional resilience in response to exposure to highly emotional and distressing circumstances
- Ability to lecture
Person Specification
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential
- Professional legal qualification as a solicitor or barrister.
- Professional registration with the Law Society or the Bar Standards Board (or the ability to obtain such registration).
- For Associate Trust Barristers, authorisation by the Bar Standards Board to conduct litigation in employment (or the ability to obtain such authorisation).
Desirable
- Higher Rights of Audience (Civil)
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills
- Experience of maintaining high concentration and focus for extended periods (e.g. multiple hours over multiple consecutive days)
Desirable
- Experience of advising in children law.
- Law of consent (including parental responsibility and mental capacity); inquests (including advocacy at inquests and pre-inquest hearings); childcare law (public); clinical negligence and NHSR claims management; confidentiality; documentation (staff record keeping in theory and practice)
- Deprivation of liberty; Data Protection; Freedom of Information; criminal procedure; Judicial Review;
- Experience of providing legal services to the NHS or other public bodies
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to prioritise work timescales and to work autonomously, even under pressure
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to problem solve and use initiative
- Flexible
- Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working
- Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
- Able to demonstrate emotional resilience in response to exposure to highly emotional and distressing circumstances
- Ability to lecture
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).
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.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Great Ormond Street Hospital
London
WC1N 3JH
Employer's website
https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
