Job summary
1. An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and support the development of the in-house Legal Affairs Team.
2. You will need to hold a recognised legal qualification and current professional registration, combined with recent experience in the field of employment and contracts law.
3. You should be self-motivated and enthusiastic, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, an eye for accuracy and detail, and a desire to ensure high-quality care and services to patients, staff, and the public.
4. You will be responsible for providing legal advice and services to Trust staff across a wide range of matters, including supporting the HR Department with employment law matters, as well as the Contracts & Procurement Teams, and the Estate Teams with contract-related matters.
5. An ability to work with minimal supervision and manage day-to-day systems, processes, and teams whilst managing a personal workload is essential.
Main duties of the job
Detailed duties have been outlined in the attached job description and personal specification documents attached for candidates to review.
About us
Detailed duties have been outlined in the attached job description and personal specification documents attached for candidates to review.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Detailed duties have been outlined in the attached job description and personal specification documents attached for candidates to review.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Detailed duties have been outlined in the attached job description and personal specification documents attached for candidates to review.
Person Specification
Shortlisting Criteria
Essential
Desirable
All
Essential
- Solicitor/Barrister with current practising certificate
- Minimum 3 years post-qualification experience as a Solicitor/Barrister/Legal Executive
- Experience of working within a legal team
- Experience of working within this area of employment law, on behalf of local authorities/NHS Trust or in private practice.
- Experience of providing effective legal support for operational activity undergoing change and challenge.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in one or more of the following areas of practice relevant to the work of the team: o Contracts Law oCorporate Governance oPublic Procurement
- Advocacy experience in a variety of settings
- Teaching/training experience
- Knowledge of the principles and processes of litigation within the UK Courts and Tribunal service.
- Knowledge of key legal issues in the NHS/healthcare, including, but not limited to: oEmployment Rights Act 1996 oEquality Act 2010 oEmployment Relations Act 1999 oAgency Workers Regulations 2010 oTransfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 oHealth & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 oWorking Time Regulations 1998 oNational Minimum Wage Act 1998 oEmployment Act 2005 oFreedom of Information Act 2000 and relevant regulations oData Protection Act 2018 oCivil Procedure Rules 1998 with associated Practice Directions oEmployment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 oEmployment Tribunal Act 1996 oEmployment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2013 oACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures oRelevant Practice Directions & Presidential Guidance oMaintaining High Professional Standards in NHS Framework oNHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) oNHS Employment Check Standards oThe Employment Rights Act 1996 (NHS Recruitment - Protected Disclosure) Regulations 2018 oSale of Good Act 1979 oSupply of Goods and Services Act 1982 oUnfair Contract Terms Act 1977 oMisrepresentation Act 1967 oElectronic Communication Act 2000 oBribery Act 2010 oModern Slavery Act 2015 oProcurement Act 2024 oPublic Contract Regulations 2015 oPublic Services (Social Value) Act 2012 oLate Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013 oHealth Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 oNational Health Services Act 2006 oHealth and Social Care Act 2012 oNHS Standard Contract
- Able to prioritise your own workload
- Ability to draft documents and prepare pleadings.
- Ability to prepare and process of all legal documents, including agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents, byelaws relevant to the work of the Trust.
- Ability to present cases before courts and tribunals where the postholder has a right of audience on all matters in relation to the work of the Trust.
- Ability to respond to legal questions received from staff, board members, Ombudsman and external organisations within a specific area of activity.
- Ability to undertake the review of files, organise meetings and take notes of meetings.
- Ability to support and advise at meetings, working parties and officer groups as required.
- Ability to maintain good governance in managing own caseload of complex work under minimal supervision.
- Ability to co-ordinate research upon legal questions arising from the work of team including, where necessary, briefing Lawyers/or Counsel.
- Ability to assist with negotiating and concluding contractual arrangements with Solicitors, Barristers, Valuers and Land Agents, and external agencies.
- Able to work under time pressure and set deadlines.
- Ability to gather, write, and provide complex information for others to understand and interpret .
- Ability to produce good quality written documentation including case summaries, draft orders, applications, position statements, skeleton arguments and threshold documents, and provide advice in respect of the written evidence being provided by the client.
- Ability to exercise professional judgment and make operational decisions on allocated matters in the context of legal advice and assistance.
- Ability to provide supervision, guidance and support to colleagues across the team.
- Effective and sensitive handling of difficult information and situations.
- Motivational, negotiating and persuasive skills, for example when there is a difference of threshold view in a strategy discussion.
- Ability to work across a range of clinical systems, capturing relevant information from different systems.
- Ability to influence range of colleagues including senior management and multi-disciplinary teams
- Ability to develop training materials and to deliver training in house to Trust staff, and to provide briefings to senior officers of the Trust and managers, where required on complex points of law and developments in law and practice.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to a wide range of people
- Flexible and adaptable to changing workload
- Able to work from across various sites and areas where the Trust provides its services and attend hearings and meetings in various parts of the UK.
- Attend the office over minimum 4 working days, with very limited opportunity to work from home.
- Calm and works well under pressure
Desirable
- Higher Rights of Audience for Civil Advocacy
Person Specification
Shortlisting Criteria
Essential
Desirable
All
Essential
- Solicitor/Barrister with current practising certificate
- Minimum 3 years post-qualification experience as a Solicitor/Barrister/Legal Executive
- Experience of working within a legal team
- Experience of working within this area of employment law, on behalf of local authorities/NHS Trust or in private practice.
- Experience of providing effective legal support for operational activity undergoing change and challenge.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in one or more of the following areas of practice relevant to the work of the team: o Contracts Law oCorporate Governance oPublic Procurement
- Advocacy experience in a variety of settings
- Teaching/training experience
- Knowledge of the principles and processes of litigation within the UK Courts and Tribunal service.
- Knowledge of key legal issues in the NHS/healthcare, including, but not limited to: oEmployment Rights Act 1996 oEquality Act 2010 oEmployment Relations Act 1999 oAgency Workers Regulations 2010 oTransfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 oHealth & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 oWorking Time Regulations 1998 oNational Minimum Wage Act 1998 oEmployment Act 2005 oFreedom of Information Act 2000 and relevant regulations oData Protection Act 2018 oCivil Procedure Rules 1998 with associated Practice Directions oEmployment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 oEmployment Tribunal Act 1996 oEmployment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2013 oACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures oRelevant Practice Directions & Presidential Guidance oMaintaining High Professional Standards in NHS Framework oNHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) oNHS Employment Check Standards oThe Employment Rights Act 1996 (NHS Recruitment - Protected Disclosure) Regulations 2018 oSale of Good Act 1979 oSupply of Goods and Services Act 1982 oUnfair Contract Terms Act 1977 oMisrepresentation Act 1967 oElectronic Communication Act 2000 oBribery Act 2010 oModern Slavery Act 2015 oProcurement Act 2024 oPublic Contract Regulations 2015 oPublic Services (Social Value) Act 2012 oLate Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013 oHealth Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 oNational Health Services Act 2006 oHealth and Social Care Act 2012 oNHS Standard Contract
- Able to prioritise your own workload
- Ability to draft documents and prepare pleadings.
- Ability to prepare and process of all legal documents, including agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents, byelaws relevant to the work of the Trust.
- Ability to present cases before courts and tribunals where the postholder has a right of audience on all matters in relation to the work of the Trust.
- Ability to respond to legal questions received from staff, board members, Ombudsman and external organisations within a specific area of activity.
- Ability to undertake the review of files, organise meetings and take notes of meetings.
- Ability to support and advise at meetings, working parties and officer groups as required.
- Ability to maintain good governance in managing own caseload of complex work under minimal supervision.
- Ability to co-ordinate research upon legal questions arising from the work of team including, where necessary, briefing Lawyers/or Counsel.
- Ability to assist with negotiating and concluding contractual arrangements with Solicitors, Barristers, Valuers and Land Agents, and external agencies.
- Able to work under time pressure and set deadlines.
- Ability to gather, write, and provide complex information for others to understand and interpret .
- Ability to produce good quality written documentation including case summaries, draft orders, applications, position statements, skeleton arguments and threshold documents, and provide advice in respect of the written evidence being provided by the client.
- Ability to exercise professional judgment and make operational decisions on allocated matters in the context of legal advice and assistance.
- Ability to provide supervision, guidance and support to colleagues across the team.
- Effective and sensitive handling of difficult information and situations.
- Motivational, negotiating and persuasive skills, for example when there is a difference of threshold view in a strategy discussion.
- Ability to work across a range of clinical systems, capturing relevant information from different systems.
- Ability to influence range of colleagues including senior management and multi-disciplinary teams
- Ability to develop training materials and to deliver training in house to Trust staff, and to provide briefings to senior officers of the Trust and managers, where required on complex points of law and developments in law and practice.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to a wide range of people
- Flexible and adaptable to changing workload
- Able to work from across various sites and areas where the Trust provides its services and attend hearings and meetings in various parts of the UK.
- Attend the office over minimum 4 working days, with very limited opportunity to work from home.
- Calm and works well under pressure
Desirable
- Higher Rights of Audience for Civil Advocacy
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).
