Job summary
The Trust is looking for a highly experienced healthcare lawyer who is able to maintain already existing relationships with all internal teams as well as panel, the coroner and NHS Resolution.
The Trust's legal department is small (Head of Legal Services and a Legal Services Deputy) and work interchangeably to manage claims, inquests and advisory work.
The Team have a visible presence within the Trust and the first port of call for complex medical care/treatment queries. The Legal Team work hard to ensure all staff are fully supported through any legal matter they are involved with.
Maintaining good relationships with the Trust's excellent Governance Team is paramount. The successful applicant can expect to work in a well established department with a good reputation both internally and externally.
The interview is likely to be on Monday 25th March 2024
Main duties of the job
Main duties include:
- To provide a responsive, resolution-focused and effective inquest and legal claims service within the Trust
- Lead the legal team to ensure that the Trust management of legal claims and inquests is responsive, timely and effective and staff are supported with legal queries.
- Ensure statutory and organisational requirements in respect of legal services are met.
- Claims are managed with appropriate thoroughness and impartiality and that all claims receive a full, quality and timely response that delivers the best outcome for the claimant and for the service
- Work with the Head of Patient Experience and Head of Patient Safety and Risk teams to ensure a common and joined up approach to resolution and/or escalation of governance issues.
- Handle and manage all clinical negligence personal injury claims, brought against the Trust in line with Civil Procedure Rules and NHSR guidelines, and in tandem with (NHSR) and their appointed legal advisors where appropriate.
- Manage all dealings with the Coroner and requests for reports for inquests and any subsequent summons of Attend and advocate at straightforward inquests and instruct external solicitors if risk to the Trust is high.
- Advise staff on complex legal queries relating to patient treatment in a timely manner or escalate to panel where specialist advice is needed
About us
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a high performing and flourishing organisation serving the population of Hackney, East London, The City and beyond.
We are extremely proud of the fact that Homerton Hospital has recently attained the highest possible rating of "Outstanding" from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our integrated Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community health services for its local population and a range of specialist services for a wider group of patients. In addition, the Trust manages services out of St Leonard's Hospital and the Mary Seacole Nursing Home.
Homerton aims to ensure equality and value diversity, and we are committed to inclusion for all of our staff. This is reflected in our policies, procedures and People Plan. All of our staff are expected to embody our Trust values at all times.
We are also committed, through our Fair Recruitment Standards, to ensuring all applicants are treated fairly.
Homerton has a proud tradition of supporting and developing its staff, including its well-regarded and valued nursing community, and all staff are able to take advantage of a great range of benefits.
Homerton is proud to have been included on the HSJ & Nursing Times Best Places to Work list.
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 on this page.
The person specification below is not the full person specification but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
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 on this page.
The person specification below is not the full person specification but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level and/or other equivalent professional legal qualification.
Desirable
- Legal/Risk Management Qualification.
Skills/ Abilities
Essential
- Advocacy in court- Pre Inquest Review Hearings and inquests.
- Experience of complaints and claims databases
- High level report and letter writing skills
- Able to relate well to complainants, claimants, their advisors and a wide range of professionals.
Experience
Essential
- Substantive complaints and claims handling/clinical governance/risk management experience, preferably within an acute NHS setting.
Knowledge
Essential
- Thorough understanding of current law and relevant status relating to clinical negligence.
- Good understanding of matters in relation to coroners court.
- Knowledge of clinical practice.
- Knowledge of the NHS Complaints procedure.
Desirable
- Knowledge over a wide range of areas of clinical negligence and personal injury claims.
Other Requirements
Essential
- A desire to improve the way complaints and claims are handled to ensure that learning is captured and shared to the benefit of patients
Trust Values
Essential
- Understand and Demonstrate Trust Values
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level and/or other equivalent professional legal qualification.
Desirable
- Legal/Risk Management Qualification.
Skills/ Abilities
Essential
- Advocacy in court- Pre Inquest Review Hearings and inquests.
- Experience of complaints and claims databases
- High level report and letter writing skills
- Able to relate well to complainants, claimants, their advisors and a wide range of professionals.
Experience
Essential
- Substantive complaints and claims handling/clinical governance/risk management experience, preferably within an acute NHS setting.
Knowledge
Essential
- Thorough understanding of current law and relevant status relating to clinical negligence.
- Good understanding of matters in relation to coroners court.
- Knowledge of clinical practice.
- Knowledge of the NHS Complaints procedure.
Desirable
- Knowledge over a wide range of areas of clinical negligence and personal injury claims.
Other Requirements
Essential
- A desire to improve the way complaints and claims are handled to ensure that learning is captured and shared to the benefit of patients
Trust Values
Essential
- Understand and Demonstrate Trust Values
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).
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).
