Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a keen, enthusiastic, highly motivated Solicitor or Legal Executive with Court of Protection experience to join the Legal Services team at North Bristol NHS Trust. We are looking for a Deputy Head of Legal Services (Clinical) to support the Associate Director of Legal Services (Clinical) in the running and development of the growing in-house legal service and in the delivery of outstanding healthcare and patients' experience.
We price ourselves on handling our Court of Protection work in-house, directly instructing Counsel and achieving significant cost savings for the Trust. We are looking for a Solicitor or Legal Executive to further develop the in-house legal services Court of Protection provision, to include training staff and managing a caseload of Court of Protection matters. There will also be opportunities to develop knowledge and expertise in our other core areas of work:- inquests, claims (clinical negligence, employer's liability and public liability) and deliver healthcare legal advice across a broad range of areas.
As an organisation we offer opportunities for training and development, access to the NHS Pension Scheme, NHS discount, as well as access to onsite wellbeing and childcare facilities.
Please do contact us if you have any questions about this exciting opportunity.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be expected to manage their own caseload of Court of Protection cases with minimal supervision (e.g. serious medical treatment cases, disputes around capacity and/or best interests) and be committed to developing the in-house Court of Protection provision, to include training of staff.
The successful candidate will also preferably have experience in one of our other core areas of work:- claims, inquests and healthcare legal advice and/or be interested to develop expertise and undertake work in these areas.
The role will report to the Associate Director and Head of Legal Services (Clinical) and provides an excellent opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge across a broad portfolio of cases and advisory work, with a particular focus on Court of Protection work.
About us
North Bristol NHS Trust is one of the largest acute trusts in the South West of England. NBT is a National Health Service Trust, providing hospital and community healthcare services to Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset.
Southmead Hospital is a designated major trauma centre, as well as a regional referral centre for renal medicine, urology, vascular and transplant surgery, neurology and neurosurgery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Develop further the in-house legal services Court of Protection provision, to include training staff and managing a caseload of Court of Protection matters.
- Attend and undertake advocacy in the Court of Protection, at the Coroners Court and other ad hoc advocacy, and initiate High Court applications on healthcare matters.
- Provide advice and support to staff on a wide range of healthcare advisory matters, in particular advice relating to mental capacity, mental health, Court of Protection, consent, advance directives and enduring and lasting powers of attorney.
- Handle cases relating to other core areas of work (aside from Court of Protection), including claims (clinical negligence, public liability, employers liability), inquests and healthcare legal advice.
- Comply with relevant legislation and supporting Codes of Practice/Court Rules, the NHS Resolution Reporting Guidelines and Coroners Rules and Regulations.
- Provide high quality reporting, data analysis (e.g. relating to claims, inquests, healthcare advice, GIRFT data) and legal updates to divisions and specialities to feedback on lessons learnt and ensure improvements to patient safety from work undertaken within in-house legal services.
- Supervise and develop junior members of the legal services team.
- Support the Associate Director of Legal Services in the running and development of the growing in-house legal service and in the delivery of outstanding healthcare and patients experience.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Develop further the in-house legal services Court of Protection provision, to include training staff and managing a caseload of Court of Protection matters.
- Attend and undertake advocacy in the Court of Protection, at the Coroners Court and other ad hoc advocacy, and initiate High Court applications on healthcare matters.
- Provide advice and support to staff on a wide range of healthcare advisory matters, in particular advice relating to mental capacity, mental health, Court of Protection, consent, advance directives and enduring and lasting powers of attorney.
- Handle cases relating to other core areas of work (aside from Court of Protection), including claims (clinical negligence, public liability, employers liability), inquests and healthcare legal advice.
- Comply with relevant legislation and supporting Codes of Practice/Court Rules, the NHS Resolution Reporting Guidelines and Coroners Rules and Regulations.
- Provide high quality reporting, data analysis (e.g. relating to claims, inquests, healthcare advice, GIRFT data) and legal updates to divisions and specialities to feedback on lessons learnt and ensure improvements to patient safety from work undertaken within in-house legal services.
- Supervise and develop junior members of the legal services team.
- Support the Associate Director of Legal Services in the running and development of the growing in-house legal service and in the delivery of outstanding healthcare and patients experience.
Person Specification
Work Experience
Essential
- Qualified solicitor/Legal Executive minimum 3 years post qualification experience specialising in Court of Protection work
- Experience of managing a caseload of Court of Protection cases with minimal supervision e.g. serious medical treatment cases, disputes relating to capacity and/or best interests
- Experience of supervising legal staff
Desirable
- Experience of managing a caseload in another of the team's core work areas e.g. clinical negligence, employer's and public liability claims, inquests, healthcare legal advice across a range of areas
- Experience of working in-house in a large NHS organisation
Qualifications
Essential
- Membership of appropriate professional body e.g. Law Society/Bar Council/Institute of Legal Executives
- Law degree or equivalent
- Completion of LPC or equivalent
Knowledge/skills/abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of medical terminology
- Knowledge of NHS Resolution, Civil Procedural Rules, Pre-Action Protocols for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes and Personal Injury Claims and Coroner's Rules and Regulations
- Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders
- Computer literate in Microsoft Office software e.g. Excel, Powerpoint, litigation database (DATIX/Radar)
- Experience of delivering training
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of the law relating to Coroner's inquests, including Court attendance and supporting staff at Court
- Ability to produce reports and analyse data e.g. on claims, inquests, healthcare advice, GIRFT and NHSR data and share with divisions and others with a focus on learning lessons
- Knowledge of and advising on a wide range of topics relating to General Healthcare Law e.g. consent, disclosure, mental capacity, mental health, advance directives, enduring and lasting power of attorney, police enquiries
- Conducting advocacy in the Court of Protection, Mental Health Tribunal and Coroner's Court
- Knowledge of risk management and Patient Safety Investigations in relation to healthcare law, and the impact on the organisation
- Ability to and experience of directing the legal due process of new claims and making recommendations to NHSR advising on breach of duty, causation, quantum, litigation risk, risk management and the required case management plan of action
Personal qualities / special circumstances
Essential
- Ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure
- Flexible e.g. attend meetings outside of normal hours as required
- Ability to effectively interact with clinical staff using tact and diplomacy
- Demonstrates the Trust's values
Person Specification
Work Experience
Essential
- Qualified solicitor/Legal Executive minimum 3 years post qualification experience specialising in Court of Protection work
- Experience of managing a caseload of Court of Protection cases with minimal supervision e.g. serious medical treatment cases, disputes relating to capacity and/or best interests
- Experience of supervising legal staff
Desirable
- Experience of managing a caseload in another of the team's core work areas e.g. clinical negligence, employer's and public liability claims, inquests, healthcare legal advice across a range of areas
- Experience of working in-house in a large NHS organisation
Qualifications
Essential
- Membership of appropriate professional body e.g. Law Society/Bar Council/Institute of Legal Executives
- Law degree or equivalent
- Completion of LPC or equivalent
Knowledge/skills/abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of medical terminology
- Knowledge of NHS Resolution, Civil Procedural Rules, Pre-Action Protocols for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes and Personal Injury Claims and Coroner's Rules and Regulations
- Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders
- Computer literate in Microsoft Office software e.g. Excel, Powerpoint, litigation database (DATIX/Radar)
- Experience of delivering training
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of the law relating to Coroner's inquests, including Court attendance and supporting staff at Court
- Ability to produce reports and analyse data e.g. on claims, inquests, healthcare advice, GIRFT and NHSR data and share with divisions and others with a focus on learning lessons
- Knowledge of and advising on a wide range of topics relating to General Healthcare Law e.g. consent, disclosure, mental capacity, mental health, advance directives, enduring and lasting power of attorney, police enquiries
- Conducting advocacy in the Court of Protection, Mental Health Tribunal and Coroner's Court
- Knowledge of risk management and Patient Safety Investigations in relation to healthcare law, and the impact on the organisation
- Ability to and experience of directing the legal due process of new claims and making recommendations to NHSR advising on breach of duty, causation, quantum, litigation risk, risk management and the required case management plan of action
Personal qualities / special circumstances
Essential
- Ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure
- Flexible e.g. attend meetings outside of normal hours as required
- Ability to effectively interact with clinical staff using tact and diplomacy
- Demonstrates the Trust's 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).
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).
