Job summary
We are looking for a Solicitor who shares our passion to support staff in the delivery of outstanding healthcare and demonstrates the Trust's values to achieve that aim.
We recognise that working inhouse is a niche role and would be keen to hear from candidates with relevant experience who have an interest in developing a fulfilling career in the NHS. Our inhouse legal team is the largest in the South West and we are excited to share our learning with other Trusts. We pride ourselves on providing the majority of our advice and inquest representation inhouse and for our ability to get the best outcome on claims.
Please do contact us for an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity.
Main duties of the job
- To manage a portfolio of clinical negligence claims, for adults and children. To undertake factual investigation of clinical and non-clinical claims and provide a strategy on the management of the claim, having assessed the evidence and risks of different courses of action. To adhere to the Team's Standard Operating Procedure on Claims Management.
- To act as a senior member of the Claims Team, with interest in or experience of line managing junior members of staff.
- To support clinicians throughout the claims process, advising them on liability, quantum and strategy, recognising the sensitivity around this.
- To advocate the position of the Trust to NHSR and panel solicitors, appropriately challenging advice, where indicated, to achieve the best outcome for the Trust.
- To demonstrate excellent case management skills and represent the Trust at settlement meetings, hearings and conferences with counsel and draft complex legal documentation to support the defence of such claims. To be able to manage competing priorities arising from a complex caseload of claims and meeting deadlines.
- To drive value from the panel firm instructed to manage such claims and engage in client care meetings.
- To utilise the Trust's reporting system, DATIX, to maintain progress notes on such claims.
- To demonstrate an interest or experience of in working on ENS claims.
- To brief the Executives and Communications Team in the event of high risk claims and advise upon press releases.
About us
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Law degree or equivalent
- Practising Solicitor
- Strong evidence of continuing personal and professional development.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of managing claims; clinical negligence claims would be advantageous.
Desirable
- Experience of reporting and analysing data to demonstrate trends and learning.
- Ability to supervise junior members of staff
- Experience of managing third party claims, including employers' and public liability claims.
- Experience of working inhouse for a large NHS organisation
- Knowledge of medical terminology from working with clinicians in an NHS environment
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrable case management experience.
- Interest in strengthening reporting provision on core areas and analysing data to demonstrate added value
- Ability to work collaboratively within an in-house legal team working across sites
- Experience of managing competing priorities in a stressful environment, displaying resilience.
- High attention to detail.
- Reliable point of contact for clinicians who require support
- Displays initiative in offering solutions and being keen to learn. Starting to work autonomously but still requiring supervision.
- Displays initiative and a willingness to learn, alongside the drive to independently take forward a project for which they will have responsibility
Desirable
- Ability to adapt to assist on core areas of work, if required
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Law degree or equivalent
- Practising Solicitor
- Strong evidence of continuing personal and professional development.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of managing claims; clinical negligence claims would be advantageous.
Desirable
- Experience of reporting and analysing data to demonstrate trends and learning.
- Ability to supervise junior members of staff
- Experience of managing third party claims, including employers' and public liability claims.
- Experience of working inhouse for a large NHS organisation
- Knowledge of medical terminology from working with clinicians in an NHS environment
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrable case management experience.
- Interest in strengthening reporting provision on core areas and analysing data to demonstrate added value
- Ability to work collaboratively within an in-house legal team working across sites
- Experience of managing competing priorities in a stressful environment, displaying resilience.
- High attention to detail.
- Reliable point of contact for clinicians who require support
- Displays initiative in offering solutions and being keen to learn. Starting to work autonomously but still requiring supervision.
- Displays initiative and a willingness to learn, alongside the drive to independently take forward a project for which they will have responsibility
Desirable
- Ability to adapt to assist on core areas of work, if required
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
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)
Address
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Marlborough Street
Bristol
BS13NU
Employer's website
https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
