NHS Business Services Authority

VDPS Medical Assessment Assurance Lead

The closing date is 01 July 2025

Job summary

You will play a key role within our Service in ensuring medical assessments are delivered to the required standard in a consistent manner.

You will be a GMC Registered Medical Practitioner, with a licence to practice, with extensive post-graduate experience. You will also ideally have demonstrable experience of Injury Assessment, including causation and disablement

There is flexibility around where you undertake the role, this could be any NHSBSA office location, working from home or hybrid working, but some travel will be required on occasion.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Senior Medical Assessment Assurance Lead you will have responsibility for leading and designing activities to support the effective delivery of the service and provide assurance to NHSBSA Leadership Team and Board that medical assessments are undertaken in line with specified requirements and standards. This will involve working closely with the Head of Professional & Clinical Services to define expected standards, measures and reporting to meet the requirements of the NHSBSA Clinical Governance Framework.

In collaboration with the Head of Professional & Clinical Services the Medical Assessment Assurance Leads will provide expert guidance on all matters arising from medical assessments and provide direct support to the team, such as effective management of complex cases and appeals.

The Medical Assessment Assurance Leads will also be key members of the NHSBSA Clinical Network, a network of registered healthcare professionals from across the organisation, with responsibility to participate and actively contribute to ensuring that clinical expertise in the organisation is fully leveraged for the benefit of NHSBSA, the health and care system and wider populations.

About us

Here at the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), what we do matters.We manage the NHS Pension scheme, process prescription payments and much more. Our services are used by NHS organisations, contractors and the public: we're proud to be part of something meaningful, that touches millions of lives.We design our services around customer needs and place people at the heart of our organisation. That's why when you join us, you'll be empowered and supported to help your career grow.As one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, we're connected to our values: Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We care about our people, our purpose, and your progress.We strive to offer a fantastic colleague experience, where every colleague is heard, supported and respected. Wellbeing, diversity and inclusion is at the centre of this, and you can join our Lived Experience Networks who help us bring our authentic selves to work.We're committed to being a flexible employer and we try to offer a working pattern that suits you where possible, through hybrid working, flexible hours and more.Alongside a competitive salary with pay progression, we offer a people-centric benefits package, connecting you to the rewards and benefits you value most!Ready to join us in delivering business service excellence to the NHS, helping people live longer, healthier lives? Apply today and see where the NHSBSA can take you.We are people connected to care.

Date posted

17 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£74,290 to £85,601 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

914-BSA7248055

Job locations

Any NHSBSA site/location

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

NE1 6SN

Job description

Job responsibilities

In this role, you are accountable for

1. Providing direct support and expert guidance to the VDPS administrative team to ensure processes are designed and implemented effectively in line with the requirement of the scheme, current policy and legislation.

2. Delivering training to the internal teams and third-party medical assessors as required.

3. Supporting the appeals and tribunals process, including preparation of appropriate materials, witness statements, identification and instruction of appropriate medical experts and attendance as required.

4. Ensuring complex cases are appropriately identified and managed in a timely manner.

5. Provide expert VDPS advice and guidance to a range of internal and external stakeholders.

6. Supporting effective case management in an understanding manner. This will often include detail of cases that are emotionally sensitive and potentially distressing.

7. Determining suitable evidence, including medical reports, clinical information and supporting material that is required to conduct an effective assessment and providing guidance on this. Ensuring assessments are thorough and consider all facts of each case appropriately and in a consistent manner so that outcomes are fair and appropriate payments are made in line the specific assessment criteria of the Vaccine Damage Payments Act. This on occasion will require the conducting of medical assessments and deep dive assurance investigations of third-party medical assessments.

8. In collaboration with the Head of Professional & Clinical Services, ensuring effective processes and reporting are in place to meet the requirements of the NHSBSA Clinical governance framework.

9. Delivery of well-designed activities to provide assurance that VDPS third party medical assessments are undertaken appropriately by qualified and trained professionals, assessments are of the required quality standard and are conducted in a consistent and professional manner to deliver appropriate outcomes.

10. Review and advise NHSBSA on the effectiveness of the VDPS medical assessment process and make recommendations for improvement where appropriate.

11. Designing and undertaking audits to verify medical assessment processes are being followed, the key facts of the case are considered, and the quality and content of the outcome reports are to the required standard. This will involve determining the level of the sample based on risk factors.

12. Using outputs from assurance activities to inform third party contract service provision reviews and contractual sanctions, which include financial penalties, where required.

13. Establishing routine monitoring of Issues, challenges, learning from appeals/reversals, complaints, and any operational changes.

14. Identifying and sharing, internally and with third party medical assessors, as appropriate, the learning from appeals, reversals, and complaints to ensure continuous development of the service and quality improvement and to monitor adoption of that learning.

15. Ensuring checks are in place to verify suitably qualified and experienced medical assessors are recruited and adequate training and accreditation programme, with supporting training materials, is in place.

16. Ensuring suitable medical assessment operating procedures are in place with appropriate reviews and quality controls.

17. Reviewing and monitoring third party medical assessment supplier arrangements for supervising and mentoring new and existing assessors, peer reviews, audit processes and clinical governance strategy and framework to ensure they are robust and meet NHSBSA Clinical Governance Framework standards.

18. In collaboration with Head of Professional & Clinical Services ensuring mechanisms are in place so that the latest recognised scientific evidence is understood and referenced for the medical assessments.

19. Designing and implementing a feedback mechanism to the medical assessors and review how effective this feedback is used.

20. Ensuring an effective mechanism is in place to identify and implement improvement opportunities.

21. Delivering overview sessions with medical assessors as required to highlight good practice and standards expected.

22. Building effective professional relationships and networks to ensure appropriate alignment and development of the service with the wider health and care system and the consensus of medical opinion.

23. Represent the NHSBSA at meetings with external customers (eg. DHSC, HMCTS, third party medical assessor) and take opportunities to enhance the profile and promote the reputation of the NHSBSA and its services.

24. Acting as a role model for a strong customer and continuous improvement culture, that has a relationship-based approach, with a view to unlocking new insights, drive innovation that creates customer and business value for the NHSBSA.

25. Actively identify service improvements and supports effective transformational change.

26. Acting as a senior leader within the Primary Care Services Directorate Assurance Services and wider business team, working within the corporate and clinical governance frameworks, and demonstrating the values and capabilities of the organisation to ensure that the NHSBSA meets its statutory and legislative obligations.

27. As a senior member of the directorate and wider business play an active and collaborative role in the effective management and achievement of the goals of the NHS Business Services Authority, recognising the significant impact that the NHSBSAs activities has on many people and services within the NHS.

28. Responsibility for effectively managing financial budgets in relation to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme and in accordance with NHSBSAs policies, financial regulations, and legislative requirements.