Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and support development of in-house Legal Affairs Team - this role specialising in Employment and Contracts Law
You will need to have a recognised legal qualification and current professional registration, combined with recent experience in the field of employment and contracts law.
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.
You will be responsible for providing legal advice and services to Trust staff across a wide range of matters, including supporting HR Department with employment law matters as well as Contracts & Procurement Teams as well as Estate Teams with contract related matters.
An ability to work with minimal supervision and manage day to day systems, processes and teams whilst managing a personal workload is essential.
In return we offer a best in class pension scheme, flexible working patterns and work locations coupled with excellent work -life balance. Furthermore the trust has a host of discounts and incentives - including salary sacrifice car scheme.
Main duties of the job
Detailed duties have been outlined in the attached job description and personal specification documents attached below for candidates to review.
1. To provide professional legal advice and representation to clients regarding issues, processes, legal claims/concerns/disputes/risk management, policy and procedures.
2. To represent the client in formal negotiations, legal proceedings, at courts, tribunals, or other venues, undertaking advocacy where appropriate.
3. To take and maintain detailed and accurate notes of meetings, such as court hearings, witness meetings, tribunals, inquests and case conferences and other key activities (as appropriate for the specialist area of law) for use by the post holder and others.
4. To draft advice and formal legal documentation, such as formal legal
correspondence witness statements, instructions to counsel and experts,
agreements, contractual documentation, court documents and forms, or policies.
5. Generally, to work autonomously with responsibility for the day-to-day management of their own case load.
6. Line management and supervision of junior qualified lawyers, pre-qualified lawyers (such as paralegals and trainee solicitors) and support staff as required.
7. To work with our legal case and document management systems and processes, to securely create, store and share documents, to enter and maintain key information, including key dates and accurate records of time spent.
Working for our organisation
We’re a Trust that’s big enough to make an impact, but small enough to feel personal. We care deeply about our people - both those we support in the community and those who work with us. As our Trust Solicitor you’ll play a key role in shaping our future, improving our culture, driving excellence, and helping us deliver compassionate, high-quality care every day.
This is your chance to make a lasting impact. To help us do our best for the Black Country, and for everyone who calls it home.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country. Across the whole of the region, we provide:
· Adult and older adult mental health services
· Specialist learning disability services
· CAMHS
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.
As a public body, we are accountable to the people we serve. The Trust Board is responsible for determining the strategy and overall direction of the Trust in an open, honest, and transparent manner.
Essential criteria
* 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: • Contracts Law •Corporate Governance •Public 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