Job overview
1. An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and support the development of the in-house Legal Affairs Team.
2.You will need to hold a recognised legal qualification and current professional registration, combined with recent experience in the field of employment and contracts law.
3. 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.
4. You will be responsible for providing legal advice and services to Trust staff across a wide range of matters, including supporting the HR Department with employment law matters, as well as the Contracts & Procurement Teams, and the Estate Teams with contract-related matters.
5. An ability to work with minimal supervision and manage day-to-day systems, processes, and teams whilst managing a personal workload is essential.
Main duties of the job
Detailed duties have been outlined in the attached job description and personal specification documents attached for candidates to review.
Working for our organisation
Detailed duties have been outlined in the attached job description and personal specification documents attached for candidates to review.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Detailed duties have been outlined in the attached job description and personal specification documents attached for candidates to review.
Person specification
Shortlisting Criteria
Essential criteria
1. Same as the JD/PS
Desirable criteria
2. Same as the JD/PS
All
Essential criteria
3. Solicitor/Barrister with current practising certificate
4. Minimum 3 years post-qualification experience as a Solicitor/Barrister/Legal Executive
5. Experience of working within a legal team
6. Experience of working within this area of employment law, on behalf of local authorities/NHS Trust or in private practice.
7. Experience of providing effective legal support for operational activity undergoing change and challenge.
8. 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
9. Advocacy experience in a variety of settings
10. Teaching/training experience
11. Knowledge of the principles and processes of litigation within the UK Courts and Tribunal service.
12. Knowledge of key legal issues in the NHS/healthcare, including, but not limited to: •Employment Rights Act 1996 •Equality Act 2010 •Employment Relations Act 1999 •Agency Workers Regulations 2010 •Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 •Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 •Working Time Regulations 1998 •National Minimum Wage Act 1998 •Employment Act 2005 •Freedom of Information Act 2000 and relevant regulations •Data Protection Act 2018 •Civil Procedure Rules 1998 with associated Practice Directions •Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 •Employment Tribunal Act 1996 •Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2013 •ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures •Relevant Practice Directions & Presidential Guidance •Maintaining High Professional Standards in NHS Framework •NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) •NHS Employment Check Standards •The Employment Rights Act 1996 (NHS Recruitment – Protected Disclosure) Regulations 2018 •Sale of Good Act 1979 •Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 •Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 •Misrepresentation Act 1967 •Electronic Communication Act 2000 •Bribery Act 2010 •Modern Slavery Act 2015 •Procurement Act 2024 •Public Contract Regulations 2015 •Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 •Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013 •Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 •National Health Services Act 2006 •Health and Social Care Act 2012 •NHS Standard Contract
13. Able to prioritise your own workload
14. Ability to draft documents and prepare pleadings.
15. Ability to prepare and process of all legal documents, including agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents, byelaws relevant to the work of the Trust.
16. Ability to present cases before courts and tribunals where the postholder has a right of audience on all matters in relation to the work of the Trust.
17. Ability to respond to legal questions received from staff, board members, Ombudsman and external organisations within a specific area of activity.
18. Ability to undertake the review of files, organise meetings and take notes of meetings.
19. Ability to support and advise at meetings, working parties and officer groups as required.
20. Ability to maintain good governance in managing own caseload of complex work under minimal supervision.
21. Ability to co-ordinate research upon legal questions arising from the work of team including, where necessary, briefing Lawyers/or Counsel.
22. Ability to assist with negotiating and concluding contractual arrangements with Solicitors, Barristers, Valuers and Land Agents, and external agencies.
23. Able to work under time pressure and set deadlines.
24. Ability to gather, write, and provide complex information for others to understand and interpret .
25. Ability to produce good quality written documentation including case summaries, draft orders, applications, position statements, skeleton arguments and threshold documents, and provide advice in respect of the written evidence being provided by the client.
26. Ability to exercise professional judgment and make operational decisions on allocated matters in the context of legal advice and assistance.
27. Ability to provide supervision, guidance and support to colleagues across the team.
28. Effective and sensitive handling of difficult information and situations.
29. Motivational, negotiating and persuasive skills, for example when there is a difference of threshold view in a strategy discussion.
30. Ability to work across a range of clinical systems, capturing relevant information from different systems.
31. Ability to influence range of colleagues including senior management and multi-disciplinary teams
32. Ability to develop training materials and to deliver training in house to Trust staff, and to provide briefings to senior officers of the Trust and managers, where required on complex points of law and developments in law and practice.
33. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
34. Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to a wide range of people
35. Flexible and adaptable to changing workload
36. Able to work from across various sites and areas where the Trust provides its services and attend hearings and meetings in various parts of the UK.
37. Attend the office over minimum 4 working days, with very limited opportunity to work from home.
38. Calm and works well under pressure
Desirable criteria
39. Higher Rights of Audience for Civil Advocacy