Job purpose

The role of the Healthcare Lawyer (Inquests) is to support the Head of Legal Services in the provision of a dedicated in-house legal service, which includes the following:

• Healthcare advice: including but not limited to consent, capacity, data protection, Mental Health Act and regulatory proceedings, for both adults and children.
• Disclosure requests: assisting the police and local authority on childcare and criminal proceedings, where the Trust may not be a party to proceedings.
• Claims: management of Clinical Negligence and Third Party Claims, in line with NHSR’s schemes.
• Inquests: support and representation of staff in the Coroner’s Court.
• Training: internal training on above core areas of work.

Key aspects of the role:

We are looking for a Lawyer who shares our passion to support staff in the delivery of outstanding healthcare and represents the Trust’s values to achieve that aim.

The Healthcare Lawyer (Inquests) will have a genuine interest in assisting the Head of Legal Services in developing the Inquest team and advising on healthcare law.  They will be required to undertake the following duties:

Inquests

1. Manage inquest files in line with the departmental standard operating procedure
2. Undertake an in-depth analysis of the medical records to identify appropriate staff and support them in drafting a statement to assist the Coroner with their inquiry.
3. Support staff from the initial request for a statement, through a pre-inquest meeting and the hearing itself.
4. Work closely with the Patient Safety Leads to and advise upon other clinical governance processes, such as complaints and incidents, which could have an impact upon the inquest
5. Report to the Head of Legal Services on high risk inquests and deputise for the Head of Legal Services, as required, at Inquest Core Group, where such inquests are discussed on a monthly basis with the Divisions, Chief Nurse, Medical Director, Communications Team and Patient Safety Leads,
6. Advise the members of ICG on the risk of an adverse conclusion, negative publicity, witnesses facing hostile questioning and subsequent litigation. Mitigate the risk of any prevention of future death report being made against the Trust, often through liaison with other Trusts.
7. Undertake advocacy in the Coroner’s Court with an interest in developing this skill, i.e through Higher Rights of Audience. Represent the interests of the Trust at pre-inquest reviews.

Healthcare advice and professional support:

1. Provide pragmatic healthcare advice to all levels of staff across the Trust and identify trends which drive training across all clinical Divisions.
2. Demonstrate a passion for training staff on healthcare law, including a key project such as supporting the Consent Working Group or training on the Mental Capacity Act on the Consultants Away Day.
3. Responsibility for updating the Legal Services Intranet page, including drafting guidance notes, and managing requests for training within the Department.
4. Take a key role in the development of the mock inquest forum, to prepare staff for giving evidence in a scenario based session.
5. Assist the Head of Legal Services with managing the inquest team, including the supervision of junior members of staff.
6. Added value: report to the Head of Legal Services on work undertaken inhouse at a cost saving to the Trust and develop working relationships with chambers to negotiate any fee which may arise from instructing out on advice or inquests.

General Information:

The Trust’s Values

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is committed to provide patient care, education and research of the highest quality.  In delivering this ambition, we will be guided by the following values:

• Respecting Everyone
• Embracing Change
• Recognising Success
• Working Together

The Trust expects all staff to work in ways which reflect these values and behaviours at all times as follows:

Respecting Everyone

• We treat everyone with respect and as an individual
• We put patients first and will deliver the best care possible
• We are always helpful and polite
• We have a can do attitude in everything we do

Embracing Change

• We will encourage all change that helps us make the best use of our resources
• We learn from our experiences and research new ideas
• We look to constantly improve everything we do

Recognising Success

• We say thank you and recognise everyone’s contribution
• We take pride in delivering the best quality in everything we do
• We share and learn from each other
• We encourage new ideas that help us to be the best we can

Working Together

• We work together to achieve what is best for our patients
• We support each other across the whole Trust
• We listen to everyone
• We work in partnership

In line with the NHS Constitution, all healthcare providers, registered medical practitioners, nurses and other registered health professionals have a duty of openness, honesty and transparency (candour).

  Transforming Care

Transforming Care challenges everyone at University Hospitals Bristol to play their part in supporting quality changes and improvements in their work place, building efficient care systems critical for our patients and their families, both today and in the future.

The Trust’s mission is to deliver clinical services, teaching and research of the highest quality.  Our vision is to provide first class technical care, with humanity, compassion and sensitivity to the needs of each patient. 

 

Delivering best care,   Improving patient flow,   Delivering best value,

Renewing our hospitals,   Building capability,   Leading in partnership.

These are the core elements essential to Transforming Care.  Delivering sustainable healthcare services to our patients, which are effective, efficient and driven by excellence, is at the heart of our organisation.   

    Equal Opportunities

The Trust is committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity. All staff have a personal responsibility to contribute towards an inclusive and supportive environment for patients, carers, visitors and other colleagues from all the equality strands (race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability). 

Staff have a personal responsibility to:

• Ensure their behaviour is not discriminatory
• Does not cause offence
• To challenge the inappropriate behaviours of others

Adhere to the Trust’s values, including ‘Respecting Everyone’, as well as the Staff Conduct Policy and the Equal Opportunities policy 

Health and Safety

Under the provisions contained in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is the duty of every employee to:

• Take reasonable care of themselves and for others at work
• To co-operate with the Trust as far as is necessary to enable them to carry out their legal duty
• Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with anything provided including personal protective equipment for Health and Safety or welfare at work.

Senior Management is responsible for the implementation throughout the Trust of suitable arrangements to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees at work and the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by their activities.  Where health and safety matters cannot be resolved at Senior Management level the appropriate Executive Director must be notified.

Line Managers are responsible for the health and safety management of all activities, areas and staff under their control.  This includes responsibility for ensuring risk assessments are completed and implementation of suitable and sufficient control measures put in place.  Health and safety issues are dealt with at the lowest level of management practicable.  Where health and safety matters cannot be resolved at a particular management level the appropriate Senior Manager must be notified.

Everyone has a responsibility for contributing to the reduction of infections.

University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ‘Smoke Free’.  Smoking or tobacco is not permitted on any of our hospitals sites.

 

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

University Hospitals Bristol is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults, and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

  Quality and Clinical Governance

 

Quality in the NHS has three core dimensions:  Patient Safety, Patient Experience and Clinical Effectiveness.

Clinical Governance is about the systems, processes and behaviours to ensure that high quality services are provided to patients. Every member of staff has a role to play in striving for excellence: it is important that everyone is aware of and follows policies and procedures that govern their work; and if something goes wrong, everyone has an obligation to report it so lessons can be learned from mistakes, incidents and complaints.

If any member of staff has concerns on any clinical governance matters, they should raise them with their line manager, professional adviser, or a more senior member of management.  Reference should be made to the Trust’s guidance on Raising Concerns about provision of patient care.

  Information Governance

It is the responsibility of all staff to respect the confidentiality of patients and staff, as specified in the Caldicott Principles, Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act.  It is the duty of every employee to:

• Only access person identifiable information as required in the execution of their duties.
• Disclose information appropriately, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.
• To ensure good quality data by recording, promptly and accurately, clinical and non-clinical information within agreed timescales to PAS, the health record or the appropriate clinical or non-clinical information system
• Always trace patient notes on the Patient Administration System
• Maintain the confidentiality of their passwords / usernames and if in possession of a ‘Smartcard’ abiding by the terms and conditions of its use.

 

 

Workplace Health and Wellbeing

The Trust Workplace Health and Wellbeing Framework applies to all employees, students and volunteers who are encouraged to take responsibility for their individual health and wellbeing and to promote the wellbeing of colleagues. Line managers must recognise the importance of health and wellbeing and take it into account when planning tasks and designing jobs.