Regulatory: Health and Social Care solicitor

Our client is a UK Top 100 law firm providing a comprehensive range of legal services from offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and London. The firm advises over 800 businesses and is a market-leading across Health and Social Care, Housing and Local and Central Government throughout the UK.

We employ over 450 staff, including 65 Partners and our award-winning teams provide health and social care regulatory, litigation, advisory commercial, corporate, property and employment legal advice.

The Team

Our health and social care law team provides regulatory advice and support to public sector and independent health and social care organisations. We are a team of 15 lawyers operating out of all four of our offices. We take pride in providing high-quality support to our clients which is clear, user-friendly and responsive. We are able to work flexibly and are open to discussion about alternative working patterns.

The team supports organisations in the prevention of serious incidents/events and the response to them when they arise. Our expertise is in the management of the various parallel processes that place pressures on an organisation's attention and resources. We help them strike a balance between meeting their duties and obligations whilst continuing to deliver their services and improve safety and quality.

The Role

A vacancy has arisen for a solicitor to join our team in Bristol, Birmingham or London. It offers the opportunity to be a part of a team with a diverse and rich practice area that's intellectually stimulating and hugely rewarding. The role will involve advising clients on a range of regulatory issues, both contentious and non-contentious. These include, but are not limited to:

• Internal Incident Investigation - Terms of Reference, investigation and draft reports as well as potential use/impact in/on other processes and learning lessons.
• External Investigations - such as commissioner (regional or national), professional regulator (GMC, NMC etc.), HSIB investigations and public or independent inquiries.
• Inquests - including Article 2 and jury inquests concerning physical treatment, mental health detention and treatment, community mental health and prison mental health - as well as Regulation 28/preventing future death reports.
• CQC Inspections - both preparing for inspections and responding to/challenging critical reports and ratings.
• Regulator Compliance Action - including HSE improvement notices and CQC warning
• HSE/CQC Prosecutions - concerning breach of health and safety legislation or the Fundamental Standards and Registration Regulations.
• Criminal Proceedings - including into gross negligence/corporate manslaughter, institutional abuse, coercive or controlling behaviour and wilful neglect.
• Homicide Inquiries - homicide inquiries commissioned under HSG(94)27 guidance and assisting organisations with the processes that can arise in relation to a homicide which falls outside the that guidance.
• Serious Case Reviews - particularly in the mental health context and children.
• Due Diligence Processes - reviewing and advising on risk associated with incidents, processes and policies relating to our specialist practice areas.
• Governance Processes - advising on robust governance processes and procedures as well as safe systems of work.

Responsibilities

* Manage your own varied caseload;
* Representation and advocacy at hearings;
* Active involvement in client care and business development; and
* Assist with the wider management and supervision of the team (as appropriate).

The Individual

* Experience in health and social care regulation;
* Advocacy experience (including preparation, attendance and representation at hearings);
* Understanding of mental health and mental capacity law, inquests and regulation;
* Technical excellence, organised, lateral thinker with an eye for detail;
* Enthusiasm to develop their legal skills and challenge themselves;
* Previous successful management of existing and developing new client relationships;
* Team player, with the temperament to form strong and sustained working partnerships; and
* Practical and commercial approach.

Lipson Lloyd Jones Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.