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Job summary

Main area
Legal Services
Grade
Band 8b
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
320-SNR-0158
Employer
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Derby Hospital
Town
Derby
Salary
£58,972 - £68,525 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/08/2024 23:59
Interview date
10/09/2024

Employer heading

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust logo

Employment Lawyer

Band 8b

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together.

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

With over 13,000 members of staff you can expect huge variety and new opportunities every day! Our staff go above and beyond and take pride in caring for our patients.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to promoting inclusion, equality, diversity and human rights in employment and delivery of its services.  The Trust is committed to providing an environment where all employees, patients, carers and visitors experience equality of opportunity by means of understanding and appreciating the value of diversity.

As a Trust we promote an inclusive environment and welcome applications from a diverse pool of talent and backgrounds.  All individuals are valued and given every opportunity to succeed based on merit.

The Trust actively encourages applications from members of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. These groups are under-represented in our organisation, and it’s important to us that our workforce reflects the diversity of our communities as much as possible.

Armed Forces and Disability Confident guaranteed interview scheme

To further support the pledges in the Armed Forces Covenant and to make a positive contribution to support ex-armed forces personnel (veterans) make the transition to civilian life, the Trust has introduced a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for veterans who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification, to help them overcome barriers to find civilian employment. The scheme will operate for all external recruitment.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer and committed to both employing and retaining people with disabilities.  This commitment is to guarantee an interview for any candidate that has disclosed a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification.  Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 will be considered upon request.

Join us and help make a real difference to our Trust.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for; 

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to establish and develop an in-house employment legal service within the Trust. The service will cover all aspects of employment law and, through direct relationships with colleagues in the People Directorate, the Post Holder will:

· The Trust's vision and values are of "exceptional care together" through compassion, openness and excellence. The post holder will contribute towards the core values of the Trust.

· Provide legal support on both contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. This will involve close working relationships with the Employee Relations department.

·    Support in the development of robust employment processes and documentation.

·    Reduce legal, financial and reputational risk by improving the Trust’s analysis, preparation and response to employment matters.

·    Work with the Director of Legal Services and the Executive Chief People Officer to reduce, better target and add value to external legal spend.

Main duties of the job

Through the provision of high quality, tailored employment law advice, the Post Holder will:

Support the efficient and effective management of resources.

Facilitate the development of improved performance and service delivery across all services and within all divisions of the Trust.

The Post Holder will support the strategic aims of the Trust's people strategy, maintaining oversight and advising of the legal risks and responsibilities in relation to people matters. 

The Post Holder will provide employment law related advice, and support development of guidance and policies.

The Post Holder will aim to reduce external legal spend by providing bespoke, in-house employment law advice and support.

The Post Holder will contribute to the wider legal and governance workflows and assurance.

The Post Holder will have access to external legal advisers and will be responsible for managing those relationships to ensure best value and quality, alongside the Trust's People Advisory team. This includes ensuring that legal advice is delivered within agreed value for money.

The Post Holder will contribute to the development of service improvement within the Trust and wider ICS by taking opportunities to give early, solutions focused advice on contentious and non-contentious employment law related matters.

Closing date pf applications - 22 August 2024

Interview date: 10 September 2024

Working for our organisation

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

  • Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
  • On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
  • Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts:

  • We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
  • We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England – an average of 2077 per week.
  • An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day – 3rd largest in the country.
  • Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
  • Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
  • We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
  • We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
  • UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB – this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers

Through the provision of high quality, tailored employment law advice, the Post Holder will:

Support the efficient and effective management of resources.

Facilitate the development of improved performance and service delivery across all services and within all divisions of the Trust.

The Post Holder will support the strategic aims of the Trust's people strategy, maintaining oversight and advising of the legal risks and responsibilities in relation to people matters. 

The Post Holder will provide employment law related advice, and support development of guidance and policies.

The Post Holder will aim to reduce external legal spend by providing bespoke, in-house employment law advice and support.

The Post Holder will contribute to the wider legal and governance workflows and assurance.

The Post Holder will have access to external legal advisers and will be responsible for managing those relationships to ensure best value and quality, alongside the Trust's People Advisory team. This includes ensuring that legal advice is delivered within agreed value for money.

The Post Holder will contribute to the development of service improvement within the Trust and wider ICS by taking opportunities to give early, solutions focused advice on contentious and non-contentious employment law related matters.

Person specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • • Qualified solicitor / barrister / legal executive or equivalent legal experience
  • • Significant relevant post qualification professional experience including evidence of continued professional development and further professional qualifications
Desirable criteria
  • • In-house legal experience, preferably within the NHS

Experience and knowledge

Essential criteria
  • • Specialist knowledge and understanding of employment law
  • • Experience of using written reports and verbal presentations to confidently inform relevant audiences, including Board, Human Resources and the wider Trust
  • • Experience of managing contentious and non-contentious employment matters including the conduct of case management/preliminary hearings and representation at Court and tribunals
  • • Experience of undertaking investigations into serious allegations

Communication and relationship skills

Essential criteria
  • • Ability to exercise sound judgement
  • • Ability to work autonomously and within a team environment
  • • Actively listens and responds to influence improved behaviours and outcomes
  • • Emotionally intelligent, intellectually flexible and resilient

Skills and abilities

Essential criteria
  • • Leadership and management skills including proven ability to exercise professional judgement in highly complex legal and commercial matters
  • • Ability to share ideas, information and feedback in order to develop favourable commercial and legal solutions for the Trust
  • • Highly developed interpersonal and communications skills, fostering internal and external relationships
  • • Strong drafting and negotiation skills, particularly for employment arrangements and dispute resolution

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Chris Stark
Job title
Director of Legal Services
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01332 785419
Additional information

Jo Jackson 

Director of People Services

[email protected]

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
University Hospital of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 3NE
Telephone
01332 788466
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