Sue Ross Legal are working with a public sector regulatory body who operate within the healthcare sector, to recruit a Fit to Practice Solicitor

You will assist the Senior Fitness to Practice lawyer as part of an overarching objective to improve the quality and efficiency of the fitness to practise process. This will involve a particular focus on improving the quality and robustness of investigations prior to case examiner consideration by assisting with advising and supporting in relation to evidence gathering and witness engagement and early legal input on complex cases. You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time when we are looking to bring in more investigative work in house and developing an in house advocacy service.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist legal advice to the fitness to practice team, including the application of the triage test, investigation planning, management of complex/high risk investigations, interim order applications, disclosure matters, drafting of regulatory concerns and voluntary removal application recommendations.
• Attend and provide legal and case management advice at the triage and investigations drop in and the voluntary removal application drop in and attend and provide advice in complex case meetings.
• Lead on high profile and complex cases and provide support and direction on case preparation strategy and approach including providing support to the triage and investigations team in obtaining relevant documents and evidence, including assisting in taking witness statements.
• Ensure the Regulations, Rules, guidance and relevant case law are applied appropriately and assist the Senior Fitness to Practice Lawyer in providing operational and strategic advice to the senior leadership team assisting with the continuous improvement of the fitness to practice process.
• Provide support to operational managers and Head of Fitness to Practice (Investigations) in the assessment of case plans, statements of case, sanction bids prepared by our external legal provider.
• Provide instructions to the external legal provider in relation to any fitness to practice hearings and meetings.
• Assist the Senior Fitness to Practice Lawyer to identify training needs and design and deliver training on our Regulations, Rules, case law and other relevant legal matters to the fitness to practice team.
• Assist in the design and delivery of regular case law updates to the fitness to practice team and wider teams.
• Review internal fitness to practise policies, procedures and processes to ensure legal compliance
• Review case outcomes as part of quality assurance processes including but not limited to the Decision Review Group. Work alongside colleagues to identify learning outcomes and assist in implementing those learning outcomes through training or development of new processes or policies.
• Assist in ensuring that the fitness to practice processes are legally robust by identifying legal risks early and working with other teams to ensure that those risks are managed appropriately.
• Develop strong relationships throughout the organisation, in particular collaborating with the in house legal team and using your legal expertiseand knowledge to providesolutions-focused support.
• Participate in project teams and working groups as necessary to further the work of the fitness to practice team and our objectives.

Skills

• Qualified lawyer, registered with Bar Council/SRA/CILEX
• Experience in a public sector or regulatory context and ideally in fitness to practice with familiarity of data protection law, High Court appeals and judicial reviews.
• Strong legal analytical skills, with the ability to draft clear and comprehensive written legal advice and to present information on complex issues clearly and succinctly for a range of different audiences, including Senior Leadership.
• Knowledge of investigative methods; rules of evidence, human rights, tribunal, regulatory caselaw and procedure and experience in taking witness statements.
• Able to assimilate, understand, interpret and explain complex legislation.
• Evidence of having worked successfully as a team member, with the ability to provide positive support and encouragement to colleagues.
• Demonstrable evidence of an ability to analyse, manage and problem solve complex and sensitive issues.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of fitness to practice, regulatory case law and best practice, including any guidance issued by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) and briefing colleagues accordingly.

This is a full time position, working on a hybrid basis from a central Sheffield office – you will be required to attend the office usually on a fortnighlty basis.

Unfortunately, due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback to all applicants. Please assume that if you do not hear from us within 72 hours that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

May we take this opportunity to thank you for expressing an interest in one of our roles and wish you the very best in your search for employment.