Job overview

Great Ormond Street Hospital is seeking a full-time Associate Trust Lawyer (Solicitor or Barrister) to join the in-house Legal Team on a permanent basis.

The role lends itself to someone who is good at spotting issues on the ground and is keen to try to use their expertise to improve situations for the future.

The successful post-holder will be able to work efficiently, accurately and flexibly across a range of legal areas relating to paediatric healthcare (e.g. inquests, DOLS/LPS, MCA, MHA, data protection, consent, safeguarding).

They will enjoy sharing their technical expertise, in an accessible manner, with staff across a range of backgrounds. In particular, the post-holder will take a lead in relation to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards/Liberty Protection Safeguards and the Mental Capacity Act. 

The position is based at the hospital in central London but can involve some hybrid working.

Main duties of the job

• To support in a case load of varied healthcare legal cases within the Trust, including High Court cases, Court of Protection cases, and Family Court cases, seeking support from the Trust Solicitor and Trust Barrister, and their deputies.
• Keeping up to date on changes in law and practice and take a role to develop policies and understanding within the Trust to ensure compliance, develop wider knowledge and plug gaps.
•  Identify learning opportunities that will arise from claims or other findings in courts; persuade, motivate and influence senior professionals to use these opportunities to develop and improve practice where necessary.
• Take the lead on identifying and bring to the attention of clinical managers any immediate concerns about activity of individual staff, including where action may be needed to retrain or otherwise ensure the continuing safety of patients and others.
• Manage staff, with support, within the Legal Team, including: staff development, appraisal, performance management; identification of training requirements; sickness, absence, grievance and disciplinary procedures.
•  Line manage, with support, one or more of the following: the DPA Team, Inquests and Criminal Case Co-ordinator, the Claims Manager and paralegals.

Working for our organisation

GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.

We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women’s staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust’s mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.