Job Title: Investigations Lawyer

Job description

Job title: Investigations Lawyer

Reporting to: Senior lawyer (investigations)

Job family: Legal

Pay level: E1

Role Purpose:

To support the investigation business unit with the initial assessment, screening and investigation of fitness to practise referrals, providing support and legal advice to the business unit on referrals managed by the teams. To advise, review and prepare fitness to practise investigations as well as conduct advocacy in some instances.

Key accountabilities

·  Provide routine and complex legal advice to investigation business unit teams on a day to day basis

·  Support managers to ensure the efficient and effective assessment, investigation and progression of cases, including advising on the assessment of risk in relation to the need for interim orders

·  Deliver high quality customer service to NMC’s internal and external stakeholders

·  Ensure continuous improvement taking into consideration, and implementing learning from, outcomes in practice committees and relevant case law

·  Ensure departmental standards are applied in all cases

·  Drafting recommendations for the Case Examiners and NMC Practice Committees

·  Where appropriately qualified and experienced, conduct litigation and/or appear as an advocate in the higher courts.

Responsibilities

Assesment, investigation and progression

·  Provide advice,support and training to business unit staff including advice on risk, evidence, proportionate enquiry and investigation and the drafting of charges and correspondence with external parties

·  Take autonomous decisions in relation to the review and progress of the investigation of cases for consideration by the Case Examiners

·  Facilitate and support the investigation business unit to enable it to achieve its own and/or FtP objectives

Communication

·  Liaise with and give direction to staff to ensure smooth and efficient progress and transition of cases

·  Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, legal representatives and external third parties as required

·  Draft standard and non standard correspondence

·  Draft reports for Case Examiners

·  Draft formal advice for the business unit including members of the senior management team

·  Comply with NMC customer service standards at all times

Standards and Training

·  Assist the business unit with the setting, monitoring and evaluating of case work quality standards including sharing best practice and case work targets

·  Participate in the delivery of training for new and existing staff

·  Maintain and develop legal knowledge in particular in relation to regulatory proceedings

·  Conduct written and oral advocacy before the Council’s panels.

·  Where appropriately qualified and experienced, conduct litigation and/or appear as an advocate in the higher courts.

Team membership

·  Contribute to the development of service improvements through participation in team meetings and other groups

·  Offer support to other members of the case investigation and legal teams with workload and cover during absence

·  Liaise regularly and proactively with other members of the organisation and attend the meetings as required

·  Deliver internal and external presentations when required.

Other Responsibilities

There are a number of standard duties and responsibilities that all employees, irrespective of their role and level of seniority within the NMC, are expected to be familiar with and adhere to:

·  Comply at all times with the requirements of Health and Safety Regulations to ensure their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues

·  Promote and comply with NMC policies on diversity and equality both in the delivery of services and treatment of others

·  Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments

·  Comply with NMC protocols on the appropriate use of telephone, email and internet facilities

·  Comply with the principles of risk management in relation to individual and corporate responsibilities

·  Comply with NMC policies and procedures as compiled on the organisation’s intranet

This job description is not exhaustive and as such, the post holder will be expected to be flexible, and any changes will only be made following a discussion with the post holder.

Person Specification

Job Title: Investigations Lawyer

Qualifications and Experience

·  Professional legal qualification

·  Experience as a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or equivelant, whether or not currently practising

·  Relevant casework experience, preferably in regulatory law

·  Proven experience of providing appropriate legal advice

·  Demonstrable investigative experience, not necessarily in a regulatory setting and the management of a caseload of cases under investigation

·  Experience of working in a politically sensitive environment and/or dealing with high profile sensitive issues

Knowledge, skills and abilities

·  An understanding of the professional regulation framework and fitness to practise issues

·  Knowledge of regulatory law practice and procedures

·  An understanding of complex legal concepts and ability to apply knowledge to case work

·  Excellent oral, written and presentation skills

·  An understanding and appreciation of issues involving vulnerable persons or witnesses

·  An ability to work within a tight procedural framework

·  An ability to present to groups and is comfortable acting as an advocate for others

·  An ability to manage stakeholder feedback and report to relevant internal contacts and departments

·  A focused approach to delivering results by working to tight deadlines and targets

·  A highly developed ability to pay close attention to detail and quality assure own work

·  Good IT skills

·  An ability to travel in the UK as required

Personal qualities

·  A self starter who is able to work with minimum supervision

·  Capacity to be calm under pressure and work flexibly to meet changing demands

·  A strong commitment to high standards of service delivery and excellent customer care

·  A high level of personal integrity and professionalism

·  A clear understanding of the importance of confidentiality.

·  Highly motivated with a flexible approach

·  A collaborative approach to team working

·  A commitment to and an understanding of the importance of equality of opportunity within the environment that the NMC operates

·  A willingness to continually develop levels of knowledge

·  An ability to show sensitivity and tact when dealing with customer needs and confidential information

Fitness to Practise Last updated December 2015 Page 2 of 5