Inquiries Legal Adviser – Fitness to Practise
Location: South Dublin Area
Payscale: Grade VII €51,342 to €66,742 * New entrance to the Civil/Public Service will commence at the first point pf the scale.
Servisource are currently recruiting for an Inquiries Legal Advisor within our clients Fitness to Practise department. This role is a permanent/full-time position within the Civil/Public Service.
The successful candidate will be set up for remote working with a requirement of attending the workplace 1-2 days per week.
Responsibilities
· Supporting the Director of Fitness to Practise and liaising with the Professional Advisers in the management and ongoing development of the Fitness to Practise (FTP) Unit.
· Working to prioritise the department’s objectives and to ensure that the strategic and operational goals of the Fitness to Practise Department are achieved.
· Providing advice and guidance on any queries concerning our client’s policies and procedures and ensuring that those policies and procedures are kept up to date.
· Overseeing the investigation of inquiries by external legal providers including the obtaining witness statements and expert reports, drafting instructions to Counsel and charges, liaising with complainants, registrants, representatives, and others involved.
· Assisting in the delivery of virtual and hybrid inquiries.
· Attending meetings of the FTP Committee and the Board about inquiry matters as required.
· Providing advice in relation to inquiries if required including responding to general queries from members of the public
· Advising and supervising other team members to facilitate the expeditious scheduling of inquiries and meetings and providing support in the preparation and review of the necessary documentation.
· Assisting in the delivery of the inquiries function within budget and monitoring and controlling the cost arising from external legal advisers.
· Ensuring the timely progression of complaints
· Overseeing the implementation of new processes and procedural changes relating to the inquiry and sanction
· Working with other team members to facilitate the expeditious scheduling of Fitness to Practise matters at sanction stage before the Board and providing support in the preparation and review of the documentation, if necessary, for those meetings
· Quality assuring letters to registrants following Board decisions relating to Fitness to Practise Inquiries
· Managing the general affairs of the Fitness to Practise Committee to include membership, recruitment and responding to general queries.
· Assisting with training for the members of the FTP Committee, the Board, and other stakeholders in relation to their respective statutory functions as required.
· Assisting the Director of Fitness to Practise to ensure that relevant information and knowledge is properly managed and reviewed with the Fitness to Practise Department, for example, through SOPs, quality management systems, data management etc.
· Developing and overseeing an appropriate system of monitoring compliance with Conditions of Practise and Suspension Orders if imposed following Order of the High Court.
· Deputising for the Director of Fitness to Practise, as and when appropriate.
· Carry out any other duties as appropriate to the effective management of the Department, and/or as may be from time to time assigned by the Director of Fitness to Practise.
Candidates must have the following
· A minimum of two years’ relevant post qualification experience, preferably with litigation or regulation experience.
· An ability, knowledge and understanding of the principles of administrative and constitutional law and Judicial Review.
· An understanding of the law relating to professional regulation in this and other jurisdictions and other relevant Irish legislation.
· An understanding of EU legislation and regulation.
· Experience of instructing Counsel and external lawyers.
· The ability to provide expert legal advice to Boards/Committees in relation to their functions, duties, and powers.
· Experience as a supervisor of case work and the ability to supervise and manage own and other workloads.
Essential Qualifications/Mandatory Training*
· Qualified as a Solicitor or a Barrister (either admitted to the Rolls or called to the Bar).
The successful candidate will have the following essential skills and criteria.
· Proven track record of building and maintaining positive internal and external working relationships.
· High level communication and engagement skills.
· Excellent report writing skills.
· Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
· Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure and to achieve tight deadlines.
· Attention to detail, particularly when under pressure.
· The ability to work on own initiative.
· Proven team player experience.
· A successful track record in working with internal and external stakeholders.
· Strong experience in the use of appropriate technology, in particular case management systems and other IT applications.
· A knowledge of the Fitness to Practise process and other functions for our client.
Desirable but not essential
· Advocacy experience.
· Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment.
If you wish to apply for the above position, please submit your CV to [email protected]